Download - C.A.R.E. / The John 3:16 Center
Autumn 2013 1
Board of Directors
Dr. Doug Kolb, Chairman
Ken Hinrichs, Vice Chairman
Linda Calisto, Secretary
Jacquelyn Copeland , Treasurer
Alfred Riddick
Barbara Eddy
Algernon Alston
Bob Roegner
Rev. Joe Sandoval
Robert Hayes
Rev. Stan Lewis
Non-Profit 501C-3 Organization
A United Way Agency
C.A.R.E. / The John 3:16 Center
Autumn 2013 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 4
A Note From the Director
What a year! The John 3:16 Center has been blessed in so many ways. We have a brand new, beautiful playground for the children in our area, new opportunities for the children in our afterschool program, and developing partnerships through networking and engagement. Our volunteers have been AWESOME, partnering with us to make all these things possible! I cannot express the level of appreciation I have for all those who donate time, talent, and treasure to make what we do possible!
Summer camp ended well; we had 109 children who participated this year! The playground build was absolutely amazing; over 300 individuals worked to build the playground in one day. Seeing what the community can do when it comes together with purpose was truly inspiring. Our GED classes and Homework Club have resumed. We currently have a full house for Homework Club and are working to make a difference in the lives of the children we are serving. Every afternoon, they participate in a devotion, receive a light meal, and assistance on their homework. One of our volunteers, Til Tremper, is leading a weekly series for the students on “Making Good Choices” in every aspect of their lives and several volunteers have prepared cultural lessons for Fridays. In addition, Perl, Betty Ann Shearin, and I have all been trained to provide a “Junk Drawer Physics” program through 4-H to the children in the Homework Club. We are so excited about these opportunities to enrich the lives of these children.
We are quickly approaching our annual Fundraising Banquet and Christmas. If you have never been able to attend our banquet, but are interested in learning more about the work we do in Halifax, Warren, and Northampton counties, please let us know! We are looking for table sponsors, donations of items for our silent auction, and attendees for the banquet on December 6th. An excellent meal is provided, festive music is played, a silent auction and raffles are held, and a brief presentation is made, outlining our mission, purpose, and achievements for the year, as well as plans for the next year.
Is anyone ready to help with shopping for or wrapping gifts? By mid-November, we will be accepting and processing applications for our Christmas Outreach program. Generally, our program is full by Thanksgiving and we are beginning to shop for clothing for each child and are receiving donations of toys to match with each. The week of December 16th, we will begin wrapping the gifts—one for each child from Santa first…then the clothing and toys for Christmas day. All gifts have the child’s name and “A Gift from God” label on them. Every family receives hygienic supplies and a Bible. Please begin considering how you may be interested in participating!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our newsletter; we hope you enjoy the information and pictures of our activities in the last few months. Pray about how you might become involved and help expand our capacity to serve! We appreciate all those who pray for us, volunteer, and donate as we continue to serve Christ in our community through developing relationships with and providing supports for children and families.
Shannon Smiley
Executive Director
2013 Impacts
20 Children registered for Homework Club
109 Children served through Camp J316
Over 550 people served through our food pantry
Over 4,700 hours served by volunteers
228 students received school supplies
Inside this issue:
Christmas Toy Drive 2
Connections 3
Save the Date-Banquet 4
Pledge Page 5
Serving communities in Warren, Halifax and Northampton Counties since 1998
Autumn 2013 2
Christmas Toy Drive
We need toys to distribute at Christmas to families who would otherwise not have gifts for their
children. We are asking that churches or businesses begin accepting toys November 3rd and
drop them off or arrange to have picked up before December 9th. Gifts are given to children
ages infant to 17. Examples of gifts that would be appropriate are: board games, baby toys, dolls
and Barbie (ethnically diverse), toy cars and trucks, stuffed animals, balls, books, watches,
costume jewelry, etc. Please do not send toy guns, other toy weapons or used items. Please do
not wrap gifts; we need to see them in order to give each to the child for which the gift is most
appropriate.
Gift Sponsors
Individuals, Sunday Schools and other groups are also welcome to sponsor a family; sponsors
will be given the first names of the child(ren), age(s), clothing size, and needs. Please contact us
by December 5th if you are interested in sponsoring a family.
Christmas Gift Donations Must be Received by December 9th
Please Help Keep Our
FOOD PANTRY Stocked….. Hot/Cold Cereal Canned Fruit Powered Milk
Canned Vegetables Rice Peanut Butter
Canned Soups/Stew Sauces
Dry Beans Crackers
Tuna Fish Pasta
Bread Mixes
Winter Coat Drive Many children and adults in our area are in need of
warm blankets and clothing for cold weather. Please
help us meet these needs by collecting coats and new
hats and gloves. We need these items in all sizes, as
we serve individuals of all ages.
Volunteers Needed!
We always appreciate help with:
Administrative tasks
Maintenance
Christmas Party on Dec. 21
If you are interested in helping in any of these areas, or have a
special skill you would like to share with our children, please
contact us at 252-586-1800
Come Wrap with us……….
Dec. 16—20
Please join us for an hour or all day!
We will wrap gifts between 10am and 6pm each day until all gifts are wrapped. Please call to schedule so that we are adequately prepared for the number of wrappers each day! Refreshments and Lunch provided to all volunteers each day.
Autumn 2013 3
Making the Connection…….
G.E.D. Update
MaryAnn Whittemore
Only six more scheduled
times to take the GED test
before the GED as we know
it now, is gone! All currently
enrolled students have until
December to take the five
parts of the test. Four
students completed studies
and received GED in the fall
semester and four more are
on schedule to complete in
December. The format of
the study material, the test
itself and the cost will
change as of January 2014.
To enroll in classes at the
center call at 252-586-1800
After School Program Update……
Fall is here again!! The John 3:16 After School Program has nearly a full house with students in
grades 1- 5. Our format for the after school program is different. In addition to homework
assistance, we are including the following opportunities: social skills lessons, arts/ crafts, outdoor
play and strengthening academic skills. In the next couple of weeks, The 4-H Club will begin
meeting here with children enrolled in our after school program! We are excited to bring to our
children an opportunity to grow and learn more about science. The first activity will be about Balls
and Tracks. Betty Anne Shearin, and Mary Anne Whittemore will attend the training for this
project and will be assisting us whenever it is needed.
The children have a fantastic playground to enjoy every day!!! It is a pleasure to the many
volunteers and visitors to hear the shrill sounds of happiness coming from the children playing on
the playground.
Every Friday, we have a special event. One of our special volunteers shares his/her experiences
with the children about their travel, cultural heritage, or hobbies, with a food dish that is
complimentary to their presentation . If you would like to become one of our special volunteers to
share something with us for 30 minutes on Friday along with an enjoyable dish , please let us
know by contacting our volunteer coordinator, Til Tremper via email: [email protected]
The pictures tell the story of how over 300 volunteers came together to build a spectacular playground in
one day! An uplifting experience and a profound reminder of how so much can happen with the time
given to each us when combined with others sharing a common goal for the good of so many. Awesome
time well spent on a beautiful sunny day on August 24, 2013 at the John 3:16 Center!
Sign language classes
Design Day!
Prep Day!
Korean culture awareness & tasting
Autumn 2013 4
You are Invited to
The John 3:16 Center’s Board of Directors
Annual Fundraising Banquet
&
Silent Auction on
Friday, December 6, 2013
Mystique in Roanoke Rapids
Silent Auction
Program Presentations
Partnering Opportunities
5:30pm Hors d’oeuvres 6:30pm Dinner
Catered by “A Catered Affair”
Please R.S.V.P. by November 20th
Table Sponsors are needed. The cost of sponsoring a table is $200. Table
sponsors will have their name listed in the evening’s program and on the table they
sponsor. They may also invite people to join them at their table for the event.
For more information, to sponsor a table, donate an item for the silent auction as well as to R.S.V.P., please
contact a board member or Shannon Smiley at the John 3:16 Center, 252-586-1800
Autumn 2013 5
If you are unable to attend the banquet, but would like to contribute during
the 2013 tax year or make a pledge for 2014, please use the form below:
NAME: ____________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ________________________________________________
CITY: ___________________________STATE: ________ZIP:_______
TELEPHONE:_________________________AMOUNT:____________
Credit Card Number: _______________________________________________
We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover
Expiration Date:______/______ Amount: _______________
This is to be a (check one): [ ] monthly donation
[ ] quarterly donation
[ ] one time gift
If paying by check, please make payable to The John 3:16 Center and mail to:
Post Office Box 1541, Littleton, North Carolina 27850
My contribution is made ______in honor of _________ in memory of
Name:____________________________________________________
On the occasion of: ________________________________________
Please send acknowledgement of my gift to:
Name: ___________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
City: _______________________State:________ Zip:_____________
“THANK YOU “ FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR!
You have enabled us to serve God by serving the community through:
Praying for us
Financial Support
Donation of clothing, household items, food
Collecting school supplies, uniforms, toys
Volunteering your time
Speaking of our programs to others and in many other ways
Thank you for allowing God to use you to meet needs of children and families in
Halifax, Warren and Northampton Counties
Autumn 2013 6
407 EAST END AVE.
P.O. BOX 1541
LITTLETON, NC 27850
252-586-1800/1-877-240-CARE
Fax: 252-586-1801
www.john316center.org
“For God so loved the WORLD, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting LIFE.” John 3:16
Autumn 2013 The center will provide opportunities for parental and
community involvement in the lives of their children. We
look forward to realizing this vision by providing the
following services through the center:
After-school check-in
Programs and structured activities for children
Free summer day camps
Enrichment programs
Outdoor recreation including a playground, basketball
court, and volleyball
Referrals to counseling services provided by local agencies
Parenting classes and workshops
Conflict Resolution workshops
GED and Literacy classes
Family Outreach (free clothing, home furnishings, hygienic items)
Food Pantry
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Littleton, NC 27850
Permit #20
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
The John 3:16 Center
Post Office Box 1541
Littleton, NC 27850