In record time no less. Our all volunteer crew keeps getting better and better. If you've not seen next month's menu you should definitely take a look. www.angelfoodministries.com
The thrift shop was open and going smoothly. Look for us just behind the big fireworks tents in the parking lot. We're having a lot of fun getting ready for the holiday. We may have a big surprise sale after the 4th. Shhhh. I didn't say word...
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Angel Food Distribution Saturday
Don't forget to pick up your Angel Food box Saturday. We'll be distributing from the United Methodist church from 10:30 - 11:30.
The thrift shop will still be open. If we have enough volunteers on hand we'll be selling hot dogs. Don't let the fireworks tents scare you off. There's still plenty of parking and plenty of thrift shop bargains to be had.
We'll see you Saturday!
The thrift shop will still be open. If we have enough volunteers on hand we'll be selling hot dogs. Don't let the fireworks tents scare you off. There's still plenty of parking and plenty of thrift shop bargains to be had.
We'll see you Saturday!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Hope for Healing.Org has an eBay to go!
We've got a new "eBay To Go"! This highlights all of our active listings one at a time.
These proceeds are an important part of keeping us active. It also provides job training skills and helps people get back on their feet. You'll find everything from new items to recreated ones.
The recreated ones are items that have been recreated by Hope Youth. These are juvenile offenders or regular volunteers. We want to take everything that is donated to us and make it saleable. The kids go a long way in helping us meet that goal. Be especially on the lookout for mirrors and etched glass pieces. The kids take special pride in those.
I hope you enjoy the widget. As always, let us know what you think.
Thanks!
Gayle
Sunday, June 24, 2007
The Fireworks Tents Have Arrived!
If you've been by our office today you probably wondered about the buzz of activity in our parking lot. We've been fortunate to have been able to rent the front of our lot to two different fireworks companies. If today is any indication they'll be bringing traffic to the store. We can't wait. Be sure to stop in and say hello if you buy fireworks.
TOday was such a busy day. We had 4 juvenile offenders and one teen volunteer in today. They helped process the donations that people brought in and fixed things so the tent companies could set up the fireworks stands. From a money making standpoint we didn't do too well. It was a little overcast. While we can sure use the rain it ends our business every time. Fortunately, we don't worry about money too much though. Not as long as we are able to pay the rent and utilities anyway.
The third weekend of the month is between paydays for many people. It's also a time when people hit us up for help with bills - usually utilities. Today was no exception. In the midst of everything going on a woman stopped by who needed a kind word and some reassurance. These are two things we love to give out and we offer them generously. She left feeling better than when she came in. And that, my dear blog reader, is what makes everything we do worth the effort.
Talk to you next time,
Gayle
TOday was such a busy day. We had 4 juvenile offenders and one teen volunteer in today. They helped process the donations that people brought in and fixed things so the tent companies could set up the fireworks stands. From a money making standpoint we didn't do too well. It was a little overcast. While we can sure use the rain it ends our business every time. Fortunately, we don't worry about money too much though. Not as long as we are able to pay the rent and utilities anyway.
The third weekend of the month is between paydays for many people. It's also a time when people hit us up for help with bills - usually utilities. Today was no exception. In the midst of everything going on a woman stopped by who needed a kind word and some reassurance. These are two things we love to give out and we offer them generously. She left feeling better than when she came in. And that, my dear blog reader, is what makes everything we do worth the effort.
Talk to you next time,
Gayle
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Juvenile Offender Not Here to Work
She wasn't here to work. That's what she said when she got here anyway.
The door opened slowly this Saturday morning. In walked one of our community service kids. Some people would call her difficult. In reality, that might be kind. A likeable kid but with problems. Her first day here was one of attitude. I wasn't sure she'd come back for day two but she did. She also has to avoid certain parties per court order who are also coming here to work. Now, on a day when she's not scheduled, in she walks.
"I'm not here to work today Miss Gayle". She tells me. "I just thought I'd hang out."
I told her that she may as well help me in the office. She eagerly obliged and pitched right in. I didn't say anything. I just let her talk while we worked. Soon my office was sorted and the problem she'd had on her mind when she came in was aired. There were no real answers for her but she seemed to feel better for having been heard.
When she announced that she better be getting back home and she left.
I looked at the neatly stacked piles, sorted and straightened items and marked her down for volunteer time. If we can't solve her problems we can at least give her the credit for what she did when she "wasn't here to work."
The door opened slowly this Saturday morning. In walked one of our community service kids. Some people would call her difficult. In reality, that might be kind. A likeable kid but with problems. Her first day here was one of attitude. I wasn't sure she'd come back for day two but she did. She also has to avoid certain parties per court order who are also coming here to work. Now, on a day when she's not scheduled, in she walks.
"I'm not here to work today Miss Gayle". She tells me. "I just thought I'd hang out."
I told her that she may as well help me in the office. She eagerly obliged and pitched right in. I didn't say anything. I just let her talk while we worked. Soon my office was sorted and the problem she'd had on her mind when she came in was aired. There were no real answers for her but she seemed to feel better for having been heard.
When she announced that she better be getting back home and she left.
I looked at the neatly stacked piles, sorted and straightened items and marked her down for volunteer time. If we can't solve her problems we can at least give her the credit for what she did when she "wasn't here to work."
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Holston Conference Prays for Domestic Violence Victims
The Holston Conference Domestic Violence Task Force held a moment of prayer for victims of domestic violence. Organized by Karla Kurtz, Task Force Chair, the moment was in front of Stuart Auditorium. Gayle Crabtree participated in reading the litany as director of Hope for Healing.Org. Playing the flute was the summer youth coordinator of Hope for Healing.Org.
Here are few shots of us getting ready for the service. More people were drawn by the music and joined us. We had an estimated crowd size of about 25. The pictures are not representative of that but at least you get a glimpse of one of the ways we raise awareness.
Purple ribbon cards, statistics and ways to help were available from our booth in the Missions Display area of Harrell Center.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Blog Counter Reset
The counter appears to have reset to zero either today or yesterday.
Sorry folks. It's a freebie.
Sorry folks. It's a freebie.
We Need Mentors for Restorative Justice At Risk Kids.
I and our youth coordinator arrived at work at 7:30 this Friday morning. Shortly afterward my assistant arrived with her daughter. Rachel is a rising high school senior and is a lead volunteer. She's great. Together, she and Allie (our summer youth coordinator) can handle just about anything.
By the time the next teen volunteer came in I was speaking with the mother of another juvenile offender. She's interested in having her son serve his hours with us but wanted to know more about our programs.
By 9:00 our first community service kid got here. (We'll call him "J".) He's basically a good kid but needs lots of supervision. At 10:00 our second teen juvenile offender came in. Sullen and withdrawn we did our best to make her feel at-ease. She relaxed some but not much. She required a lot of follow-up. Her attitude was as apparent as her hurting heart.
See, many of the kids who come to us have this huge "pseudo-egos". When you get past the tough exterior there is usually a hurting child lurking inside. I strongly suspect this is what is going on with "A". It wasn't long before we started hearing comments from well-meaning customers about her home life. Almost every one who saw her and knew her viewed her time here as possibly being a rare positive moment in her life.
We talked about plans for the future. "A" doesn't have any. She should be a rising junior yet she doesn't know where - or if- she's going to school next year. When I asked about college or tech school plans she shrugged. There aren't any plans.
By 1:00 another parent had called asking if her son could work his community service hours. She didn't say what he had done but she didn't seem too happy with him. There was mention of him "serving hours for the rest of his life". I'm pretty sure that didn't come from his probation officer.
What is even worse is knowing that until today all of the kids who served community service hours with us disclosed domestic violence or child abuse. It has been a factor in either their families or the dating relationships in which they have already been involved.
That breaks my heart.
We want to make a difference for these kids and sometimes we succeed. Another juvenile offender who came to us almost 2 years ago. He still volunteers every time the Angel Food truck comes in. If it hadn't rained today he would have mowed our yard.
And there have been others.
But to make a difference we need adults willing to put their heart on the line and volunteer to mentor. Even volunteering for only one day can make a kid feel cared about. A seed planted for the postive by a person who takes time to show they care may take years to root and blossom. A seed never planted will never bloom.
Do you have a Thursday, Friday or Saturday where you can come help?
Let us know. We'd love to have you.
By the time the next teen volunteer came in I was speaking with the mother of another juvenile offender. She's interested in having her son serve his hours with us but wanted to know more about our programs.
By 9:00 our first community service kid got here. (We'll call him "J".) He's basically a good kid but needs lots of supervision. At 10:00 our second teen juvenile offender came in. Sullen and withdrawn we did our best to make her feel at-ease. She relaxed some but not much. She required a lot of follow-up. Her attitude was as apparent as her hurting heart.
See, many of the kids who come to us have this huge "pseudo-egos". When you get past the tough exterior there is usually a hurting child lurking inside. I strongly suspect this is what is going on with "A". It wasn't long before we started hearing comments from well-meaning customers about her home life. Almost every one who saw her and knew her viewed her time here as possibly being a rare positive moment in her life.
We talked about plans for the future. "A" doesn't have any. She should be a rising junior yet she doesn't know where - or if- she's going to school next year. When I asked about college or tech school plans she shrugged. There aren't any plans.
By 1:00 another parent had called asking if her son could work his community service hours. She didn't say what he had done but she didn't seem too happy with him. There was mention of him "serving hours for the rest of his life". I'm pretty sure that didn't come from his probation officer.
What is even worse is knowing that until today all of the kids who served community service hours with us disclosed domestic violence or child abuse. It has been a factor in either their families or the dating relationships in which they have already been involved.
That breaks my heart.
We want to make a difference for these kids and sometimes we succeed. Another juvenile offender who came to us almost 2 years ago. He still volunteers every time the Angel Food truck comes in. If it hadn't rained today he would have mowed our yard.
And there have been others.
But to make a difference we need adults willing to put their heart on the line and volunteer to mentor. Even volunteering for only one day can make a kid feel cared about. A seed planted for the postive by a person who takes time to show they care may take years to root and blossom. A seed never planted will never bloom.
Do you have a Thursday, Friday or Saturday where you can come help?
Let us know. We'd love to have you.
We're in the Halls Shopper!
http://www.shoppernewsnow.com/
Check this out. Aaron did a great story on us. The photo is of two volunteers refinishing a quilt rack. They had never done anything like that before. I wish you had been here to see their self-esteem skyrocket! This is part of what we've done to make unsaleable items saleable. The proceeds go back into the program.
Some of the other items we've worked on include:
* Broken Mirrors + Broken Picture Frames Fix them. Put them together. Presto! You have mirrors again.
* Etched glass.
* Refinished furniture.
* Beaded jewelry.
Many of the kids who come to us come to serve court ordered community service. These kids have broken lives. By taking these items and making them usable we're also making a statement to the kids. Their lives are also salvageable. No matter what your life situation. No matter what has been done to you and no matter what you've done you can overcome.
That's our message and I'm sticking by it.
Check this out. Aaron did a great story on us. The photo is of two volunteers refinishing a quilt rack. They had never done anything like that before. I wish you had been here to see their self-esteem skyrocket! This is part of what we've done to make unsaleable items saleable. The proceeds go back into the program.
Some of the other items we've worked on include:
* Broken Mirrors + Broken Picture Frames Fix them. Put them together. Presto! You have mirrors again.
* Etched glass.
* Refinished furniture.
* Beaded jewelry.
Many of the kids who come to us come to serve court ordered community service. These kids have broken lives. By taking these items and making them usable we're also making a statement to the kids. Their lives are also salvageable. No matter what your life situation. No matter what has been done to you and no matter what you've done you can overcome.
That's our message and I'm sticking by it.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Domestic Violence Moment of Prayer Tomorrow at Annual Conference.
Tomorrow at 2:15 we'll be holding a moment of prayer for all effected by domestic violence. This will be in front of Stuart Auditorium on the conference grounds here in Lake Junaluska. If you have time please come join us.
Monday, June 11, 2007
United Methodist Conference to Provide Domestic Violence Training for Clergy!
By a landside! This is a very good day for Holston Conference United Methodist Victims of domestic violence. Resolution 1 passed by a vast majority. This is the resolution that two other people and myself worked on as an initiative of the new Holston Conference Domestic Violence Task Force.
Stuart Auditorium was packed with up to 1900 people. Only about 15 people voted nonconcurrence. Good job folks!
So how does this make hope happen?
It makes education and training on DV mandatory for all clergy serving within the boundaries of the Holston Conference. This runs from the extreme north Georgia and north Alabama throughout East Tennessee and into the western part of Virginia.
Soon, pastors will have the education and training they need to help the people we serve. I for one can't wait!
Thanks to all who voted!
Stuart Auditorium was packed with up to 1900 people. Only about 15 people voted nonconcurrence. Good job folks!
So how does this make hope happen?
It makes education and training on DV mandatory for all clergy serving within the boundaries of the Holston Conference. This runs from the extreme north Georgia and north Alabama throughout East Tennessee and into the western part of Virginia.
Soon, pastors will have the education and training they need to help the people we serve. I for one can't wait!
Thanks to all who voted!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Getting ready for Annual Conference
I can't believe it's that time again. We leave Sunday for the Holston Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church at beautiful Lake Junaluska, NC. Tomorrow, a domestic violence resolution that was written by myself and 2 others will be voted upon. For any voting members of conference who may be reading this:
Please Vote Concurrence on Resolution 1.
The people we serve need and deserve the support. If you have any questions about it or want to talk about the resolution I'll be around the missions area often. Please look for the Hope for Healing.Org display.
While you are there, be sure to pick up brochures and a purple ribbon card.
See you at Annual Conference!
Gayle
Please Vote Concurrence on Resolution 1.
The people we serve need and deserve the support. If you have any questions about it or want to talk about the resolution I'll be around the missions area often. Please look for the Hope for Healing.Org display.
While you are there, be sure to pick up brochures and a purple ribbon card.
See you at Annual Conference!
Gayle
Friday, June 08, 2007
Trail Ride Benefit Makes Hope Happen
Going on right now through June 10 is a trail ride. This is a unique way to raise funds to help our neighbors in the Strawberry Plains Community. We are thankful to Angie Lampkin and her husband for putting it together for us. Many thanks go to Pizza Plus and to everyone who's come out to help. We really appreciate your generosity. Thank you again! You are wonderful!
Monday, June 04, 2007
What a Grand Opening it was!
Our thrift shop grand opening was Saturday and it was great! DJ Express kept us entertained with a variety of great music. We munched out on the best hot dogs in Strawberry Plains and we nearly ran out of Jones Soda. It was a really great day! Thanks to all who came out!
Winners of the raffle were:
Gas Grill - Brad Franks
Dinner for 2 - Hope King
And yes, we have a few of those nifty tye-dyed T's that our youth made. They're going fast so if you want one, move quickly. :-)
Winners of the raffle were:
Gas Grill - Brad Franks
Dinner for 2 - Hope King
And yes, we have a few of those nifty tye-dyed T's that our youth made. They're going fast so if you want one, move quickly. :-)
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