MISSION WORK FAMILY PARTNERSHIP Is mentoring right for you? The number of job openings is falling, the price of fuel and food is rising; probably all of us are feeling the effects, but the pressure on those at the lowest end of the economic scale is the greatest. How do you keep hope and the energy alive to work toward something better? WITH SUPPORT. Can you be that support? One of the most significant things we see with family partnership individuals is how resileint and hardworking they continue to be. When provided with a "friend" who believes in them, who helps them look for and find soluntions to the dilemmas they face, it is amazing how much more stable their situations and their actions become. It doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen. Come explore with us the effects of poverty on values and choices and the potential benefits of mentoring to low-income individuals in our community. Contact the church office, 946-5680, if you are interested in being part of this program. LAUNDRY PROJECT...YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! LOVE FOR CHILDREN has added a new volunteer opportunity! We've joined the Grand Traverse Laundry Project as the sponsor for a new site helping low income members of our community. From 11:00am - 2:00pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 5 or more volunteers will assist local low-income families, seniors, youth and homeless use the laundry facilities at the Garfield Laundry (located between Save-A-Lot & Golden Fowler). Volunteers will: greet the users, provide order to the day, feed coins into the machines, "hang out" with the families. Knowledgeable agency personnel are on hand to answer questions and make referrals as needed. Laundry is free to clients, funded by donations from churches, individuals and community groups. Three other sites are open for use other days of the month. This project started in 2004 when service agencies in the area reported numerous calls about children with lice or with soiled and smelly clothing. Rarely were the problems determined to be cases of abuse or neglect, but of choices -- difficult choices, which low income families must make about the use of their limited funds. Putting gas in the car to go to work and putting food on the table win out over doing the laundry. A family of 4 without facilities of their own needs about $45 per week to do their laundry. When faced with head lice, it takes much more than that. Our LOVE FOR CHILDREN board has decided to join in this effort by providing volunteers to man the new site one day a month. This central location and the time of 11:00am-2:00pm were purposely selected so that people might be able to volunteer who couldn't otherwise fit it into their schedules (no night driving and you're finished before school ends). All persons, regardless of age or gender, are welcome and encouraged to join in this worthy activity occasionally or once every month from September - June. Mileage reimbursement is available. Contact the LOVE FOR CHILDREN office at the church, 946-5680, if you have any questions. You may sign up at the kiosk at the church. JANUARY NICARAGUA MISSION TRIP Plans are already underway for our next Presbyterian Church mission trip to New Life Nicaragua Mission Center in Managua, Nicaragua. We are planning on being there January 3-17, 2009. People are welcome to go for the entire 2 weeks or any time within that 2 weeks (or, beyond that time frame, if so desired). The emphasis of this mission will once again be construction of the new orphanage on the mission property and, of course, helping out wiith the young children and the babies at the orphanage. For those in healthcare, we will be holding a health clinic (medical and dental). A specific date for an informational meeting will be forthcoming. All are welcome as there is something for everyone to do. For more information, please call the church office, 946-5680.