Kdc newsletter june[1]
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Transcript of Kdc newsletter june[1]
continued on page 2
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
1
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
continued on page 3
2
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
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
3
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
______________________________________________
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
Become a friend on
KALAMAZOO DREAM RIDE 2013 ADOPT-A-BLOCK SCHEDULE 2013
4
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