Open Hearts Open Homes Orphan Ministry Meal Team

Food is a necessity of life you will all agree. But when you bring new children into your home through fostering and / or adoption oftentimes food becomes one more thing to manage.

One way to care for the orphan is to care for a family that is caring for "former" orphans. One particular way we do this as a ministry is to have a team of individuals that are willing to help provide meals to families that have recently brought children into their homes. If they are involved in Adult Bible Community/Sunday School we wait until their class has completed their service to the family and then we provide three additional meals. If they are not involved in one of these classes than OHOH provides meals right away. There are other times we provide meals as a means of encouraging a family that is experiencing trials of many kinds.

Perhaps you have been praying about ways you could reach out and care for those that have been fatherless. We would like to present you with the opportunity for you to be a part of the OHOH Meal Team where you would truly be a blessing to a family/families that are in the process of adjusting to a "new normal".

If you would be interested in being on the meal team please send your name, email, and phone number to Amy @ levisix@frontier.com and she will forward your information on to the Open Hearts, Open Homes Care Coordinator.

Thank you!

Matthew 10:42

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Thinking About Fostering?

In honor of Foster Care Appreciation Month, Children's Home is sponsoring an Informational Meeting for anyone who is interested in becoming a foster parent or learning more about how they can make a difference in the life of a child!

For more information, please contact Alesia at 309-687-7376.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

5:30-6:30pm

The Children's Home

2130 N. Knoxville Ave.

Peoria, IL 61603

No commitment is needed, people can fell free to just come and ask questions.

A Little Bit of Summit VII

These are the words of Russell Moore (Southern Seminary) at Summit VII

"We are afraid of orphans. Because orphans are unpredictable. There is always some kind of tragedy. We would rather not think of such things. We are afraid of the mark left on the victims of tragedy.

God, in his adopting power thru Jesus, has brought us into his family. We reach orphans as ex-orphans ourselves.

As we move into the dangerous places, we empower others to live courageously. What do we have to be afraid of anymore? Jesus has given us a path. When we love in the sad, dark, haunted places; children who we are afraid of, we follow Jesus there."

excerpt from www.christianallianceblog.org

The Forgotten Initiative Toy Drive

The Forgotten Initiative is an arm of LifeSong. The goal of the Forgotten Initiative is to care for the foster care community. You can check out The Forgotten Initiative at http://www.theforgotteninitiative.org

A group of people have come together to do a project in Peoria. Project Peoria Sunshine is currently raising funds to renovate the visit room at the Peoria DCFS office. Along with a fresh coat of paint, updated furniture and decorations we are desiring to fill this room with new toys.

Check out the toy donation list at the following site on Facebook. At this list you can leave a comment about which toy/s you would like to purchase and they will send the shipping address to you! How easy is that!

http://www.facebook.com/forgotteninitiative?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/notes/the-forgotten-initiative/toys-toys-toys-we-need-you/199953706712813

This is a great opportunity to reach out with compassion to those involved in foster care and to let the children in Peoria know that they are not forgotten!

To donate to this project you can send a donation to:

Lifesong for Orphans--Forgotten Initiative Peoria project (this should be in the check memo, too)

PO Box 40

202 N. Ford St.

Gridley, IL 61744

Last I had heard there had been $1200 donated with a goal of $3000.

May Focused Fellowship

Mark your calendars for our next Focused Fellowship date!

Monday, May 16 at 7:00pm at the home of Monica Lonergan. Monica's address is 1111 W. Burnside Dr., Peoria.

This is a wonderful evening of prayer, fellowship, and encouragement for ladies that are anywhere in the process of foster and/or adoption. If you are an "old pro" your insight is greatly appreciated, if you are new to this journey come and let us walk alongside you!

There is no need to RSVP just show up. Feel free to bring a friend. If you would like to provide a snack food you are welcome to do that, but do not feel like you have to there are always plenty of snacks.

Any questions you can contact Amy @ levisix@frontier.com.

Serving Him,
Amy

"Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Update on Project Sunshine Peoria!

It's official that June 1st from 9-4pm will be the day we do this project. We've just gotten the go-ahead to paint the room so if you are available to help that day please let me know.

Our main needs right now are two-fold: (1) Donations and (2) someone to head up a toy drive.

As of Friday of last week, donations totaled $1200. Ideally we'd like to raise $3,000 for furniture, paint, toys, etc. But if someone is willing to lead a toy drive initiative, this will drive down the total amount we need to raise. If you're interested, please let me know ASAP. I can give you further information if you're interested.

The deadline for donations is May 16th, at which point I will work with our design team and shopping team to divvy up the money to purchase furniture, wall decor, paint, toys, etc. for the waiting room.

If you have questions please contact Amy @ levisix@frontier.com and she will get you in touch with Catherine.

See the post below for donation address.

Foster Kids Should Not Be Forgotten

Deadline for donations: May 16, 2011

Over 15,000 kids who wind up in the foster care system in the state of IL often wait hours in an uninviting, outdated room as DCFS searches for a placement. Visit rooms are also used when a child in care meets with their parent/s each week for their time together. We have an incredible opportunity to renovate the DCFS room in downtown Peoria to make these kids feel special and loved.

The Forgotten Initiative is an arm of Lifsong for Oprhans and is raising $3000 for new books, toys and furniture. Will you help? Necessities like a changing table, sleeping mats, and high chairs will also be purchased. We hope to complete this project in June 2011, with a tentative target date set of June 1, 2011.

If you'd like to add your personal touch to this project, please contact Amy @ levisix@frontier.com and I will put you in touch with Catherine. Catherine is in the process of getting the word out to raise funds to make this dream of blessing these kids a reality.

Checks can be make payable to:
Lifesong for Orphans (re:Forgotten Initiative-Peoria)
PO Box 40 · 202 N. Ford St
Gridley, IL 61744 T

Thank you! for Catherine Cambra