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JUNE, 2013

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 Girl Scouts Visit Dream Center

2 Dream Designs Moving Forward 3 Volunteering is a Verb 3 Train a Child in the Way He Should Go...

4 Kalamazoo Dream Ride 2013

4 Adopt-a-Block Schedule

Acts 20:35

“In all things I have shown

you that by working hard

in this way we must help

the weak and remember

the words of the Lord Jesus,

how he himself said,

‘It is more blessed to give

than to receive.’ ”

KALDREAM.ORG

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Girl Scouts Visit the Dream CenterSome you of you may remember the Girl Scouts of your youth – time spent with

friends and going to camp – and most everybody knows them for the delicious cookies

that are available every spring time! Did you know that Girl Scouts, while still fun for

all those leading and participating, are about much more? Troop # 80474, a Brownie

level troop led by Rachel Shank and Tara Smith, not only know how to have fun together,

but have taken the words of Philippians 2:4 (Let each of you look not only to his own

interests, but also to the interests of others.) and the Girl Scout mission to heart

by learning to make the world a better place.

Troop # 80474,

a group of 10,

third-graders,

most of whom

have been

together in Girl

Scouting for three

years, decided,

with the guidance

of their leaders,

to earn a Philan-

thropy badge this

year. This parti-

cular badge lets

girls explore basic human needs and encourages them to think about ways in which

they can be people who give to those in need. After some researching of different places

in the Kalamazoo area that give to the community in this way, this troop decided to

partner with the Dream Center because they liked the facts that people are able to visit

the center for clothing every 28 days, and that much needed food may be picked up once

per week. It was decided, not only, that money from their cookie sales would be donated

to the Dream Center for purchasing essential food items, but that their “gifts of caring”

cookies (those purchased and donated to others by people wishing to support the

Girl Scouts, but trying to be good and not eat them!) would be given to the center

for its clients as well.

After much hard work selling cookies, the girls visited the Dream Center on April 22nd

to tour the center, fill the food pantry with the items that they were able to purchase with

the $125 worth of cookie proceeds, and bring 78 boxes (of caring) cookies to be shared

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DREAM DESIGNS RESALE SHOP

Dream Designs moving forwardIn the beginning of April the Dream Center saw to completion a year

long vision. Dream Designs, our new resale shop was introduced to the

community on April 6th. This upscale thrift store is now open on

Saturdays and offering some very nice home furnishings as well as many

Knick Knacks and other assorted items for the home. People who have

come to shop have had some great things to say about the look and

feel of their shopping experience.

The vision of the store is to provide a source of revenue that would assist

in creating sustainability to the ongoing ministries the Dream Center.

All proceeds come back to the center to keep the lights and heat on and

to provide basic essentials to the poor families we serve

If you haven’t paid a visit to the store just yet, please take time out to

visit us on a Saturday in the near future. You may also donate gently used

home furnishings for the store as an alternative way to give to the ministry.

The store is currently open on Saturdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

Dream Designs Resale Shop2922 Portage St. Kalamazoo, Mi, 49001 269.903.2612

Hours: Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm

PUT YOUR HEARTS IN ACTION A NEW TREND IN VOLUNTEERING

Train a child in the way he should go…The parents of Alexis (11), Emma (10) and Jacob (8) Obermesik are

putting this particular passage of scripture into action. This trio has been

giving of their time, first with a few of the Kalamazoo Christmas events,

and over the past year, with the Dream Center, where they’ve helped

with Adopt-a-Block and sorting donated food and clothing.

It seems that while Alexis is working at the center, she is somewhat

of a young organizational whiz, even though she admits that, at home,

she’s not like that when it comes to her room. When asked about serving

at the center, Jacob mentioned that he had fun reading a story to one of

the younger kids who visited. Emma has enjoyed helping others so much

that, recently, when she celebrated her tenth birthday, it was requested

that in lieu of gifts for herself, friends attending her party would instead

donate food, clothing and/or household items to the center. When asked

why she liked the Dream Center so much, she replied that “I like it because

people (who come to the center) don’t have to pay. Other places make

people pay something.”

This type of serving done by families– children working alongside their

parents – seems to be a newer trend at the Dream Center, according to

Director, Rik Stone. What better way to stay close as a family while honor-

ing God by using the gifts given to each of us, in order to connect with,

and serve others.

Volunteering is a verbDoes anyone remember those bygone

days of learning the parts of speech –

nouns, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs,

etc..? Maybe they didn’t make much sense

until Schoolhouse Rock wisely devised

entertaining songs that helped us, not

only learn them, but reinforced what we

learned as we went about singing them,

and teaching others as we did. Verbs

always seemed to be the most fun of the

parts of speech because they expressed

action, described the things we did.

Volunteering is a perfect example of a

verb and a crucial one when it comes to

the day-to-day operation of the Dream

Center. With the assistance of volunteers,

the Dream Center has the privilege of being

able to serve those in need in the inner

city of Kalamazoo. There are many ways

in which to get involved, so please contact

us by phone (269.382.4760) or email

kalamazoodreamcenter@gmail.com

for more information.

Giving of time to help others is a gift, not

only to those who are helped, but to those

who give it. So, in the immortal words of

Schoolhouse Rock’s “Verb” video, “put your

hearts in action.” You’ll be glad you did!

Emma, Jacob and Alexis Obermesikvolunteer at the Dream Center along side their parents – a new trend in serving the Lord

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Girl Scouts continued

with those in need. Since the experience

has been such a positive one for the girls,

as they’ve been able to favorably impact the

Kalamazoo community, one of the leaders

indicated that they may wish to do this

again next year, even though the badge

has already been earned, which would truly

exhibit the traits of young philanthropists.

Saturday 11-May 10:00 am Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 25-May 10:00 am Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 8-Jun 10:00 am. Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 22-Jun 10:00 am. Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 13-Jul 10:00 am. Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 27-Jul 10:00 am Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 10-Aug 10:00 am. Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 24-Aug 10:00 am Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 7-Sep 10:00 am Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 21-Sep 10:00 am. Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 5-Oct 10:00 am Regular Adopt-A-Block

Saturday 19-Oct 10:00 am Regular Adopt-A-Block

Schedule Specifics:

Adopt-A Block will begin at 10:00 am and we will be out

in the neighborhood by 10:30 am.

We will wrap-up our time in the neighborhood by 12:00 noon,

at which time we will return briefly back to the Center.

Volunteer Donate items

Financial Gift Other

______________________________________________

Name

______________________________________________

Address

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Phone

______________________________________________

Email

All donations are tax deductible

GET INVOLVED

< Please cut and mail to:

Kalamazoo Dream Center

1122 Portage St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269.382.4760 www.kaldream.org

kalamazoodreamcenter@gmail.com

Become a friend on

KALAMAZOO DREAM RIDE 2013 ADOPT-A-BLOCK SCHEDULE 2013

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S IMPLE WAYS TO SUPPORT

Meijer RewardsSign up at www.meijer.com/rewards

Our new number is 131257.

Tax Deductible DonationsAll financial donations to the Kalamazoo

Dream Center are tax-deductible.

Some of our volunteers gathering on a Saturday morning

The Dream Center is excited to announce

the second annual Kalamazoo Dream Ride

fundraiser. The Dream Ride is a bicycling

event designed to directly help the poor and

homeless in Kalamazoo by supporting the

center and it’s outreaches. This year’s ride be

held on August 17 and will begin at 9:00 am

at lighthouse Community Church. The event

will feature a 1-20, 40 and 60 mile ride.

A lunch will be served at the tail end of the

ride where you can also enjoy some lively

music. Whether you’re a skilled rider or a

casual bike enthusiast, you won’t want to

miss this chance to get involved and

support the needy. For more information,

please visit the Dream Ride website at:

kalamazoodreamride.com