Christ United Methodist in East Moline, IL Wraps Up a Great Shoe Drive!

Overflowing Box

Below is a recap of a Project Respond Shoe Drive hosted by Christ United Methodist Church in East Moline, Illinois.

We kicked off our shoe drive at Christ United Methodist Church, East Moline, on Sunday, February 28th.  Tricia Danley, Julie Keegan and I made the announcement at each of the three services and were able to show the video of the October 2015 team distributing shoes. We set a goal to collect 100 pairs of shoes and 100 pairs of socks. The video was very well received! 

The following Sunday I spoke to each of the elementary aged Sunday school classes about ACF’s ministries to the orphans and at risk Roma in Romania and told them about the challenges they face.  I also passed out photos/profiles of some of the Point of Hope children, and the kids all agreed to pray for a specific Roma child.  The kids wrote “love” notes to tuck inside the shoes.  They also made shoe-shaped fliers that they took home to parents and we laid the extras out on the fellowship hall tables on Sundays as a reminder to all to donate.  We also lined the walls in the Sunday school wing with the paper shoes and profiles of the children.  Karyn Robertson decorated a bulletin board in a prominent place near the church offices. 

Bulletin board of  HOPE

Near the end of March we were 20 pairs shy of our goal, so we put the word out via Facebook, email and newsletters.  By Sunday, April 2nd we had surpassed our goal with 125 pairs (and about 170 pairs of socks)!  

Last Sunday, April 10th, Karyn and Tricia lined all the shoes up in the hallway in the Sunday school wing and the elementary kids stuffed the love notes in the shoes and laid their hands on them and prayed over them.  One of the attached pictures shows the pre-school and kindergarten kids hugging the shoes, passing on their love to the Romanian children who will wear them.

A Special Thank You!

Then this past Sunday April 17th Karyn gathered the kids for Sunday’s “Small Talk” at the altar at the 10:35 service and she made the announcement of what our congregation had donated and showed a slide show with photos of the shoe drive set to the song “Jesus loves the little children,” and had the kids hold up big letters that said “Thank you.” It brought tears to my eyes! 

I am so touched by the outpouring from our congregation—showing their love and support with their gifts and prayers for the children in Romania.   

I think it is has been a wonderful learning experience for our kids too and I have to thank Karyn Robertson for all she did to get the kids involved and promote the drive.  Couldn’t have done it without her!  God is good!-   Dawn Cook

Another Child Foundation is blessed to have churches like Christ United Methodist Church involved in the life-changing work being done in Romania.

If your church would like to participate in a Project Respond Shoe Drive please contact our Executive Director- Tim Oloffson at director@anotherchild.org or call him at (815) 303-1725.

Children Praying!

More Praying!

Children Hugging and Loving the Shoes

Point of Hope Face-Lift!

New flooring being installed!

During the past weekend the Point of Hope Development Center in Tarneveni, Romania received a small face-lift. The carpet in the gathering areas of the center were replaced by a new flooring material that will provide a durable surface as well as a surface that can be cleaned much easier. The carpet was originally installed during the first renovation of the center back in 2006. 100's of children have used that carpet to gather and change from their daily clothes to their at-school clothes over the past 10 years.

The cleaning staff will not just find this new floor easier to clean but much more appealing to the eye. This beautiful new flooring will brighten up the day for the children and staff. ACF would like to thank all of our supporters who continually support our ministry. Without the generosity of you, the Point of Hope would not be making the difference it is for the children God has entrusted to our care!

Beautiful colors all the way through!

The final touches!

"NEW" Motivation and Performance Program Kicks-Off

On March 8, 2016, at the headquarters of the General Director of Social Assistance and Child Protection-Mures in Romania, an event occurred to officially start the "MOTIVATION & PERFORMANCE" program in which contracts were signed granting its scholarships to the winners. After the process of selecting winners started in January 2016 that involved the preparation of dossiers by the applicants and an interview with the selection committee, 27 young people were selected to benefit from the scholarship for 10 months from March 2016 until December 2016. Scholarship winners will receive a social protection measure.

     The Motivation and Performance program aims to provide support to young people who have achieved favorable results in domestic and/or international cultural events - art, sports, technical, scientific or have personal talents that have been recognized (art, sports, culture, music, education, etc.). With this scholarship, young people will be able to improve their school results or  seek training or specialization to develop in the areas they are most passionate about. The Motivation and Performance Scholarship wants to help fulfill the dreams of young people who have set a goal and are striving to achieve it.

Here is the story of one of the youth who will be helped by this program.

"Gyula is a 16 year old boy living in a group home near Targu Mures. He applied for the Motivation and Performance program upon being encouraged by the group home staff to do so, because of his exemplary behavior, good school performance and great talent for drawing. When asked what he would like to do with the grant, Gyula said that he would like to follow his 'lifelong' passion: doing hair, so he would like to attend a hairstylist course. This past Tuesday was his first official hairstylist class. It was great to hear Gyula talk about the class. He learned about hair structure and hair types, and he already loves the course and can't wait to go back next week. We are excited that, as of this week, Gyula has taken the first step in following his dream and will be qualified to do something he absolutely loves."

Another Child Foundation is excited to be able to partner with Fundatia Buckner on this new ministry effort. ACF is thrilled to see these youth grow into the people God created them to be.

Child Profile of the Week!

Meet Lorena from the Point of Hope!

This week we are proud and excited to introduce you to Lorena Costea. If you would like to become an answered prayer for Lorena you can click on the link at the bottom of this page to become his sponsor. If you want some additional information on the ACF Sponsorship program CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE TO ANSWER A CHILD'S DEEPEST PRAYER!

Overflowing Heart!

Alicia Carter
ACF Development Manager

"Wow God!" These words have crossed my mind and left my mouth countless times since I have become part of the ACF family. I'm in total awe of how God has been transforming and equipping me to do my part. God has blessed me with such great opportunities from meeting with diverse and fascinating Pastors who are following the call of God on their lives to now having the opportunity to go to Romania in May! I can hardly wait to meet each child! My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to be able to go to Romania so soon!

As I learn more about the the heart of ACF and what it strives to do, I am beyond humbled to be a part of a foundation that is making such a difference in the world and thrilled to see what God has planned for it's future!

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior"

This chorus from the song Oceans by Hillsong perfectly sums up the many steps of faith God has called me to take recently. In this new journey of my life, I feel a little like Peter when Jesus called him out on the water. I sense God stretching my faith and reminding me that as I'm becoming the voice for the ACF children, it's in His strength and not my own. And with God we KNOW that all things are possible! I look forward to what great things God has in store!

Edgewood Baptist Church Completes Shoe Drive!

This morning ACF was blessed to be able to go to one of the Illinois churches supporting our 2016 Project Respond humanitarian aid drive and pick up the shoes their congregation collected during the month of March.

Edgewood Baptist Church in Rock Island, Illinois decided that collecting shoes for the children we serve in Romania was a great idea. Church deacon, Jason Crosby connected ACF Director Tim Oloffson and Pastor Dan Cullett together to discuss the idea. "It was a great partnership" said ACF Director Tim Oloffson. "Pastor Dan and the Edgewood congregation was a delight to work with!"

 Edgewood collected 125 pairs of boys and girls athletic shoes to support ACF's effort to help at-risk and orphaned children in the country of Romania. Each year ACF partners with Shoes for Orphan Souls and sends a 40 ft shipping container full of shoes, socks, school supplies and other humanitarian aid to Romania to relieve some of the needs the people in Romania encounter daily. "It is amazing to see the effects a new pair of shoes can have on a child's attitude," continues Oloffson. "The good news of the Gospel comes alive when the child can see hope in a tangible way."

Another Child Foundation is now looking for people to take part in the annual Project Respond shoe distribution trip scheduled for October 12/23. Anyone wanting information on this life-changing trip can simply CLICK HERE to find more information.

ACF is also looking for other churches and organizations to consider being part of our 2016 Project Respond drive. Participation in our annual drives is so very easy. Below are the 4 easy steps to get started:

1) Notify ACF by calling (815) 303-1725 or emailing ACF at director@anotherchild.org to receive a shoe drive packet

2) Work with your church or organizations leadership to arrange collection dates

3) Promote the drive and collect the shoes or other aid

4) Drop off shoes or other aid at our Celebration Day on July 29.

Below is a video we created from last years Project Respond mission trip which delivered much of the aid we collected.

Breaking through Barriers UPDATE!

Last year we made the decision to complete the renovation of the third floor of the Point of Hope Development Center. This capital campaign was called "Breaking through Barriers" and had the purpose of renovating the remaining class-rooms into life-skill development rooms. This was a large under-taking due to the remaining rooms were completely stripped of anything with any value. All of the wiring and wood had been stripped from the walls when the building sat abandoned for several years. Well now is the time to finish off the renovation!

The donors who have made the Breaking through Barriers campaign a reality need to be recognized for their generous hearts! Thanks to each of you for your support of this project.

While the majority of the renovations will take place during the summer, when ACF mission teams visit the Point of Hope, a few things are being done now. The third floor bathroom will be completed in April and the door frames and other small construction projects will also be done prior to the teams arriving.

The end results will be magnificent! The 125 children we serve on a daily basis will have access to a preschool play area for those times when playing outside are not conducive, a wood-working classroom, and sewing/fabrics classroom, and a cooking classroom. These 4 new rooms along with a new restroom will give our children a chance to develop some valuable life-skills needed to survive in their environments.

During the last week in March the older kids who will benefit from the Breaking through Barriers campaign were taken up to the third floor where an announcement of the renovation plans was made to them. You could sense their excitement! However, the impact these rooms will have on the kids will not set in until they see the finished project and get to actually develop their life-skills in these rooms.

ACF is so very thankful to ALL of our supporters for their commitment to these children. The Breaking through Barriers campaign had 2 goals. First, was to raise the $43,000 needed to complete the renovations. The second goal is to raise an additional $17,000 for the ongoing costs of the program for 2 years. We have successfully raised the first $43,000 and are now working on the $17,000. If you feel called to support the completion on this project you can click on the link below to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!