Getting Ahead and Going Out!
Another Graduating Class Ready to Take on What's Next
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We couldn't be more proud of our Getting Ahead graduates. A graduation ceremony was held this past Thursday at the Miller Center for those who completed the 8-week long Getting Ahead class. The graduation consisted of messages of encouragement and motivation to take next steps, from Getting Ahead facilitators, local social service providers, and city council members, including Mayor, Treney Tweedy. She encouraged graduates that, "We are all here for you. As a city it is our responsibility to make available opportunities that will help you to take that next step. So ask your facilitators, your Park View family, or any of us what we can do to help you. Take advantage of these resources and find what your next step will be. We're here to take it with you."
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The
Getting Ahead class
helps our neighbors living in poverty to gain a greater understanding of the things in their personal lives, community and society that may be keeping them in the poverty cycle and how to efficiently leverage resources that can help them break free from this cycle. We believe that the success of this program is primarily due to it's relationship-focused model, one in which mentoring relationships continue even after the program is completed. We need more mentors to walk alongside and encourage our neighbors. Email us at parkviewmission@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming a mentor!
Contact us if you or someone you know is interested in enrolling in the next class!
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The 4th of July Cookout was a Success!
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We could not have asked for the 4th of July Cookout to have gone any better! Volunteers showed up as early as 8:00 am to help pull things together--from setting up tables and chairs to cutting up watermelon--we couldn't have done it without your help! We were able to pull everything together just in time.
Though it was a slow start, neighbors quickly began filling the parking lot with smiling faces and eager tummies! Everyone enjoyed their share of burgers and hot dogs, ice pops, face painting, and corn hole. Best of all, we experienced strangers suddenly becoming friends (from toddlers to cancer survivors); laughing, sharing stories, and enjoying one another's company. It was quite a sight, and we cannot wait to host another opportunity to build community and love our neighbors. So keep our eyes and ears open, we'll need your help! Thank you again to all who helped put this together and those who couldn't be there but contributed to the event through donations and prayers! Read more about the evening
here
!
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Thank you to all who attended the Bridges out of Poverty training last week! We hope it was very informative and eye opening and that you would allow what you have learned to shape the way you view our neighbors and those struggling to break free from the cycle of poverty. We hope you will share this experience with those around you and encourage others to love and care for those in need here in our own community. Keep in touch to stay updated on the next available training!
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Tackling the Opioid Epidemic
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We are proud to have the Unlimited Potential (UP) Foundation as a part of our Park View family.
The UP Foundation is an alternative peer group program that offers young people the opportunity to maximize their unlimited potential by avoiding, abstaining and recovering from substance use disorders. The UP Foundation believes that the therapeutic value of one person in recovery helping another is without parallel. Check out this testimony!
I came to UP when I was 17 years old. They not only showed me that there's more to life than drugs, but they gave me hope. I did very well with them for 6 months, but I made a decision to leave the UP Foundation on my 18th birthday, thinking only of the 'fun' I thought I would have since I was free to do as I pleased. This quickly led me to dropping out of school with only 3 months or so to go until graduation. Four months ago, I found my way back and they accepted me. I can't thank this program enough. By the way, with their support and encouragement, I returned to school. I just got my high school diploma from Heritage a few weeks ago. I found my way back to the UP Foundation, because the seed was planted. Now I'm in it to win it!
-Jesse
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Current Needs and Prayer Requests
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URGENT NEED!
We are still in need of more truck drivers for our Wednesday and Friday food pickups at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Walmart locations. Currently, we do not have enough drivers. No CDL is required and we could really really use some help. Contact 434-333-5162 if interested!
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USED COMPUTERS
We are in need of donated computers for our next computer class! We believe in equipping our neighbors and students with resources to succeed. Graduates of the 8-week long computer class will receive a computer to take home with them. If you have any computers or computer parts (keyboards, monitors, mouses etc.) that you no longer need or do not work, bring them by Park View on Wednesdays and our Lighthouse Communications program will repair them for our neighbors!
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Needed Pantry Items
- Blankets
- Towels
- Men's & Children's Clothing
- Toilet Paper
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Please be praying for...
- Wisdom and humility for our leadership as we make some upcoming decisions
- Compassion for our neighbors, that our hearts, the hearts of our volunteers and community members would not be hardened
- Financial provision -- to be able to support our growing needs for food, programs, and staffing.
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Thank you to
Once Upon a Child
for providing us monthly with so many needed baby clothes! They go fast and we are constantly distributing clothes to mothers for their children in need. You are changing lives in this city, and we can't say thank you enough!
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Donation from Lynchburg Cooks
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This past week we received $6,900 from the Lynchburg Cooks for Hunger Relief, an event which took place earlier this year. The proceeds will allow us to provide even more food for our families. Thank you again for all who took part in the event and all who put it together!
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Wednesday Night Meals -
July & August
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July 4th...................................................Board Members & various volunteers
July 11th........................................................................West Lynchburg Baptist
July 18th....................................................................................Timberlake UMC
July 25th.........................................................................................Amelon UMC
August 1st........................................................................................Brenda Moss
August 8th.............................................................................LBA Pastor's Group
August 15th...............................................................................Timberlake UMC
August 22nd........................................................................Bedrock Lynchburg
August 29th......................................................................................Fort Hill UMC
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Here's What's Been Going on at Food for Families This Month!
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Monthly Numbers Served
June 2018
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Food Distribution
696
Families
1,934
Individuals
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What can you buy with $10??
$10 can provide a family with this much food for one month!
Food for Families is currently providing an average of 700 families each month with supplemental groceries and essentials. We are blessed to receive an abundance of food from our partners at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Walmart and Food Lion at no cost! But in order to fill our pantry with this food, we need your financial support to help with heating and cooling expenses, food refrigeration, utilities, vehicle maintenance, and operations. Please consider how you can financially support Food for Families to ensure a family in need can get fresh food this month, as well as clothing and personal care items like soap or diapers.
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"
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
"
~ Philippians 2:4
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Food for Families Staff & Info.
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Director
Assistant to the Director
Neighbor Service Coordinator
Volunteer Support
Office Clerk
Wed. Night Meal Coordinator
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Gordy Harper
Rachel Koenig
Sarah Lagos
Lisa Stump
Steve Mays
Karen Bragg
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gordyharper57@gmail.com
rnkoenig@liberty.edu
parkviewmission@gmail.com
parkviewmission@gmail.com
parkviewmission@gmail.com
vette92lt1@aol.com
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Office phone
: 434-845-8468 ext.1
Office Hours
: Wed. 8am—4pm, Thurs. 8am—5pm, Sat. 8am—3pm
Distribution Hours
: Thurs. 2pm—4pm, Sat. 12pm—2pm
Wed. Night Meals
: 4:30—Doors open 5:00—Music & Devotion 5:30—Dinner Served
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