Feed the Hungry — and Their Pets

We’re so thankful for WellPet’s generosity. They often donate quantities of dog and cat food, which is so important because hungry families often include pets. These animals become family members, and to abandon them to a shelter adds grief to the already stressful life of people who have already lost too much.

Every so often we hear a comment that someone struggling financially should not have a pet. Fact is, social sciences research has shown time and time again that pets are indeed a positive part of a person’s social support system, and preserving that relationship has benefits way beyond the animal. If you’ve ever had a pet, you know this to be true.

Last week  cnn.com ran a story about this very thing. You can read it here.

Victorian Christmas Tea Fundraiser December 3rd

Ruth Rockwell and friends throw semi-annual Mother’s Day & Christmas Victorian teas called Tea with Ruth and Friends to benefit Church Community Services’ Soup Of Success program.

The next event is coming up this Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 at Living Faith Fellowship Church located at 2601 Benham Avenue in Elkhart, Indiana from 1 – 4 pm. Admission is $5 and non-perishable food or personal care items for the CCS pantry.

The event features dozens of fancy edibles, over a hundred affordably priced gift baskets, musical entertainment, silent auction, TEAGO, antique car rides, vendors and artisans selling their wares, and of course – lots and lots of delicious tea!

Gather your friends and enjoy a lovely afternoon while supporting a wonderful cause.

See you there!

Southside Fellowship Structure

The wonderful people of  Southside Fellowship in Elkhart held a toliet paper drive for the CCS pantry.    Check out the structure that they built with it!

The “ornaments” hanging on the tree are decorated tuna cans.   

The result – 22 lbs. of tuna ad 80 lbs. of toliet paper!  What a clever, fun way to hold a drive and help us help others in need.  Thank you Southside Fellowship!

Need to clean out your toy box to make more room?

Remember how much fun it was to play with these then you were little?  We have some toddlers who would like to have fun too.

Soup Of Success hosts a monthly reunion night for graduates and their children.  Our childcare area is in need of (gently used/new) toddler toys – specifically blocks, a shape sorter and a pop-up toy similar to those pictured above.

Reunion night is this Thursday.  Can anyone help us out?  Contact Abbie at 574-523-1551 x111 or email soupofsuccess@aol.com

Thanks!

Cyber Monday Special (Good on Sunday as well!)

Save yourself the hassle of shopping in crowds this year!  You deserve some rest, relaxation and FREE SHIPPING!

Soup Of Success products make great stocking stuffers and our beautiful gourmet gift baskets are perfect for anyone on your list.

Enter the code CYBERMONDAY in the check out to receive free shipping on any online order over $25.  Offer good in the continental US only.

Evidence of a Community of Support and Trust

I often think about what it is that makes my job so enjoyable. It’s not just about helping people in crisis financially. A lot of what we do as counselors is to listen, to connect clients to resources in the community, to assess the immediate need and point the  client in the right direction to meet that need. Sometimes it’s about connecting people with people as was the case last week.

We received a frantic call from a sixty year old disabled woman (I’ll refer to her as   Glenda) who just moved into a high-rise downtown and called for help with “everything.” She stated she had been homeless and just moved into her current apartment, but had very few things. Glenda went on to give me her story and how she got to this point. She has had a difficult life and is clearly depressed, but she tries to have a positive attitude and trust in God for strength and guidance.

During this same conversation I learned that Glenda hadn’t eaten for several days. She stated that the last of her money had gone toward a different apartment complex for a deposit and they refused to return the deposit money when it didn’t work for Glenda to move in. (It was a $200 deposit out of an income of $684). My first priority became  finding a way that Glenda wouldn’t go another night without eating. It was then that I remembered that a CCS volunteer also lives in the same apartment high-rise and that she would be willing to help. I told Glenda about the volunteer and said that I trusted this person to check on Glenda and offer help and prayer. The client gave me her apartment number and I phoned the volunteer, Sharlee. At the time I didn’t realize how God had his hand in this whole situation until I called Sharlee and found out she lives down the hall from Glenda and are immediate neighbors! God does work in mysterious ways! I explained the situation to Sharlee who was more than willing to check on    Glenda and report back to me Glenda’s needs. The next day Sharlee reported that she spent 2 ½ hrs. cleaning and putting away what few belongings the client had there. She also took Glenda supper. Sharlee reports that the client clearly has difficulty doing things for herself because of her disabilities. Glenda had polio as a child, brain damage from a car accident and several mini strokes; she also has a severely curved spine. She has difficulty with even the simplest task of opening a can.

I also received a phone call from Glenda thanking me for sending Sharlee over to help her. She said that Sharlee was “big help” and a “breath of fresh air.”

We will continue to work together to assist the client with her needs.

—Vonda Horst, Director of Social Services

Words from the women of the Soup of Success program

The current two Soup Of Success classes share their thoughts…

I now have an extended family with all of the ladies here at SOS.  Thank you so much for this opportunity to learn and grow with you all.  God Bless Ya’ll! – Pam

This is the best job I’ve ever had. It has changed my life in so many ways. I have learned so much about friendship, work skills and best of all computers. I have learned to love my life! – Lila

I wish I would have found Soup Of Success earlier in my life. I know now that I have an identity and I matter. Thank God for this program! – Crystal

 Being here at SOS has truly made me a whole new person. I have learned to value all of my strengths and believe that I am capable of achieving any of my goals. It’s been a life changing experience! – Sineatha

I feel so much better about myself. I have been able to fill a void in my life with a great bunch of positive women. I am so thankful for Soup Of Success. – Alisha

There is so much support and caring coming from the staff and my team. I am glad that I am a part of the SOS program. – Cheryl

This is a great place for women to connect and the staff is wonderful. I encourage women who are having a hard time or just trying to find    themselves to attend. It’s just awesome! – Dureathe

Soup Of Success is a start of my new life. From here nothing but good can come to me. – Yolanda

To me, SOS means caring, understanding, sympathizing and building a sisterhood. Everyone has an amazing story if you just listen. – Contina

I’ve made new friendships here. I’m thankful for being a part of SOS. It’s helping me get my life back on track. – Denise

This is a time to let go of all the stress holding me back. An “ahhh” moment that empowers the woman inside of me. – Sherry

I have learned something about myself every day since I started this journey with SOS. – Doris

I’m 52 years young and blazing a new trail with the women of Soup Of Success. SOS = God’s saving grace in my life. – Barbara

I am so happy and excited to be a part of SOS. I am really looking forward to careers and creating my resume. – Casandra

For more words from Soup of Success women, check out www.soupofsuccess.com

In Retrospect: CCS Homecoming

On November 7th we hosted our 2011 homecoming at Church Community Services  — 907 Oakland Avenue in Elkhart.

The reunion brought many people together from over the generations of CCS’s 43 year existence including Maynard Good CCS’ original coordinator and Chuck Vetter, an original founder.   Current and former Board members and staff filled the conference room representing every decade from the 60′s until 2011.  Five of the agency Executive Directors  (Maynard Good, Mary Jane Carpenter, Tim Hershberger, Dean Preheim-Bartel and Rod Roberson) all came together and compared notes.  Out of it came a patchwork of stories of CCS that gave a holistic view of where CCS has been and where it is going.

Activities included our annual November Soup Of Success gift basket open house as well as a special reunion for former board and staff and a meeting for church liaisons.  Guests enjoyed lunch featuring SOS products, tours of the building and visiting with staff from all areas of CCS, a photo booth, and a scavenger hunt with prizes.

The gift basket open house attracted those interested in buying gifts for the holidays as well as direct interaction with the Soup Of Success women.  Vibes of holiday cheer radiated throughout the building all day through the art of basket making and fellowship over a shared meal in the warehouse.

Everyone present had an enjoyable day connecting with others who share the vision for empowering positive change in our community, one person at a time.

We Hit a High Today!

We hit a high number today of 251.  That is 251 families coming through our front door for food (18,000+ lbs.) today alone!

Yesterday, we had 208.  Tomorrow… who knows?  What we do know is that without your help, we would have had to turn people away.  Thank you for all that you do.

Creative Ideas for Food Drives for the CCS Pantry

Church Community Services is always in need of donations for the food pantry. Be creative and host a food drive. Here are some ideas to get you started:

•  Ladies, host a girl’s night at your house complete with chick flicks and pizza. Have your friends pay “admission” to the evening with feminine hygiene products.

• Men, invite all of your buddies over for an evening of cards. Charge everyone admission of money or some type of food and give the proceeds to CCS.

• Encourage your company to have a food drive. The department with the most items donated per colleague gets a prize.

• At family gatherings, ask everyone to bring a few things to donate. Have the children help  deliver all the items to CCS. What a great way to teach children about service to your community!

• On a baby shower invitation, ask guests to bring a pack of diapers, wipes, or  formula to donate.

• At a bridal shower, play the Price Is Right. Have 10 household items lined up. Have all of the guests guess how much the items cost. The person with the  closest guess wins a prize.  Donate the household items to CCS.

• Plant a few extra plants in your vegetable garden next year. Donate the extra   produce. Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.

• Have a competition between Sunday school classes to see which class can bring the most items to donate. Reward that class with donuts the following week.

Contact Mary Kneller if you need a collection barrel, any help or suggestions. 574-295-3673 ext. 116

Be creative and have fun! You can drop off your donations at CCS Monday-Friday 9:00-11:45 or Monday-Thursday 1:00-3:45.

Most needed items are:

• Canned meat or tuna
• Canned fruits
• Canned vegetables
• Peanut butter
• Dried beans
• Rice
• Pasta
• Spaghetti sauce
• Soups
• Boxed dinners
• Crackers
• Potatoes
• Cereal
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Bar soap
• Shampoo
• Toilet paper
• Tooth paste
•  Toothbrushes
• Deodorant
• Feminine hygiene products
• Baby Formula
• Baby food
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Powdered laundry soap

NEW Soup Of Success Product Hits the Shelves!

Banana Split Trail Mix!

Only $2.50 available at our office or online here.

Read on for one of our reviewers honest comments:

Banana Split Trial Mix

Ingredients:

Banana Nut Granola, peanuts, M&M’s, dried strawberries, pineapple, cherries & bananas

 

A Skeptic’s Review

OK…so I say skeptical because I’m not a fan of fake banana.  You know, like a banana sucker for example.  GROSS!  I first opened the package and poured it into a bowl then stirred it up a bit with my finger.  Then I tasted everything individually.

Banana granola…actually delicious!  I could eat a bowl of that all by itself!!

Peanuts…well, tasted like peanuts!

M&M’s…hello!  They are M&M’s, of course they are yummy!

Dried strawberries…really flavorsome and not leathery at all

Dried pineapple…so good and sweet!

Dried cherries…looks are deceiving.  These things are tasty!

Dried bananas…I love those things!

  So, by the time I got this far in my typing and taste testing I was half way through the bag, because I couldn’t stop eating it!  I made myself stop long enough to pour a little into vanilla yogurt and boy, oh boy was that good!  It really added a lot of flavor and texture to boring old yogurt.  I also think it would be great in oatmeal, ice cream, and cold cereal.  I will be trying those very soon!

The Banana Split Trail Mix would be a great stocking stuffer, snack for the office, after school snack, or post work-out treat!

This reviewer gives the Banana Split Trail Mix:  2 big thumbs up.

Thanks for the honest review Jill!  We appreciate it.