Volunteer Opportunties

We are looking for folks to fill some very important volunteer positions. Below is a thumbnail job description and the weekly hour expectations.

Marketing- Design promotional materials including brochures, posters etc. Write press releases to area media. Arrange interviews with local media. 10-15 hours per week

Fund Development- Analyze budget and giving patterns. Explore new streams of income ie grants. 5-10 hours per week

Project E.A.T.'s Buddy Bag and Student to Student Program Coordinator- Develop a TEAM that would administer all facets (developing menu's, ordering food, unloading food, keeping inventory, coordinating Student to Student aspect, and work on the expansion of the Buddy Bag program. 20 hours per week

Work Team Supervisor- Host and supervise scheduled work teams. Periodically, work teams come to KUO to work on various projects. We are looking for someone to care for team while they are here including: making arrangements for food, snacks etc, welcoming and overseeing the groups work, and be sure everyone has a great experience. Hours dependent on group coming, estimate 10 hours per month.

Furniture Pick-Up Delivery Coordinator- Develop a team of people with trucks that can pick-up and deliver furniture for those in need. 10 hours per month


Director of Preschool Computer Classes- A teacher who will coordinate preschool computer classes. With a grant through Leadership Kokomo, we will be securing several laptops for the classes. Classes will be held at various Outreach locations throughout the city. Initial training will be done by Leadership Kokomo. After initial training the director will train other teachers. Class times, locations will be determined by teachers. The director will train teachers, coordinate classes and if desired teach a class. 4-6 hours per week

Urban Connection Developer- We looking for just the right person to develop a new ministry idea. . The idea is to provide non-threatening places where people can explore the Christian faith--- connecting with each other and with Jesus. The developer will develop the program from ground up. If you feel called to this give me a call and we will talk more. Jeff 461.9618
hours unknown

Director of Technology -- Someone with computer skills to update and design websites, help with computer networking. 5hrs per week


Art Reach Director- Develop a fine arts classes directed to those that do not have the resources to take lessons. Classes might include: guitar classes, art classes, dance classes, drum lines etc. We ran a pilot program a couple years ago and are ready to start on more of full-time basis. 5-10 hours per week.

Board of Director Member---looking for CPA and/or Attorney. Board Meetings on the second Monday at 6:00 PM



Most of the work can be done at home. The outreach is expanding and we really need your help.

Thanks Jeff


Thank You to volunteers that are already spearheading Outreach Components:

Sidewalk Sunday School Coordinator Mary Ingle
Food Pantry Avery Cosley
Household Pantry Gloria Strickland
Urban Impact Marla Edmunds and Judy Rider(sewing component)
Pine Valley Outreach Leaders David and Gina Kitley(Alto UMC)
Parr United Methodist Church Outreach Deanna Ancil with help from Oakbrook Community Church
Briarwick Apartment Outreach Walt and Cindy Steele(West Middleton UMC)
Vinton Woods Outreach completely underwritten by Center Rd. Church of Christ Karen Ely Leader
Preschool Leeann Hughes
Club 45 at Garden Square Pastor Steve Sherwood
Youth at Garden Square Darren Miracle
Sunday Night Dinner at Garden Square Chris Newton
Parish Nurse leaders Cathy Shaw, Cindi Myers
Riley Mobile Home Park Outreach Caretakers Pete and Norma Blue

Quick Way to Collect Food

A quick easy way to collect food for our food pantry is to pass out grocery bags on Sunday Morning and have parishioners return them the following week. We have grocery bags decorated by children or you could have your Sunday school classes decorate them. Call me and I will gladly bring in bags and/or pick up food.

Kokomo Tribune Article August 1

By KEN de la BASTIDE
Tribune enterprise editor

Area residents used to waiting up to
one hour to talk to someone at a call
center to receive Medicaid or food
stamps, had to wait 90 minutes before
addressing a legislative commission
Thursday in Kokomo.
The legislative study commission
conducted the first state hearing on
problems since the Indiana Family
and Social Services Administration
signed a contract with a private company
to handle eligibility for the two
programs.

People filled a room on the Indiana
University Kokomo campus waiting
to relate to lawmakers problems they
have experienced with the new procedures.
Commission members spent the
first 90 minutes listening to explanations
and questioning FSSA Secretary
Mitch Roob.

When they got a chance to speak,
recipients spoke of denied claims,
long telephone waits and going without
benefits.

“Since you changed the new system
over, it’s full of crap,” Judith Phillips
said. “I had to fight them on my own.”
Phillips said for two months, she
had to go without food stamps and
was forced to borrow money while
awaiting approval.

“You never get to talk to the same
person twice,” she complained.
At one point, standing with the aid
of a walker, Phillips waved a thick
pile of yellow legal paper at
committee members. Listed
on the sheets was every call
she made to the call center in
Marion.

“A lot of these people don’t
know,” she said of the fight to
get benefits. “You never walked
in our shoes. There should be a
group that comes to our homes.
“The new system is not working
right, it is a fake and a
fraud,” Phillips said to applause.
Wendy Abcock said her benefits
were scheduled for recertification
on July 1 and the claim
was denied because her income
was not verified.

“The county offices can’t
help,” she said. “They are there
to fax information or help you
get on the Internet to apply.”
Abcock said the family is still
awaiting approval to get a prescription
medication for her
son.

Kathy Purvis said the paperwork
filed for an individual
who is legally blind was lost
three times.

Purvis said she cares for her
granddaughter and because her
income is $23.76 too much each
month, the girl is not eligible for
assistance.

“We can’t get her hearing aids
because she was denied,” Purvis
said crying. “She can’t hear the
teacher at school.”

Jennifer Workman said she
has been trying to get Medicaid
coverage for her 19-year-old
son. She passed a photograph of
her son to commission members.
She said her son was receiving
medication through Medicaid
while at the Robert J. Kinsey
Youth Center.

“They sent the denial letter to
the youth center,” Workman
said. “We didn’t know it until
we went to the pharmacy.”
Workman said her son is
bipolar and has physically attacked
her and her husband.

“On April 2, we did an application
online,” she explained.

“We waited on hold for one
hour and were finally told they
didn’t receive it.”

A second application was
submitted on May 12 and is
still pending.

“We ’re talking life and
death,” she said. “I’m afraid of
my own kid if he doesn’t get
his medications.”

Workman said she has wasted
30 hours on the telephone
and her son still doesn’t have
coverage.

Former FSSA case worker
outlines problems

Steve Woodall, a former state
case worker, went to work for
ACS at the new system’s Marion
call center for about a year until
quitting last April.
Woodall was introduced by
his brother-in-law, state Rep.
Ron Herrell, D-Kokomo.
Woodall said he worked for
the state for 37 years and
walked off the job in Marion
last April after working six
months with the private firm.
“The system is flawed when
it doesn’t provide good services,”
he said. “We had problems
before, but the clients knew or
should have known who their
case worker was.

“I’ve seen many, many
things that are flawed with this
system,” Woodall said. “I believe
any client should be able
to call in and talk to someone
who has ultimate responsibility
for their case, and this system
does not provide that.”

Food stamp cases were not
being processed within two or
three months, he said. When
paperwork is not received, the
claim is automatically denied.

Woodall said when he
worked for the state, he was
assigned to 300 or 400 cases,
but monitored them for recertification
of eligibility every six
months or year.

Lawmakers ask FSSA
officials tough questions
FSSA began rolling out the
changes in the administration
of the Medicaid and food
stamp program last year in a
12-county area, including
Kokomo. It has been expanded
to 47 counties.

The state awarded a team of
vendors led by IBM Corp. and
Affiliated Computer Services
Inc. a $1.16 billion, 10-year contract
to process applications for
Medicaid, food stamps and other
public safety net benefits received
by about 1.1 million
children, seniors, people with
disabilities and other Hoosiers
in need.

The federal government informed
the state to stop the
process of adding more counties
to the system until applications
could be processed in a
more timely fashion.

Roob said FSSA stopped the
rollout of food stamps to additional
counties because of the
flooding in southern Indiana.
“We independently suspended
the roll out on June 13,” he
said.

Rep. Bill Crawford, chairman
of the commission, said the
federal Food and Nutrition
Service issued a cease-and-desist
order.

“I don’t believe they have the
authority to tell us to stop,”
Roob remarked. “We already
decided to stop the rollout.”
Crawford said he had a copy
of the e-mail directing FSSA to
cease and desist.

“The federal government pays
66 percent of the cost of Medicaid
and 100 percent of food
stamp costs,” he said. “If you accept
the program, there has to
be access to food stamps on an
equal basis for the entire state.”
Crawford said the golden
rule is that the person who has
the gold makes the rule, and in
this case, the federal government
has the gold.

“In the rollout areas, there
are complaints,” Crawford said,
drawing applause from the
crowd. “We want to assure the
public that these programs are
going to operate in a timely
fashion.”

Roob told lawmakers at the
public hearing that the agency
is working to improve the system.
He said the state wants to
process applications within 60
days.

He said there has been a decrease
in the food stamps being
issued in some of the rollout
areas.

Crawford said the lawmakers
wanted all the bureaucratic
obstacles removed from the
system which is keeping people
from receiving benefits.

“We want you to assure the
public that the applications will
be processed in a timely fashion
and comply with the federal regulations,”
he said. “Medical care
delay compounds the problem
and becomes more costly in the
long run.”

Sidewalk Sunday School Basics

Sidewalk Sunday School is an effective, rather simple, way to build relationships with families with the goal of leading whole families to Christ.

Here is the format:

• Gather children 5 yrs old-5th grade
• Go over three rules---(boys on one side girls on the other, sit on pockets, quiet when we count to three)
  
• Singing (all your favorite children's songs)
  
• Story (short, basic Bible Stories especially the stories of Jesus)
  
• Prayer Time (groups of 3 or 4 kids per one adult)
  
• Game Time ( a fast moving game that everyone can play)
  
• Kid of the Week (prize, trophy or certificate given to boy and girl that displayed excellent behavior)

Secret to SWSS: Each week, each child is visited in their home and a flier is given reminding them to come next week. Over time parents are open to sharing prayer concerns etc. and relationships are built and ministry happens.

Urban Impact Plan

Urban Impact is a brand new program of KUO. It is in the very beginning stages. Our goal is to help folks start small businesses with business mentors/partners, impacting their family in a positive way. A good paying job is needed to move out of poverty. Education is a way to get a good job. So many in poverty do not have the education to have a high paying job. Many of the folks that I work with may not have an education but they have a "passion". There are some folks who love to make things with their hands--pillows, pillow cases, flower arrangements etc. We have begun to work with the sewing class. We are providing the students with all of the materials they need to make the things they love to make. On June 7th they will sell what they made at a sale. Judy and Marla are teaching the students not only how to sew but how to succeed in business. They will help students price their wares. For example if a pillow costs $2.00 to make and is sold for $5.00, the student will receive $3.00 with $2.00 being set aside to purchase more material. If things go well a business could be created with a catalog on the internet.

There are also some clients who would like to start a small service business such as window washing, lawn care etc. I think it is possible to help folk start small business. What is needed is education, maybe not "formal" education but informal teaching as folks start their own business learning from a business mentor/partner. It would be great if a couple of people could set down with me and help me develop this further.

2008 Budget

Executive Director ---------------36,500.00

Medical Insurance -----------------7,400.00
Administrative Assistant--------- 10,000.00
Crisis Childcare Director----------- 9,360.00
Social Security Taxes-------------- 4,500.00
Fund Raising------------------------ 500.00
Office Supplies--------------------- 1,000.00
Postage ------------------------------500.00
Liability Insurance----------------- 2,200.00

Grand Total -------------------71,960.00

One Prayer

Jilly(not her real name) told me how she prayed for Jesus to come into her heart during Sidewalk Sunday School. She is a special little girl who loves Jesus and loves to be in church where she can experience peace and joy. Her simple prayer not only has affected her life but that of her family.

We have lots of stories of how one prayer changed a life. Check back later for more stories.

One Trophy

Kid of the week trophies have changed the life of many children. It was hard for me to believe that one trophy could change a life. There are stories of children sleeping with trophies, of taking trophies to school and since one boy became kid of the week his behavior at school has dramatically changed. The trophies promote self esteem and excellence. It makes every kid feel important and gives the children a sense of accomplishment. To become Kid of the Week, a child must not just be good, they must be excellent. They must display great table manners, talk quietly, and participate appropriately during Sidewalk Sunday School.

This semester the United Methodist Men at Grace UMC provided the trophies. Thanks.

One Person

At KUO we have many, many stories of how one person makes a difference. There is Suzie who picks up children in the cold, rain, snow, heat to bring them to Sidewalk Sunday School. She patiently eats with the children, cares for the children and is loved by the children. She knows the children by name and knows many parents. She is used by Jesus each week to make a difference.

History of Easter Basket Workshop

The Easter Basket Workshop began in 2006 when Tribune reporter Tom Carey brought us thirty well filled Easter baskets to give to children who were in need. I shared with a mother that we would be giving her child a basket the Sunday before Easter. She said, "I wish I could give a basket to her". I asked her if we had a Easter Basket workshop would she come and make one for her and she said, "yes".

I then called Tom Carey and asked if we could take the baskets apart. I told him in 5 days we would have the workshop. Tom put an article in the paper and the donations came pouring in. Easter grass in bales, 1/2 pound chocolate rabbits, balls, yo yo's, candy eggs, full size candy bars, gum, we had it all. The first year 150 baskets were made and the second year 500 baskets went out the back door. I am anxious to see what happens in 2008,

Task Force Members

Mark Sloss
Christ Lutheran Church
Mary Pruiett
First Christian Church and Bon-Air School
Greg Reed
Morning Star Church
Travis Taflinger
Bridges Outreach
Casey Cline
Bridges Outreach
Jeff Newton
Kokomo Urban Outreach
Ned Hoover

First Nazarene
Shirley Hoy
Grace UMC
Dee Lohman
Executive Director of PreK-12 Instructional Services
Ted Schuck
School Board Member and retired Principal

plus representatives from all 11 elementary schools in the corporation.

Education

• Expand what is already working into more churches, more schools!
• Training program for mentors/ tutors?”
• How many church have seen this presentation?
• Go to all churches where they are
• Go to the churches rather than them come to us
  
• Go to them/ marketing
• Open church in neighbors- go to church as for help
• 
  Advertise locally
• Share building (exactly what bridges use)
• Church/ community kid centers are not open in Fridays
• Market already existing at community centers
• English students /LEP ESL/LED
• Go to local pastor groups 10% part downtown alliance
• Talk to Huddle
• Great Banquet
• 5% kids come to bridges to stay away from home.
• Head start/ 21^st cent = Marilyn Skinner KAK
• Education of the church- understanding
• What can we do now!
• Get into schools
• Coordinate churches
• Call schools need help!
• Establish relationship there - school- church
• Educate churches on adopting schools!
• If church cant’s go to school
• Who do we contact- Jeff KUO
• Middle School/ High School should not be neglected – battle the problem
• Elementary useful prevent problem
• Relationship
• Children with in sports
• Adult/ family class programs
• Breach the cycle
• Schools as a distribution center for food

Recap:

• Expansion (existing programs)
• Go to them (congregation presentation)
• Marketing (local)
• After-hours use church facility
• Sports (neighborhoods)
• Schools- willing to use
• Community centers
• ESL/ LEP
• School/ pantry
• All schools relationships
• Education/ church

Youth and Children Programs

Enough programs?

Not well known, marketing an issue

Transportation to the activity is the problem

Somebody has to subsidize program if particpants can't pay

Possible problems

Gap parent and kids

At risk kids can’t afford it

If things cost money how do we bridge the gap

Step back and look at programs and see what impact the lives of our children

Possible problem: Church not willing to work together (deep seeded mistrust)

The community foundation will help support a discussion community forum

Get the church to take care of its neighbored—minister to the neighborhood and listen to the needs.

Market better

Share opportunities

Community forum

All pro dad programs

Carver Center untapped resource not just basketball ie computer labs etc.

Could churches sponsor a student at Carver center for $12.00 per year?

Market better

Share opportunities

Collaborate

Community forum

Church has to come outside the walls

Needs to be a clearing house with information

Youth sports

Mentoring developing trust

Newsletters at schools to go home with info

Make a link with youth pastors

Partner with Great Banquet, Huddle, Youths sport programs

Possible "pick up" sports day where kids just show up and play a game, learning as they play

Lots of empty church gyms on Friday and Saturday.

Family Homelessness and Single Father issues

• Cam House- emergency housing for 3 families (planning)
• Purchase houses/ condos/ apts for continuum of care
• Ministerial Assoc become involved
• How to staff and maintain? Houses
• Research what other cities are doing- Logansport Emmaus Ministries
• Staffing could make jobs of houses
• Get small business interested
• Breakdown barriers of competition among churches
• Groups of churches working together to solve a specific problem- doing a great deal for an issue not a little for many issues
• This is a generational problem
• Research how many homeless families and single father families need to be served
• Relationships with people
• How to get churches on board
• Contact 211, Cam, Kokomo Rescue Mission, Schools for hard numbers
• Get Budget established
• Not a handout, but a handup
• 3 main issues in getting things started
• Get data chronically homeless.
• Get working budget on paper to run a house
• Get church to focus together on one issue.( make a plan for individual churches)
• Small business scoped to help with sustainability of program

Road blocks:

• Competing between churches
• Fear
• Weakness of relationship between pastors n the community
• Churches fear loss of money for internal uses.

Food Insecurity

• How can we fix the problem?
• What’s the next step
• People should not be going hungry in our community
• aim at better nutrition not just more to eat- better choices
• Access to food/ can’t get groceries at convenience stores- the cost is prohibitive at end of moth they are out of food at beginning of month the buy a lot because they have been hungry for the last 10 days
• Pantries need to make sure the food goes together
• Pasta- sauce
• Cereal- milk
• May not have a refrigerator to keep things cold
• Could a church do milk?
• Coordination of churches and food banks
• Crisis center has fridges/ can we use some to give to food banks
• There are lots of food banks that people don’t know about

• Food banks must rely on donations and sometimes they don’t come in
• Summer- kids only can eat- not parents
• Not published enough that there is food for kids in summer- grant for schools
• Sometimes kids eat at school through week- but have little on the weekend
• Food (lunch) Spirit Wind Church - Wednesday
• Food (lunch) Fresh Start- Tuesday
• Kokomo Rescue Mission -every day
• Teach parents the right things to cook
• In summer while kids are out of school they eat more so the food stamps don’t go as far
• Can groceries come to downtown for the urban people
• Would grocery stores shuttle folks to their stores
• Get to know your neighbors talk to them- visit them
• Get out of your church walls- to see what people need
• Group used to sponsor milk vouchers
• Food pantry communications need some meeting where people can agree
• Need list of all food pantries (1^st/ step)
• So every church will know how to reach pantries
• Golden choral, etc. can put food they don’t use in freezer and volunteers can pick up and distribute- is it legal
• Send e-mails to all about food pantries meetings
• Angel Food Ministries/ all churches are with-in walking distance
• Why can’t we do this with local groceries
• Churches could distribute
• Could feed for whole month (Angel food)
• Could be people in your church- even is you don’t know it- they might be going hungry
• May just have just one week of a little extra
• Not asking for help
• Sometimes its pride
• Make just a little too much
• 1 church in charge to distribute
• Advertise what needs are
• Pantries could swap if one has too much of something and the other has something else- etc. cereal for tomato sauce
• Needs could be put on web site
• Community garden maybe people could be taught to can tomatoes- green beans- potatoes
• Non-essential items
• Tooth paste/ tooth brush- diapers/ toilet paper/ detergent
• Food stamps do not pay for
• People usually need toilet paper- this is what they look for
• If you have never went hungry- you really don’t understand what is like
• Doing what Jesus told us to do- if you love me feed my sheep- feed my lambs- not just spiritual
• Most problems core from being hungry
• Can’t concentrate
• Can’t think
• Can’t make decisions
• Go to bed without dinner tonight and not breakfast in the morning- see how well you can think
• Transportation should not enter if all churches would be involved in food distribution
• Find people outside your church
• Churches-soup kitchens- alternate weekends
• Angels Food Ministries- or the like
• Churches could take turns cooking- staffing- distribution
• Church buses used to get people to get food (groceries) (volunteers- staffing- drivers-gas)
• Could also deliver groceries to people
• Volunteers are the main issue
• Need to be coordinated (communications)
• Model after meals on wheels as far as distribution
• How many soup kitchens?
• Meal everyday- shared by several churches
• Different groups of churches (then one from each group come together)
• Would you be willing to have poor needy to fish fries, chic and noodles, etc. for free?
• Get all for community- needs one person in charge- then a committee to let everyone know what we have and what is needed
• Keep in touch with Jeff after meeting with your churches to see what they think your need are

August Sidewalk Sunday School

Risk takers steps out in faith for Him. When we know that God is wanting us to be "Risk Takers" and we invest our time, money, prayers, the Word, and live by serving others, how can we fail? We can't because the Word tells us, "He who lives in us is greater than he who lives in the world." We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us.

Christ has predestined (preplanned) our works (mission) in advance. God did not save us so that we could just be Sunday church goers, but to be DOERS not just hearers. Jesus has a mission for each and every one of us to accomplish for His Kingdom gain in every generation. All which has been planned in advance and perfectly timed. In His sovereignty, God has chosen to do His work through us. If we miss our ministry, we will miss our entire purpose in remaining here.

Faith is the key. When we step out and put complete trust in God, we become His Risk Takers. God does all the work through us by giving Him our hearts, hands, and feet. I am challenging each one of you to become a "Risk Taker" by stepping out and sharing with others about KUO/SWSS, and if you are not involved with us, pray and see where God wants you to serve. He may just want you to be a prayer warrior or He may want your hands and feet to be used as His.

God has blessed us so abundantly at KUO with awesome volunteers, provisions, prayers being answered, and He just keeps opening doors for us. God has allowed us to be Risk Takers and to step out in faith by starting another site of SWSS in September. We are headed to Stoney Creek Mobile Home Community. There are approximate 30+ kids . I am so excited about going there and building relationships with them and their families. Most importantly, sharing the love of Christ with them.

If you feel the Spirit tugging on your heart to be a Risk Taker on Saturday, September 15th from 2:00-3:00, please email me. Please pray and seek God for His guidance and wisdom about where He wants you to be used as His Risk taker. I want to share this inspiration poem with all of you and it would be a prayer to meditate on. Then listen for the Spirit to speak to you. It is by St. Teresa of Avila.

Christ has

No body now on earth but yours;

No hands but yours;

No feet but yours;

Yours are the eyes

Through which is to look out

Christ's compassion to the world;

Yours are the feet

With which he is to go about

Doing good;

Yours are the hands

With which he is to bless now.

AMEN

Love In Christ.... Miss Mary

COOKOUTS AT PINE VALLEY

Our cookouts are still going great!!! We have wonderful volunteers who are very devoted in coming out every Sunday and serving the residents at Pine Valley.

We have been serving 50+ every week. We have developed close relationships with a lot of the families. They offer to help us serve and clean up.

Our volunteers from Alto UMC brought two flavors of ice cream last week. That was really a hit!! I don't know who enjoyed it the most, adults or the kids. HA!!

Thank you to all of you who comes to help serve, donates, and you prayer

warriors. God has truly blessed us at both sites.

All of you are invited to join us at PV any Sunday. We are there around 3:00 at the Community Center and start serving between 4:15 and 4:30. We stop at 5:30.

Again, THANK YOU from all of us at KUO. God bless, Mary

SUMMER SIDEWALK SUNDAY SCHOOL

WOW!!! How time flies when you are having fun. We have just finished our first Summer Sidewalk Sunday School``. We averaged 10 kids from Garden Square on Thursdays and 14 kids at Pine Valley on Fridays. The kids really enjoyed the lessons on the "Sermon on the Mount". Better known as The Beatitudes. The kids learned that we are to have the attitude and views of Christ. I told them that if they confess that Jesus lives in their hearts, then they must "Walk the Talk". Let others see Jesus in them. During our last seeion, instead of separating in small groups, we prayed over all of them. I shared with them that we were still doing the cookouts but ending SWSS until mid September. (Alto UMC will be leading it. Praise God!!) They wished we could still do SWSS . I might squeeze in a bible story and singing with the kids at our cookouts. When we have extra volunteers, we usually play games with them. They love the parachute.

I would like to say "THANK YOU" to all of the volunteers that helped me with SSWSS. Thank you for sharing your love for Christ and serving others. All of you really did a great job. Also for all who donated snacks, supplies, and prayers. May God bless each one of you more abundantly for your faithfulness and obediencee to Him. Faithfully Serving, Miss Mary

THANK YOU!!!!!!

A big THANK YOU to Grace UMC for a great VBS. Thank you for organizing and sharing VBS with all of us at KUO. The kids really had a blast. We averaged 60+ kids per night. It was an amazing and awesome week.

Also, THANK YOU for an incredible first ever "Block Party" Friday night for all of the kids and their families at Garden Square. The fellowship, food and music by Stephen Sherwood and Praise band, WOW!! WOW!!! WOW!! They are so anointed with theirmusic, praise and worship. You guys were great!!! The families loved it!! You have been asked to come back and do another concert. Thank You!! We love you all for your love for Christ and your testimonies. You blessed all of us. God bless you guys over and over...Mary Ingle

Visit my blog here.

Individual Volunteers

We appreciate and thank every volunteer!!While many come to work with their church groups many come to help on their own. Every volunteer that filled out a form for the summer are listed below:

1. Angie Sparks
2. Harry Sparks
3. Betty Spencer
4. Jackie Patterson
5. Gloria Strickland
6. Eve Yohn
7. Pam Yohn
8. Chris Newton
9. Pete Blue
10. Norma Blue
11. Jamie Willis
12. Ed Catron
13. Pat Catron
14. Grant Poytner
15. Margi Bailey
    
16. Avery Cosley
    
17. Suzanne Phillips
18. Judy Whorley
19. Dinny Bailey
20. Mary Ingle
21. Melissa Zimmerman
22. Stephanie Berghoff
23. Karen Malone
24. Jerry Berghoff
25. Pam Grohman
    
26. Suzie Zody
27. Lanna Kirtley
    
28. Margret Brown
    
29. Shirley Hoy
30. Dee Hostetler
31. Gary Hostetler
32. Boyd Mozingo
33. April Mozingo
34. Dan Mozingo
    
35. Cindi Meyers
36. Walt Doering
37. Melba Doering
38. Evan Strong
39. Mike Tarner
40. Jean Tarner
41. Marla Edmonds
42. Judy Rider
43. Allison Berghoff
44. Richard Lightsey
45. Sawyer Lightsey
46. Karen Zimmerman
47. Leanna Zimmerman
48. Peter Inman
49. Molly Lauterbach
50. John Alexander
51. Sandy Hurst
52. Sheri Fogelberg
53. Mark Sloss
54. Courtney Fogelberg
55. Eric Fogelberg
56. Anna Sloss
57. Ron Harper
58. David Plantenga
59. Madelyn Stanforth
60. Mark Stanforth
61. Robin Van Auken
62. Jerry Van Auken
63. Martha Howshaw
64. Andrew Van Auken
65. Joel Van Auken
66. Vanessa Grohman
67. Aaron Van Auken
68. Cathy Shaw
69. Nick Osborne
70. Kirsten Milliron
71. Levi Millron
72. Travis Taflinger
73. Casey Cline
74. Alyse Adkins
75. Brandon Kidwell
76. Keri Barnes
77. Colby Cuthbert
78. Kara Blattner
79. Shelia Bailey
80. Val Cuthbert
81. Val Harris
82. Brad Johnson
83. Emily Thice
84. Alex Kohne
85. Jordan Kohne
86. Cindy Kohne
87. Pat Kohne
88. Bill Ramseyer
89. Paula Shrock
90. Lori Collins
91. Katie Vahie
92. Molly Locke
93. Katie Davisson
94. Kritie Vahle
95. Jim Williams
96. Susan Garner
97. Liza Fiers
98. Taylor Kennedy
99. Erik Kile
100. Clarinda Crawford
101. John Vahle
102. Tracy Campbell
103. Bonnie Minor
104. David Kilty
105. Regina Kilty
106. Walter Rossmanith
107. Martha Rossmanith
     
108. Beth Swing
109. Kent Kessler
110. Bruce Larson
     
111. April Larson
112. Sandy Wilhoite
113. John Stark
114. Teri Stark
115. Emily Stark
116. Alexandria stark
117. Anna Stark
118. Mike Lupoi
119. Cristi Brewer-Allen
120. McKale Brewer
121. Brevin Allen
122. Tireon Allen
123. Rylee Burnet
124. Kasey May
125. Kaile Branch
126. Modeline Cassidy
127. Ashli Minor
128. Kaylee Johnson
129. Bailey Sandlin
130. Whitney Weir
131. Heather Hemmeger
132. Brittany Camp
133. Darrian Greene
134. Ashely Neniman
135. Aly Robins
136. Mark McClure
137. Jennifer McClure
138. Christine McClure
139. Kimberley McClure
140. Allexandria McClure
141. Jeremiah McClure
142. Ann Ihms
143. Hannah Ihms
144. Bruce Bryant
145. Peggy Hawk
146. Shirley Hatfield
147. Marsha Sanders
148. Nolan Sanders
149. Cameron Sanders
     
150. Elizabeth Hoover
151. Michael Meehan
152. Renate Musgrove
153. Debbie Meehan
154. Debbie Mitts
155. Courtney Mitts
156. Betty Corn
157. Betty Fields
158. Christine Whitaker
159. Linda Reed
160. Deanna Ancil
161. Sherry Matlock
162. Gale Eikenberry
163. Bev Wartenburger
164. Lee Pike
165. Kevin Cornell
166. Dan Grinsdale
167. Joyce Eikenberry
168. Thomas McGrew
169. Jim Fuller
170. Harry Williams
171. Joyce Ancil
172. Jason Kelly
173. Marsha Ward
174. Geri Brewster
175. Robert Bell
176. Kati Carter
177. Jenny Jones
178. Victoria Failor
179. Hailey Quacles
180. Nathan Vent
181. Ashley Newton
182. Stephanie Hollingsworth
     
183. Micah Kistler
184. Brodic Malone
185. Rachael Arredondo
186. John Wheeler
187. Matt Boicourt
188. Kyle Wysong
189. Candra Smith
190. Christina Galloway
191. Dannielle Reed
192. James Reed
193. James Miller
194. Mary Miller
195. Mona Phifer
196. Stacy Stoyke
197. Dixie Hogan
198. Mike Klutzank
199. Alan Weaver
200. Ethel Devine
201. Mallory Willis
     
202. John King
     
203. Shem Nuss
     
204. Denise Renhenberger
205. Jerry Renhenberger
206. Tom Collins
207. Andrea Brown
208. Kelcy Compton
209. Alan Burns
210. Anne Reder
211. Alex Eruer
212. Margaret Gillis
213. Jeneal Hunt
214. Sam Locke
215. Amy Ayers
216. David Ancil
217. James Jacobs
218. Nick Kile
219. Kim Kile
220. Emily Kile
221. Erik Kile
222. Erin Kay Kile
223. Ethan Kile
224. Carol Bachiniski
225. Beverly Kussy
226. Patrice Martin
227. Nancy Scaggs
228. Steven Sherwood
229. Wayne Pence
     
230. Barbara Kinsler

Not included in this list are all that volunteered but did not fill out a volunteer form. Not appearing on the above list were about 30 helpers for VBS, 15 helpers at Give for the Good Day, 20 helpers who arrive at cook-out site, some of the bean pickers at the Garden and 4 more people in the band at the VBS Celebration. We are pushing 300 summer volunteers. The danger of listing everyone is excluding someone. I can easily add someone here. Let me know if you or someone you know were omitted. Jeff

Community Garden

The Community Garden of Kokomo has provided KUO with fresh produce all summer. Recently, volunteers from KUO went to the garden and picked beans. Over 450 pounds were picked by KUO volunteers.

Thank you Community Garden and volunteers

Kawanis International

The Sunriser Kawanis Club recently, presented KUO for a check to purchase back packs for children.



Thank You Kawanis

Main St. United Methodist Church

Main St. UMC's Vacation Bible School collected offerings through the week and then purchased laundry soap for KUO to give to those in need. Main St. recently, became a distribution point for Angel Food Ministries.

Main St. also is the home of "God's Neighborhood Closet"!

Thanks Main St.