I recently wrote how Saturday is kept busy by the great number of volunteers who are working to make a difference. I think of speaking to a student who was looking forward to time with their mentor. I saw the kids enjoying dinner, served by the hands of a volunteer.

I soon sat down and chatted with a business adviser on a challenge… someone who volunteers countless hours each week. As I spoke to a friend on the phone, I observed a gentleman mowing our yard… a volunteer. During a recent meeting for all staff, our phones were answered by… a volunteer.

Do you see a common goal? Maybe helping to coach our competitive jump rope team. Maybe working with a student in math, answering phones, mowing the grass, driving a truck… how do you fit in this picture? Your talent will find a home at Shepherd… come be the difference in a student’s life.

jay

Saturday is the down day at Shepherd.. right? Well, there are no after school programs, no academy, no sports program. But what you will find? Hope being given in a variety of ways…

1. Health clinic – where those in our programs, and their families can come to receive free medical care and have prescriptions filled.
2. Free tax prep – both English and Spanish speakers can come to have their taxes done for free.
3. Free legal advice – in partnership with the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic.
4. Food pantry – where families can come to receive food and personal care items.
5. Once a month free haircuts are provided.
6. Once a month science club for middle and high school students.

T

the key, in this very busy day…….volunteers.  All this is run by volunteers… can you join with us on this very busy “down” day? You can help make a difference.

jay

All the research shows that the earlier you engage with a child, the more impact you can have on them. Here at Shepherd Community we have Project Jordan… a special program that works with birth moms and their babies. We use a national curriculum called “Parents as Teachers” to teach important skills to the mothers. For most of our mothers, they care deeply for their child. They have just never been taught how to.

They recently had their quarterly meeting, where all the moms and children come for a special evening of teaching, sharing and just having fun together. I so appreciate the support people provide so we can do this program. Over 40 families are being help, but there is a waiting list… got to keep growing. This program makes a difference for a lifetime.

jay

Each and every day families’ lives are being impacted here in the Near-Eastside of Indianapolis. We want you to know that story and see how lives are being changed. It isn’t a story about Shepherd, but the story about lives being changed. Parts of that means we must define poverty and what does it look like in Indianapolis… are there really gangs? Do kids go to bed hungry? Does a teenager have to sleep on the street? In the next several months we will begin to explore this and see what we can do to make a difference.

This is really a conversation that we want to invite you to join with us in. Leave a comment below or send us an email. We want to learn together. But we know this… that the great war on poverty has been a dismal failure, and unless we act now, it will only get worse. I hope you’ll stay tuned.

jay

Today I write with a heart as heavy as it has been for sometime. Haiti has seen a horrible tragedy unfold, and I know it will continue to unfold. So what can we do…first, we at Shepherd have asked for our neighbors, those we serve, to join with the effort and donate what money they can to the tremendous rescue effort needed. And they are responding…..our effort we are calling… “change for change”.

It has been personal for those of us here at Shepherd as one of our founders was there in Haiti and shared personally the devastation. But our hearts broken cannot be where we end. It is our call to act. So join with us…..will you give? You can support Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, who has been generous to support us. Support the Red Cross, Salvation Army…support someone. Now is the time. As I talk with our neighbors and they share their brokenness, I am moved by their heart for others as well…..the cycle of poverty is broken when you recognize you have something to give. Lots of cycles are being broken.

jay

So the holidays are over….do we shut up the doors and recover? Absolutely not, the unique part of what we do at Shepherd is that our holiday help enables us to further deepen the relationships we have with those we are serving all year. So yes, lots of parents selected gifts for their children for Christmas… and those same kids are walking into the after school program today, or maybe in our pre-school academy, or are in our gymnastics programs.

When folks support Shepherd, they are investing in the lives of our families all 12 months. While our challenges are tremendous, our consistent effort through the support of so many enables us to be investing daily.

The challenges of poverty aren’t met in the episodic, but the consistent investment. As we start a new year, just a quick note to say thanks for those who make it possible to be here all of 2010.

Happy New Year.

jay