5K for Orphans

Would you like to offer respite to a church family?

We are always looking for ways for the body of Christ to walk beside those families in our midst that are caring for foster children in their homes. Here is a simple way to learn more about offering respite for a foster child/ren in our church family without having a foster care license.

Family Core is offering a one-night class that will help you understand, in a compact form, the unique pieces of caring for a foster child so a foster family can have a break.

Respite Information Classes

Thursday, February 16, 2012

6-9pm

Place: Family Core offices, 330 SW Washington St., Peoria

To sign-up call: Tina Frier at Family Core - 676-2400.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the following:

Amy @ levisix@frontier.com or Lisa @ schwarz8@mtco.com

BFC Guatemala 2011

Recently a team of 18 people from the Bethany Fellowship of Churches returned from serving at Hogar de Vida in Guatemala. What follows is the video that chronicles their time of service there. Enjoy!

You can also check out the teams blog that they faithfully posted to each day of their trip.

http://www.bfcguatemala2011.blogspot.com/

What a blessing for each team member to see the Lord at work in Guatemala!

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

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.

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