Laundry Love is coming! Laundry Love is the monthly Grace initiative where we take-over a laundry mat once a month and pay for everyone’s laundry. Laundry Love is a national program. Our laundry mat is College Town Laundry located at 3223 E 17th St N by the WSU Campus. We are there Sunday, May 10 from 3 – 5:30 pm. We need volunteers to work shifts, either 3-4:15 pm or 4:15-5:30 pm. Sign up on the Laundry Love bulletin board in the narthex or email Catherine Neelly Burton, catherine@mygpc.org.
We serve children, adults, and families struggling with a number of challenging life issues. Many we serve have experienced backgrounds most of us cannot imagine. The abuse, neglect, and trauma is sometimes unbearable to hear. But our staff help with these problems every day.
One of our programs, located in Newton, Kansas serves girls ages 10 to 18 who have chronic runaway behaviors; some are victims of human trafficking. Grace funds have been used to help girls remove tattoos which helps remove something that reminds them of a past they want to forget. Grace has also provided yarn so they can knit blankets, etc. This gives them a feeling of accomplishment and self-pride.
EmberHope is a locked facility, so they cannot leave. Having something productive to do and of which they can be proud is a very positive thing!
Grace has also helped with the STRIVE program. STRIVE serves at-risk young adults ages 18 to 23. All have “aged out” of either the foster care or juvenile justice system. They have histories of abuse, neglect, and/or criminal behavior. We know these youth, without help, are likely to be on the street, become homeless, incarcerated, or have children removed from their own homes. We rely solely on donor funds for this program. You’ve helped us serve over 25 youth that struggle every day to become successful adults. Our goal is for them to become successful, independent adults. They have not learned basic life skills or a work ethic. Some are parents, and yet they know little about parenting. We teach and support them in a way that is respectful but requires them to be responsible. Mentors are always needed. I often say that it takes only one person to make the difference in the life of a child, and I am so thankful that we have many of those “persons” at Grace who are committed to making that difference!
[button url=”http://www.emberhope.org/” target=”” size=”small” style=”orange” icon=”” popup=”” title=””]Visit EmberHope[/button]
Each month on the first Sunday you’re encouraged to take home a re-usable yellow grocery bag, put some non-perishable items in it, and bring it back the next week, or soon thereafter. In May, wel split our donations between the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church Food Pantry and the Head to Toe Hygiene Pantry.
Our focus for this month is toilet paper!
Do you have an upcoming High school or College graduate in your family? If so we would like to recognize them on Sunday, May 17. A short bio including, name, parents and grandparents, school, future college/military or plans, any academic achievements, sports, clubs or leadership activities and a picture (head shot) should be sent to Kirk Anderson by email at kirk@mygpc.org or left at his office at Grace. All information should be in no later than May 10. All graduates are invited to attend services on May 18 for recognition.
On May 14, we welcome our friends and neighbors from Watermark Books back to Grace. We host Watermark for an author event with Sue Monk Kidd. We are excited for the chance to welcome the community to Grace. This is a ticketed event, but we have free tickets available. Contact Catherine Neelly Burton at the church office, 684-5215, for more information.
Read more about the event here: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/ticket/sue-monk-kidd-event-ticket