Grants for Graduates of Domestic Violence Centers
Thanks to a few wonderful donors, we were able to allocate funding to our program “Grants for Graduates of Domestic Violence Centers”. These grants targeted at “graduates” of domestic violence shelters in the Tri-Valley Area of Livermore, California. We’re working closely with Shepherd’s Gate (www.shepherdsgate.org) to identify women either currently “graduating” or who are ”recent graduates” from their domestic violence program. Victims of domestic violence have always been dear to my heart, so we set up this program to help them start their new lives as they go out into the world again. Thank God that there are programs like Shepherd’s Gate and Tri-Valley Haven for Women. At the moment, we’re only working with Shepherd’s Gate, but as we get additional funding we’ll be expanding our program. You can help by sending donations, even $10, $25, or $50 can make a difference.
Client Support
I’ve been traveling a lot this month for my regular day job, but we have received a few calls from clients. Earlier this month were able to put together a couple of bags of groceries for one client and give a couple of $25 Safeway gift cards to another client. Just this morning we gave two $25 Safeway gift cards to yet another client - one I knew from BasicNecessities.org. Sometimes I wonder how people continue to get by, given their situations and the difficulty of improving those situations. We’re also starting to get calls from potential donors wanting to give us furniture, however we just don’t have the space for large furniture items. Maybe someday we’ll have a warehouse.
Client News
I received a call from one of our clients today. She is doing well, and told me that she had contacted one of our dentists who do volunteer work for us. She said that she really needed the dental work, and that they did a good job. It’s nice to get this kind of feedback, to know that the system is working and that our clients are being helped by volunteers supporting our organization. She also told me about a friend of hers who needed help, a disabled woman who was barely getting by and didn’t have any food in her refrigerator. She said that she was taking her some dinner tonight. I am amazed at how the needy can find the resources to help someone else in need. I talked with her friend tonight and it sounds like she really needs help, but is reluctant to ask for it (as most people are). Tomorrow we’ll see what we can do for her.
Thank You Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
I want to thank the individuals in the 2009 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory employee fundraising campaign, Helping Others More Effectively (HOME) who have chosen to support us this year. Through this program, employees of LLNL can select various charities to receive the benefit of their donations made through payroll withdrawals. These employee donations are then matched approximately 49 cents per dollar by Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS). We graciously wish to thank all of you who have donated to our organization, and note that our clients will be receiving 100% of your donated dollars. Although I’ve mentioned it before, the Directors of this Care 4 My Lambs covers all infrastructure costs so that 100% of donor funds go directly to our clients. Thanks again LLNL HOME and LLNS for supporting us. - Charlie
Thank You Cornerstone Fellowship
I’d like to thank Cornerstone Fellowship, in Livermore California, for supporting our organization. This past year has been particularly difficult in terms of getting support, so their gift is particularly welcome. Cornerstone is our home church, so it’s also a welcome affirmation of our our work. As you may know, Cornerstone Fellowship has mission outreaches in many parts of the world, including Columbia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, and Mexico. They also have a local outreach called “Serve the City”, which supports their local Livermore California community. Thanks again Cornerstone! - Charlie
The Holidays
Wow! Things are really tough out there this year. There is so much competition for donations, for both goods and cash. Almost every day you read in the newspapers about charities needing donations, or charities doing wonderful things for their cause, but for smaller organizations like ours, the going is tough. We are not nearly as well organized as many of the larger charities, nor are we able to mount large campaigns. But you know, it’s even tougher on the clients who come to us asking for help. We would like to be able to help more, but our resources are limited. If you are able to help, a donation of even $10 or $25 dollars can make a difference, or donate non-perishable food items (see our website for details). If you are like most people, you probably have a few extra cans of food in your pantry. Donations of food add up quickly, and before long they add up to a box of food sufficient to feed a family of 4 for a few days. If you are not able to help, we ask for your prayers for our ministry.
Holiday Food Drive
We’re starting our holiday food drive. We want to collect enough food to provide 25 boxes of food for needy families. There is a specific list of the non-perishable items listed on our Care 4 My Lambs website at www.care4mylambs.org. It’s no surprise that there is more need this year, as the unemployment rate continues to rise. If you live in the Tri-Valley area, and can spare some extra grocery items for those in need, please contact us using this contact form. We really need your help this year, more than ever.
Divine Meetings
I attended a men’s retreat at Redwood Christian Park in Boulder Creek, California this past weekend, with my home church Cornerstone Fellowship. I haven’t gone to many of these, but I always go with an open mind looking for God’s direction. Men are a strange bunch. Most are challenged with in comes to being in touch with their feminine side, so it’s no surprise that part of the focus of this retreat was relationships with women. This is a topic on which Ted Cunningham, their guest speaker, excels. Over the course of the three days, God put me in touch with three people. The first was a man in crisis; his wife had lost her job, and he was struggling to feed his wife 11 year old child. The other two I can’t really discuss for personal and confidentially reasons. The bottom line however is that God put me in touch with these special people for His purposes, and I will do my best to understand and follow His guidance, praying at each step of the way. What I find most interesting is how God orchestrates these meetings, these divine meetings, and the thing that I love the most is that you never know who is supposed to help who. Most of the time each of us benefits. What an awesome Lord we have.
Difficult Times
These are difficult times, no only for those in need but also for the agencies trying to help those in need. As we seek donations, we find that most of our sources have many more requests this year than last, and the sources themselves have less funding than in previous years. The end result is that it’s harder this year than in other years to obtain support. There just isn’t as much money to go around, and unfortunately there are more requests for help in these difficult times. This can be a bit discouraging, but we continue to seek God’s guidance and we know that he will provide what we need when we need it. I want to thank all of you who are providing support to Care 4 My Lambs. I ask for your continued prayers for our work. Know that we seek God’s guidance in all we do, and it is only through Him that we accomplish anything at all.
Thank You Safeway
We want to thank the Safeway Foundation for their generous donation to our organization. Particularly in today’s economy, it’s refreshing to know that local businesses are continuing to support charitable organizations. Safeway, headquartered in Pleasanton California, is one of the larger philanthropic organizations in our local community. Thanks again Safeway.
