This week in the Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World workbooks, our women took a thorough and unflinching look at all of their personal resources. Each woman individually assessed her own status in the areas of financial, physical, emotional, mental, social support, relationship, spiritual, hidden rules of class, language, integrity, and motivation resources. We understand poverty, and conversely prosperity, to be about the extent to which we have resources in all of these areas–not just finances. And we can see how they are all intertwined–our strengths can be used to build up areas of weakness, just as crisis in one area can be a debilitating burden on the resources we are using. There were teary eyes as women came to terms with their own situations–realized strengths they didn’t know they had, clearly saw areas that needed work, felt the intense desire for the safety and security that comes from having more resources in all these areas. Now they are onward…planning their personal paths to prosperity one step at a time.
July 18, 2008
Here’s what several of the women in the current class at SOS had to say when asked, “What are you most proud of in being at SOS?”
“What I am most proud of having at Soup of Success is Money Management class, because that class has helped me manage my income and has helped me save money out of every check and pay my bills on time. I also spend less money than I make.” -LW
“I am proud to be chosen and be part of Soup of Success. The different skills and life training I’ve had here cannot be paid for with any amount. Tears of joy and tears of sorrow fall down from each others’ eyes. Soup of Success is my life now and leads me to be a super woman.” -RC
“Going through Money Management has made it so I look at my finances and bills very differently. I’m also getting in touch with my inner self…a task all in itself!” - AR
“What I am most proud of in coming to Soup of Success is that the staff here are very involved with the participants. They care for where we may go in the future. Learning about myself is awesome and fun. The only thing is sometimes the truth hurts when you face it.” -SG
“I am so proud to be a part of SOS. It really blows my mind that 3 little letters can mean so much and have so much packed into it!” - FA
“I have learned so much that I never knew about before. Things that help me everyday and will help me out in the real world. It feels so good to be able to feel me changing week by week.” - WS
“I am proud that I have made it to this point of the program regardless of my barriers. I am proud of making new friends and learning beneficial life lessons from the best and friendliest staff in town. Last but not least, I am glad to have shed some pounds from walking to and from work every day, from the other side of town.” - DR
“I am proud of finding my strength and wisdom. It helped to stop and look inside of myself. With a little more help, I hope to find happiness too.” -DM
July 10, 2008
In the month of June, 155 individuals provided 436 hours of volunteer time assisting with soup production! Groups included Fabric Services, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Waypoint Community Church, Southside Fellowship Church, Prairie Street Mennonite Church, Church of the Living Word, River Oaks Community Church, First UMC of Goshen, Current & former employees of the Department of Family Services, Wednesday’s Table - 1st Presbyterian Church & the Catholic Heart Youth Work Camp.
Thank you to members of “Wednesday’s Table” small group from 1st Presbyterian Church in Elkhart for coming and helping us make soup mixes!
Youth from all over the country gather each summer for the Catholic Heart Work Camp. Each year, SOS is blessed to get one of the teams for 4 days during camp. This year, the youth were invaluable help with SOS soup & dip production, yard work, and moving “extra” stuff from the current building to the new CCS warehouse. It’s great to be able to spend some extended time with this group each year and get to know themo n a more personal level.
July 8, 2008
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
June 17, 2008
Greetings from Sarah Thiessen! I am a voluntary service worker at Church Community Services and Soup of Success through Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS). I have been thrilled to be at this agency for the past year - it is a place filled with compassion, hope, service, and growth.
To learn more about voluntary service in Elkhart or about Jubilee House (above), the voluntary service house I live in, please visit our website. To learn more about how you can volunteer at Church Community Services or Soup of Success, email us at Soupofsuccess@aol.com; to learn more about Jubilee House or doing voluntary service in Elkhart, email office@prairiestreetmc.org.
May 30, 2008
Guest Blogger Vonda here…
“Volunteers Plant the Seeds of Kindness” was the theme of our 2008 volunteer appreciation picnic. This year we were at Studebaker Park pavilion in Elkhart.
It was a gorgeous day to celebrate our volunteers and we enjoyed a delicious homemade meal of sloppy joes, chips, fruit, deviled eggs, and dirt pudding.
We recognized all of our hard-working volunteers and thanked them for their committment to Church Community Services. Special awards were handed out to Don Rockwell and Brenda Toews for completing their terms of service on the Board. Sarah Thiessen (above, receiving award from Soup of Success Director Betsy Ayrea) was honored as our first ever Mennonite Voluntary Service worker.
Jan Grodnik (in absentia) was given the Soup Of Success “Souper Woman” Award for 2008 (above: Jan Grodnik, L, receiving Souper Woman Award from Vonda Horst, R).
The “CCS Volunteer of the Year” award was given to Jim Victor (above, receiving award from Executive Director of Church Community Services, Dean Preheim-Bartel).
Both indoor and outdoor activities were planned for and enjoyed by people of all ages, including badminton, bubbles, bingo, scavenger hunt and card games. Of course, the best part of the day was just being all together and enjoying each other’s company.
Can’t wait until next year!
May 8, 2008
Welcome to Church Community Services’s brand new blog. This could be the start of something big. Stay tuned.
People come to us struggling to make ends meet. They may be disabled or elderly, stretching a fixed income. Some are recently laid off, or working but not making enough to support their families. Many are single mothers trying their best to raise their children.
We offer respect, hope, and compassion as we seek to assist people like this.
(Take it, Betsy.)
May 5, 2008
