You Grilled What??

One of my all-time favorite, summer things to do is spending the weekend at the lake with friends.  This past weekend was the first “Lake weekend” of the summer, and it was wonderful!  We typically have a few guests popping in and out, and we like to have stuff on hand that is easy to prepare and won’t take up valuable time from enjoying the lake itself.  I decided to whip up a batch of our SOS Turtle Brownies to have on hand.  (Did you know that all you need to do is add 1/3 C. of hot water to the mix and stir it up? – EASY!)

So I went to pop them in the oven and realized that the oven had not preheated, and in fact, was not working – at all.

My husband Mike, ever the creative problem solver, threw the pan of brownie batter on the grill and they turned out wonderful! 

 

We ate grilled brownies all weekend long and got tons of compliments!

If you try this at home, be sure to not place the pan directly over coals, and move it around 4 or 5 times during baking.  We had to add another 10 minutes to the baking time on the recipe card, and it helped to keep the cover of the grill on. 

Next time, we are going to grill potato soup…

Enjoy your summer!     – Betsy

Ted Stanley Appointed as Director of Development

The Board of Directors of Church Community Services (CCS), the local joint outreach effort of some 50 churches in Elkhart County, has appointed Theodore (Ted) Z. Stanley as Director of Development for the 40-year old organization.

Stanley has had a career as a fundraising professional executive that has spanned more than 35 years. He began his career with the Glenmary Home Missioners’ Development Office, a Roman Catholic home mission group headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

This was followed with 15 years of service with Church World Service, the overseas relief and development agency of some 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican communions. This began with his appointment as Ohio CWS/CROP Regional Director, working out of Columbus, Ohio. He then was asked to come to the Elkahrt National Office of CWS, where he was instrumental in adding Direct Mail and Planned Giving Programs to the traditional support bases of special events (i.e. the CROP Hunger Walks), along with denominational and governmental support for the work of Church World Service. Most recently he has been president of his own fundraising company, Stanley Associates.

In his new position, Stanley will be manager of the Capital Campaign recently launched by Church Community Services to add much needed space for the agency’s food pantry, crisis assistance, and Soup of Success, a women’s empowerment Job and Life Skills Training Program.

He can be reached at 574.361.9910 or at the agency’s number: 574.295.3673.

“No one, but no one, can make it out here alone…”

The above is a truth spoken in one of Maya Angelou’s poems, which the graduates, staff and volunteer mentors of Soup of Success recite together at our monthly reunion nights, celebrating our shared support, our sisterhood of success. 

Last Thursday night, I basked in the synergy of 30 different women from all over our community–ages 23 to 84–retirees, professionals, job seekers, homemakers, students, women with disabilities, service and retail workers–married mothers, single women, single mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, step-mothers, and women with no children–teachers, gardeners, entrepreneurs, scientists, readers, nurses and artists–So different from each other, from different circles, and yet one in our understanding of the power of women and the power of women together.

We ate taco salads and cookies prepared by Elkhart Valley Church of the Brethren.  We made a rainbow of clay figures with which to introduce ourselves to the group.  We played silly question games.

I particularly enjoyed watching our new mentoring pairs meet one another.  Each woman at SOS is matched with a volunteer from the community who agrees to be an encouraging support on the path of growth, building resources and economic security, pursuing dreams.  I’m excited for them to discover each other’s gifts, to see life and our community through new lenses, to find new parts of themselves.   Their introductions were inevitably slightly awkward, but by the end of the evening, they were sharing laughter, encouragements and phone numbers. 

I smiled watching the seasoned mentoring pairs surrounding our new pairs, knowing the stories they’ve shared, the problems they’ve solved, the successes they’ve celebrated.

This, after all, is one of the secrets of success.  Join with others.  Assemble your team. 

You don’t have to go it alone.

For more information about mentoring at Soup of Success, click here.

I look forward to hearing from you.

-Kathy

 

 

 

Spring Tea Success!

The  2008 Spring “Tea with Ruth and Friends” was held on May 3 at Living Faith Fellowship Church in Elkhart.  This year’s tea raised $3045 for CCS and it’s  Soup Of Success program, over $400 more than the last Spring tea! 

 Jack Donis serves tea with a smile.

One of the unique opportunities available at the Teas are free car rides with Steve Stoner (below) and his beautiful antique car.  Steve attends both the Spring & Christmas teas and is available to answer questions, pose with pictures, and even chauffer you on a little jaunt around the neighborhood.

The 1927 Model A Ford drew attention parked outside of the Living Faith Fellowship Church in Elkhart.

Don & Ruth Rockwell (pictured below) are long term supporters of Church Community Services.  Don, a former CCS Board member, works as a part time client counselor working directly with clients in crisis.  Don also serves as the Financial Officer, managing our books and fiances.  In 2006, Don was named CCS’ “Volunteer of the Year”.  Ruth leads a team of over 100 volunteers in implementing (2) Victorian fundraising teas each year.  In addition to the many “labor-of-love” hours dedicated to tea preparation, Ruth also serves as the Congregational Partner (liason) for River Oaks Community Church.  In 2007, Ruth was awarded the Soup Of Success “Souperwoman Award”  in recognition for going above and beyond.

There are plenty of activities available for the littler tea guests as well including:  children’s crafts, face painting, games, and of course – tea!

Tea goers are delighted by the wide array of amazing delicacies available.  There are even people on hand to explain what each item is along with information of it’s origin and history.  Tremendous treats to delight both young and old!

Along with the admission fee of $5 and a canned good for the CCS pantry, “Tea Baskets” are one of the ways that the tea raises funds for the agency.  All but 4 of the 142 gift baskets made for the event were sold.  The baskets were available in all sizes and themes.  Whether you were looking for a special mother’s day gift, or something for baby, anniversary, birthday, etc., you were sure to find a unique, affordable gift for every need.

Below, members of a local Red Hat Society club browse through the themed baskets available for sale.

Already, the tea volunteers are hard at work on the Christmas tea.  Mark your calendars for December 6, 2008!

Pantry Plea!

 Church Community Services is continuing to set records with the number of people coming for assistance.  Our pantry shelves are really low on the following popular items:

~ Ramen Noodles

~ Cereal

~ Peanut Butter

~ Toliet Paper

~ Baby Food

Would you consider a doing a special drive for these items with your  church,   neighbors, group or family?  If you have a food drive, we would be happy to provide (and pick up) a barrel to collect items in. 

If you would prefer to just purchase some extra items during your regular grocery trip this week, we would be thrilled to accept donations during working hours.   Monday – Thursday (9-12 & 1-4)  & Friday (9-12).

Random quote

“I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.”

Pablo Casals (1876-1973), cellist, conductor

These words moved me this morning, and I felt compelled to share.  I am blessed to be surrounded at work by staff and volunteers who care deeply about helping other people.  – Betsy