School Readiness

On Tuesday we had our school readiness distribution, so this was the day that all of the families came to pick up their backpacks, goodies, and assorted clothing. We also provided each family with a voucher to the Family Dollar store and a coupon to CAP's thrift store Grateful Threadz. Thankfully, Jenny is extremely organized and everything went smoothly.

We had ninety-nine students and forty-seven families sponsored through this distribution. The distribution was supposed to start at 10am; Jenny and I arrived at 8:30 to finish putting together the last few things and there were already several families waiting outside. Eventually, after all the other volunteers arrived to man their stations, we let them start coming in, five families at a time, to begin the process...

Step #1: Check-In
This was my station. Each family was supposed to bring the letter that we sent them with the information about the distribution. The letters served as proof for who they were and provided us with their family number. After seeing the letter I would cross them off the list and explain the rest of the process. Kiara, my volunteer manager, served as our bouncer - letting the right number of families in at a time - and our bag lady.

Step #2: Clothing
The majority of our clothes were a very random assortment and, unfortunately, we did not even have very many clothes for kids. We did, however, have underwear for all sizes and at least the teens and even a few parents were able to get some new clothes. This station was kind of crazy though. Each child could get five clothing items. An underwear pack, three pairs of socks, a full "Hannah Montana" outfit, and a singular piece of other clothing all counted as one item each. Hence the confusion. At Christmas we got this giant pallet full of these "Hannah Montana" clothes and I think every county has been swimming in them since.

Step #3: Backpacks
Here we had all of the backpacks lined up in long lines according to their grade and separated between boys and girls. Joe was guarding the packs and helping each student pick out one that they liked. It was fun to see which packs the kids would like - and thankfully they seemed to like some of the packs that we had tons of!

Step #4: Hygiene Kits and Grab Bags
Jenny and I worked hard to put together bags with hygiene items for each family. We had some basic hygiene kits from Op Share that we added to - mainly soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. The grab bags consisted of a lot of random items that we had in the office that we thought kids might like. Such as books, hot cocoa, granola bars, etc...Theses were then separated out by age range and gender.

Step #5: Check-Out
This was Jenny's station. Her main responsibility was to check each family, making sure that they had everything they were supposed to get and that they didn't have anything they weren't supposed to have. She also gave each family their vouchers and coupons.

As aforesaid, everything went smoothly. We had just the right amount of help and only a few people showed up who were not signed up. It was great too because a reporter from the Mt. Vernon Signal came to do a piece on the distribution (hopefully Jenny makes it in the paper - it has been one of her goals for the year!). All in all it was a great day and hopefully a lot of children will enjoy their school year a little more because of it.

Even though the sign-ups for School Readiness were in May, we have been able to help out other families who missed the sign-ups. With school starting next week, we have been getting multiple calls each day from families who need help with school supplies, and thankfully, we have enough items left over to continue helping out.

This is Lonnie. He has been a student up at CAP's preschool, but he is about to enter Kindergarten. Although, maybe you can't see him with all that camo!

Exit Luncheon

Today was my exit luncheon. There are five of us long-term volunteers who will be leaving in the next month, so the volunteer department had a short ceremony to celebrate our time and our service here in Appalachia.

The ceremony was actually really nice. All of our managers came - even Jennifer. I e-mailed her last week and invited her to come, which really meant a lot to me. I like Robyn (my new manager) a lot, but I've only been working for her for two weeks, so it was great that Jennifer made it. Anyway, the managers presented us with our plaques that commemorate our year of service and said a few words about each of us. Jennifer said a lot of wonderful things about me - which was pretty humbling because I'm sure I don't deserve half of them - but again, it meant a lot.

Jenny warned me before we headed over that they might try to get us to share, but we both figured that our group was pretty quiet so we weren't going to have to worry about it. Wrong. Allen was actually the one who started us off, which was unexpected (especially since Robyn was joking that you can never get two words out of him). In the end, we all ended up sharing a little.

It was funny because Allen talked about coming to CAP with high expectations which, for those of you who have been following this blog from the beginning, was a polar opposite from how I came to CAP. I came here because I knew that this was where God wanted me to be - but not because I thought I would love it or have a great time or make amazing friends (which I did). I thought I would hate it here and that I would sit in my room and read five books a week or something. Thankfully, God had other plans and I came into a community that fit me, strengthened and encouraged me, and loved me. And I would not trade the last year for anything (except maybe world peace).

As I started reflecting on my time, I realized I was about to cry (one of many times that happened throughout the luncheon), so I cut my little speech short. It was wonderful to hear what all the other volunteers had to say about their experiences here and to just share that space with them.

At the close of the ceremony, we were presented with our safety awards for being accident free all year. CAP gives out mugs as safety awards. Ironically, we all received mugs. Everyone was actually in shock that Allen received a mug because McCreary housing has been responsible for at least a third of all the accidents in CAP this year and he has been to the ER twice. Apparently all his accidents were "unpreventable" so he still got a mug (Dana did not, but that is because he backed their work truck into a mailbox).

The whole luncheon, however, was a little surreal. It still hasn't quite sunk in that I am leaving soon. Last Friday I bought my plane ticket home, so it really is official. I fly into Seattle on August 26th. I don't know how long I will be there, but at least for a few weeks. The future is still filled with questions and confusion so, as always, prayers are greatly appreciated.

Blessings.

What I Do Now

Now that Adult Ed has closed I have started helping out with CAP's Family Advocacy program. Family Advocacy coordinates two major outreach events - Christmas Boxes and School Readiness - while also helping with emergency home improvements, getting supplies/clothes to those in need, and helping to pay bills for participants.

My housemate Jenny has worked in Family Advocacy all year and I am getting to be her little helper now - basically I am her slave. Okay, not really, but when someone asks me what I do now that is usually my answer.

I have only been working here for the last week and a half, but I am really enjoying it. The Family Advocacy caseworkers (this year, Kelly and Jenny) get teased a lot by the Housing volunteers who say that they just sit around and ask the housing guys to lift stuff for them. This, however, is not true. I have actually been really impressed with all that they do and have completely gained a new respect for them. They have a wonderful opportunity to really help the people of their counties in some amazing ways.

And we don't just sit around. I feel like we are constantly lifting, sorting, or going on home visits. Which has been fun - I am learning a lot about my county and its residents.

Another nice thing is that I am still able to teach at the jail two days a week. The new center has yet to open, so Sister Therese and I keep going and working with the women to keep them from losing anything they've learned.

Next week is our county's school readiness distribution. Jenny has received many donations of school supplies, backpacks, and new clothes to hand out to 100 children in Rockcastle County - which is amazing. So we have spent many hours getting everything sorted and organized and ready for the distribution next Tuesday. I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes!

A few prayer requests...this week CAP made an announcement that they would have to let seventeen individuals go due to the economy. Prayer for these individuals and their families would be great. Also continued prayer for the volunteers who have, or are, transitioning out of CAP is much appreciated - it is not a good time to be looking for a job (or even a volunteer position!). And if you can, please pray that I would sleep; I am still having trouble getting a good night's rest. Thanks.

Peace.

The Smokey Mountains

About two weeks ago I was able to go camping in Smokey Mountain National Park. It was amazing. Especially to someone who hasn't seen mountains in months (they still weren't western mountains, but they were at least big enough to call mountains).

The highlights of the trip:

• Summitting the third highest peak in the park - which was by the way a ten mile hike and a 3,000 foot elevation gain
• Celebrating the above summit by eating fried okra, ribs, and ice cream
  
• Crossing over into North Carolina for the first time
• Spending time with Allen
  
• Hiking eight miles to the Ramsey Cascades
• Not being attacked or eaten by the bear/mountain lion combo
  

All in all, it was a fun (if not exhausting) weekend filled with good hiking, good conversations, and good food.

At the summit of Mt. LeConte (North Carolina is off in the distance)

This is the lodge you can hike up to and stay at - or you can just hike back down.

I'm guessing this one is pretty self-explanatory...

The Ramsey Cascades

Goodbye Adult Ed!

It is officially over. As of last Thursday, CAP's Adult Education program is closed - forever.

It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, but, in a way, I am kind of relieved that it is done. For five months we have been planning to close and, frankly, the waiting and expectancy was a little waring.

Although a lot of amazing things were accomplished in the last five months, it has been hard to know that every project I started would only be temporary. And because we were closing fewer students were willing to work with us - not wanting to get started only to be dropped in the middle of the summer. But now it is all done.

Most of last week was spent packing things up and getting everything ready to be sent over to the school board. Last Monday they came to pick up a lot of our stuff - things we had carefully packed in order to best preserve the furniture, books, and technology; their method of "moving," however, was to throw (and I literally mean throw) everything into the back of an open, flat-bed trailer. It is not every day that you see someone toss a computer tower. Our staff had a hard time watching - it was a little like being slapped in the face for all the work we had done - and I can't even be glib by saying "it's their problem now," because I know that my students will be affected. I only hope that whoever ends up running the program cares more for the students than they did for their equipment.

One blessing from last week was the CAP's volunteer department. They hosted a potluck lunch last Wednesday in honor of our program. Their department, in general, has been amazing through this transition. Before we moved and lost staff in early March, Jennifer brought in community resources for all staff members losing their jobs and the volunteer department (on their own) made lunch for us every week. They even catered our graduation ceremony back in February. Perhaps the most important thing they have done for us though is to care for us. Understandably, many employees did not know what to say to our staff - I guess you could say they were struggling with survivor's guilt - and thus, ignored us. It didn't affect me too much, but I know it really did impact Jennifer and Judy. The volunteer department as a whole, however, made a point of talking with and visiting us - a gesture that was greatly appreciated. (They also put up the sign in the photo for our last day)

For our last day, we all went out to lunch together. It was nice to spend a little time together before saying goodbye. In the afternoon we (carefully) brought our last bit of equipment over to the school board before treating ourselves to ice cream. And then, I cleaned and said goodbye. I will miss working with Jennifer and Judy - they are truly amazing and I have been so blessed by them both this year (there was many a time when Judy would remind me that God was still in control, no matter how bleak the future seemed).

So here is to Adult Ed. May it rest in peace, and may the new program start well (and soon) and serve as a valuable asset to the people of Rockcastle County.

Blessings.

Happy Independence Day (Late)!

I know I am a few days late, but Happy Independence Day everyone! I hope that everyone had a wonderful fourth of July.

Our house decided to host an all-volunteer potluck barbeque and then attend the local fireworks show down at Renfro Valley. Only a few volunteers came, but we had a wonderful time. We had a lovely meal consisting of burgers (both beef and boca), hot dogs, potato wedges, strawberries, blueberries, brownies, chips, and soda...with a surprise dessert finish (it was a surprise because almost everyone left before we had it) of pizookies!

Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the delicious goodness that is known as a pizookie, I will explain. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Pizookie: noun, commonly referring to a cookie baked in a pizza pan topped with ice cream - piz-ookie" (Okay, I'm lying about the OED). If you have ever been to BJ's Pizza you probably know what I mean. Imagine a giant cookie, freshly baked and hot from the oven, piled high with swiftly melting vanilla ice cream. That, my friends, is a pizookie.

Anyway, back to the barbeque...a lot of people ended up leaving right after we ate, which was fine since we didn't really have anything planned until the fireworks started at 10pm. Those of us left ended up sitting in the "Mediation Room" (I think it is supposed to be the Meditation room, but whoever spelled it on our house map left off a t) and going back and forth between brain benders and The Book of Questions - which led to some very interesting discussions. The question we debated the longest was along the lines of "If you could end poverty world-wide by killing one innocent person, would you do it?" Not exactly the most fun to think about...

This year was the first year that Renfro Valley has hosted a fireworks show, so we really had no idea what to expect. It turned out really well though. They had a good solid thirty minutes of fireworks. The one sad thing was that it was raining - well, just drizzling. I must say I find it ironic that I have had sunny, clear fourth of July's since 2003 in the Pacific Northwest (with the exception of '06 when I was in Chicago) and my one July in Kentucky it rains. What are the odds?

In devotion the other night, Jenny asked us to reflect on what we are thankful for about living in America. I am, of course, very thankful for all the freedoms we have by living in this country - many of which I know that I take for granted. But this year, perhaps more than others, I am very thankful for all the people who have defended this country. Various members of my family have served in the military throughout the years and I am thankful for their sacrifices. I have particularly been thinking about this with the big push taking place in Afghanistan right now (Allen's step-brother is a marine participating in this mission).

Well, I guess that is the end to my rambling. I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend and was able to spend it with family and friends.

Blessings.