The Life Center Newsletter #1 Jan. 2011
Bringing you up to date TLC activities, volunteer opportunities, and needs
Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King!
The sounds of music were in the air. Or as one man put it, “You have brought music into my home.”
The occassion? The Life Center’s annual Christmas caroling event. Started as a means of sharing Christmas cheer with house bound individuals, it has grown each year. This year there were approximately 18 carolers ranging from preschool age to retirement age. We car pooled from home to home bringing cheer to those folks who needed a little special seasonal joy. We brought music, cookies, and handmade cards. The card were made especially for the event by a local first grade class. At one home, all the neighbors came over and joined in the fun. The group of carolers was made up of participants of both TLC cooking class and the divorce care for kids class. There were also board members, single moms with their children, friends, family and neighbors. After the caroling, this very diverse group traveled to our party location where we all filled up on Christmas treats and got better aquatinted. A special thanks to our hostess for the evening, Laurie.
Rest assured we are not all play and no work. We have several new volunteers to welcome aboard:
Irma Delgato our new prayer partner.
Carol Lawhorne our new encourager.
Mary Kay Schenk our new life skills program coordinator
Nichole Brandon
Gail Cowart
Several other people have offered to help. Their names will appear next time. Stay tuned.
We have been keeping the printing presses busy. We have a colorful new flyer and a supply of business cards, both with our logo. If you haven’t seen our logo yet, ask about it. Also available are flyers for our vehicle donation program. If you have a location where you can post this flyer, it would be very helpful. At the moment, this program is our main source of revenue.
Mary Kay tells us there is still room in both the cooking class and the financial class. Registration is limited so call soon if you are interested. Mary Kay’s # is 352 754-9825. She is currently enrolling single females ages 18-25. If you are older, sign up to be a mentor. If you are younger, perhaps you would like to earn some community service hours doing child care during the classes. She is putting a lot of energy into making these classes even more fun and informative. Good Job Mary Kay.
Humility is a good trait and we at TLC have decided to humble ourselves and start small. Yes, there is a million dollar facility we would love to own, but there may be a wait before that is a reality. Meanwhile we have decided to go with what ever we have, meaning we’ll use any donated building as a starting place and grow from there. Please pass the word to anyone who might like a tax write off. There is a real need right now to get homeless young moms into safe reliable housing.
How you can help:
pray for favor in obtaining a house
donate a house
donate a vehicle
signup for the life skill classes
be a media volunteer
be a mentor
host a single mom
offer professional services
contribute financially
be a marketing volunteer
arrange for TLC to speak to your group
be a volunteer grant writer
help with a fund raiser
Bottom line: we need a lot of help. If you have something to offer that isn't on the list, offer it anyway. Chances are, we need it!
The Life Center Newsletter #2 April 2011
Tax season has come and gone and the refund checks have been cashed. But some people didn’t get a refund. Some people actually had to pay additional tax money to the IRS.
If you were one of those people who had to write a check this year, we have some great news for you! You can donate to our approved nonprofit and take a larger tax deduction next year. OK, you already knew that. Aren't you tired of paying property taxes on property that you aren’t using and that isn’t likely to sell any time soon? Why not donate that property to The Life Center? The Life Center is appealing to your good business sense. Donate a building to us, help your community and get a great tax deduction all at the same time!
We concluded our last newsletter with these words, “We have decided to go with whatever we have, meaning we’ll use any donated building as a starting place and grow from there.”
Please pass the word to anyone who might have an empty building. There is a real need right now to get homeless young moms and their infants into safe, reliable housing.
You don’t have an extra building just sitting around? Here are other ways you can help:
* Pray for favor in obtaining a house
* Donate: a vehicle, boat, plane: anything with a title- running or not. call Barbara 352 597-0119
* Be a mentor
* Host a single mom
* Offer professional services
* Contribute financially
* Be a marketing volunteer
* Arrange for TLC to speak to your group
* Be a volunteer grant writer
* Help with a fund raiser
* Offer your business expertise
Bottom line: we need a lot of help. If you have something to offer that isn't on the list, offer it anyway. Chances are, we need it!
We have just sent out letters to approximately 20 local banks and credit unions requesting their help in obtaining a building. An inside source seemed doubtful this approach would work, but with God all things are possible. We request your prayers in this matter.
Thanks to Larry Robertson our SCORE volunteer for his generous commitment of time in helping us complete our business plan. This aspect of the project required thinking like a business person and getting the numbers to line up to reality. Larry stuck with us to the end. He patiently explained the intricacies of cash flow charts, capital assets and in-kind donations. The Life Center could really use a volunteer with business expertise. Anyone????
We are wrapping up our Pampered Chef fund raiser that Silvia Vadell set up for us. Pampered Chef has lots of great kitchenware for you or a friend. It is not too late to give Silvia a call ( 813 431 4016) and place your order. You’ll be helping TLC and you’ll get a great product. That’s a win-win situation!
OK donating a building or even ordering new kitchenware is just not in your budget right now. We get it. The economy is still tight. But you really want to help. You know this is a good project. You want to be part of it. You have few resources and little time. We have just the volunteer opportunity for you! TLC has a vehicle donation program. It is all set up and requires you to do just one thing. All you have to do is take a flyer with you to each business you go to and ask if you can put it up. That’s it. Simple enough? We will provide the flyers. Call Barbara (352 597-0119) and she will get the flyers to you. We promise: you don’t have to ask for money, you don’t have to call anyone, you don’t have to spend any money, you will be part of a successful fund raiser, you will be a blessing. Put up 5 or put up 50- each one will help us reach our goal of providing for young moms and their children.
Our community involvement continues to grow. We are now connected to Career Central, SCORE, RSVP, Hernando Youth Initiative, Teen pregnancy sub committee, and Pasco Hernando Early Childhood Coalition.
If you would like some of our great TLC business cards to use when you talk to people about The Life Center, just reply to this e-mail and ask for cards.
We can not conclude without this last, very important item: Volunteer Recognition
Albert Vadell is a young volunteer we wish to publicly recognize. Albert is a high school student at West Hernando Christian School. He has faithfully volunteered his time to assist TLC in fund raisers, computer work and general all around goodwill. One of Albert’s greatest contributions is his loyalty. For the past several years Albert has been willing to pitch in whenever we have requested his help. He has a great attitude and servant’s heart. Thank you, Albert for your continued support!
The Life Center Newsletter #3 October 2011
“Home by Christmas”
After a very long time, The Life Center is proud to announce we finally have a permanent location! We have partnered with Turning Point Nazarene Church in Brooksville, FL. They are going to provide the structure and we will provide the program. But first we need your help to provide some much needed building supplies to renovate the 816 /sq.. Ft. house.
Here is what Pastor Joey Hidler has to say about the buildings needs:
For step 1 we need lumber to fix the largest, and most difficult portion of the project , the foundation repairs. We have been advised not to use particle board due to the ground moisture in the area. Most of the upper structure is in good shape, but we have to replace the floor joist and the foundational beams.
- About 20 treated 2X6s 8ft long for floor joists
- About 50 treated 2X6s 10 ft long for floor joists
- Plywood (25 full-sheets of 1/2 inch or 3/4).
- Some flashing to go over the tops of the foundation pillars (aluminum OK)
- About 16 treated 2X6s at least 14ft for support beams (doubled up)
- We need to replace all the windows. Ask for specific sizes.
- We need exterior doors
- Step 2 will be the internal structure of walls. We already have a lot of that lumber but will probably need:2X4s.
Step 3 would be to install all the mechanics, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. That way we can be working in and through the walls before there are any walls to content with.
Step 4 will be to build out the interior with drywall, insulation, vanity, flooring, toilet, shower/bath, kitchen cabinets, and the exterior wheelchair ramp.
Step 5 will be the final touches. This will be more fun for many of us. That is the part where we furnish the home. Since we can’t easily store these items just yet, we are asking you to hang on to your donations for just a little while. You can call Barbara at 352 597-0119 and let her know what you have.
Watch for a full list of needed items for the entire project.
So what do you think?
Can we get some young moms and their infants “Home by Christmas”?
OK OK we know, many of our supporters are not construction workers and may not just happen to have a few sheets of plywood sitting around. Good News! Cash is also acceptable! All designated donations for the building will belong to Turning Point Church and you can make your check out and send it directly to them: 19384 Ingram St. Brooksville, FL 34601-5529.
We announced this partnership between Turning Point Church and The Life Center at the recent Hernando Youth Initiative Summit. This announcement was met with great enthusiasm. There is a lot of public support because the need is so great. There is no shortage of young, single moms who need a safe permanent home to raise their children. Wouldn’t it be a great Christmas miracle if we could offer them a Home by Christmas.
The Life Center Newsletter #4
Holiday Greetings!
First and foremost, we want to thank everyone who responded to our request to help Turning Point Church raise the money to complete the building they call “The Little House”. As you know, that little house will be used by The Life Center to shelter and care for homeless young moms and their infants. All money designated for that use is going directly to their building fund. In our last newsletter, we listed the materials that are needed to complete the project. The list may have been confusing and overwhelming to anyone not familiar with the building trade. How much does a 2X4 cost anyway? How about a sheet a plywood? If a person wants to help, how much should they contribute? Does $10. Really help? Therefore we will now try to simplify the whole matter.
A 14 foot 2X4 can be purchased for $6.00
A sheet of 3/4 inch plywood can be purchased for $25.
So now all the non-builders know. Make your check out to Turning Point and mail it directly to 19384 Ingram St. Brooksville, FL 34601-5529. It’s tax deductible. Will your $10 really help? YES! And $100 will help 10 times as much! For $1,000 we will write you name on every 2X4 that goes into the house!
Next item is a party invitation. Mark your calendars for 11/26 at 9 am. We will be sponsoring a “Home by Christmas” event. It will be two-fold. There will be an opportunity to help work on the building and there will also be a delicious pancake breakfast that same morning. All this will take place at 19384 Ingram St. Brooksville. The breakfast is a fund raiser for the building.
Finally we want to invite you to came out on Friday 12/16 at 6:30p.m. for some old fashioned caroling. Many of you have participated in the annual Life Center caroling. In the past we have car pooled to shut-ins. This year we thought we would try something different and travel on foot around the neighborhood near Turning Point. If you plan to come, try to wear Christmas colors, bring a desert to share afterwards and meet at 19384 Ingram St. Brooksville by 6:30. Everyone is welcome. This is a free event.
To RSVP to either event or for more information, please contact Barbara Lemoine at 352 597-0119
