Fortress Youth Development Center
Fortress Youth Development Center E-news
 March 2009
 cowboyGreetings!
Greetings from Fortress! As I write this, I'm enjoying the sweet sound of preschool voices singing Jingle Bells. "In the spring?" you ask? "It's 82 degrees outside, Christmas is long past, and you're still singing carols at Building Blocks?" Well, yes, as a matter of fact. When Kristi's leading Circle Time, she takes song requests, and if a small voice asks for Jingle Bells, even while the tulips are blooming, Jingle Bells it is.
 
With the arrival of spring, we at Fortress have sprung into action- purging, deep cleaning and reorganizing the building. Work groups have volunteered more than 800 individual man hours over the course of the last three weeks. Ground was broken for a new on-site playground, garage sale items have been arriving, classrooms and offices have been moved and rearranged, and the daily schedule of kids and homework and sharing God's hope continues without interruption.
 
Remember your New Year's resolution to get involved? It's not too late. Get on board with us this spring and help us make a difference!
 
Volunteer Opportunities
You Can Make a Difference!  
  • Mentors (men especially needed)
  • Tutors (to work one-on-one with students after school or in the evening)
  • Committee chairpeople (for our auction dinner)
  • Office help on Tuesday afternoons (answering phones and simple office tasks)
  • Data Entry
  • Photographers (to capture daily programs and special events) 
Fall for Fortress Dinner & Auction  -Chairpersons Needed!
Our 2nd annual Dinner & Auction is scheduled for Saturday, October 24. We're currently putting together our planning committees and are seeking enthusiastic individuals who have a passion for Fortress and the kids we serve. Interested in helping us throw a fabulous, fun, memorable event? Contact Stacy today! 817.335.1007 stacy@fwydc.org

Fortress Spring BreakSpring Garage Sale

Th-Fr, Mar 26-27
Southside Church of Christ parking lot
2101 Hemphill St.
 
It's time for Fortress's annual Spring Garage Sale! The youth group from Netherwood Church of Christ in Albuquerque, NM will be here next week to organize, sort and facilitate the sale.
If you have small items
to donate, please bring them to Fortress between 10 and 4 the week of March 22.
If you have large items,
we ask that you deliver them directly to the sale on Thursday, March 26. 
 
Help Needed!
The group from Netherwood has to head home Friday morning. We need volunteers to run the sale; morning shifts are still available. Please call the Fortress office if you can help. 
 
Come Shop!
The garage sale is our only spring fundraiser. All proceeds go into our general operating fund and help us provide salaries, groceries, school supplies, etc... everything we need to keep Fortress Youth Development Center shining brightly.
Current Needs
Can You Help?
  • HP93 and HP98 ink cartridges
  • 1 new laptop
  • 20 lb. white copy paper
  • Shell gas cards
  • 15-passenger van
  • body work and paint job on 2 existing vans
  • shelves built/installed
  • backpack hooks purchased & installed
Meet Jessie Sorenson!
Jessie 
Fortress is thrilled to welcome a new addition to its FLC staff.  Jessie works with Fortress Litereacy Center as the Lab Facilitator, working with and mentoring students who utilize our state-of-the-art literacy software.
 
She heard about Fortress when she first moved to Fort Worth, and says,
"God has certainly brought this opportunity about, and I am thrilled to see what He has in store for the family here at Fortress. It is encouraging to see how He has blessed the Fortress family to be vessels of His mercy and love in the community for the glory of His Kingdom, and I am honored to be a part of His work here."
 
Jessie graduated from New Mexico State University in 2006 with a Liberal Arts degree, and in May of 2008 she received her post-baccalaureate teaching certification from Lubbock Christian University.
 
"God has given me a deep passion for sharing His love with His blessed children," she says, "and for speaking truth into hearts that need to hear it most, that you are a blessed child of God. He knows you inside and out, He does not make mistakes, and He has a divine, beautiful plan for your life. Each of us, no matter where we come from, is known and loved deeply by our mighty Creator."

Fortress feels blessed to have Jessie on staff; she brings a vibrancy and joyful energy to our staff and programs. She worships at Richland Hills Church of Christ, and is looking for an additional part-time job to help make ends meet. She can be contacted at jessie@fwydc.org.
 
Read Jessie's firsthand account of her first month at Fortress!
Volunteer Spotlight - Spring Work Groups Contribute 860 Hours!

Fortress Spring Break 
Fortress thanks the following groups who've spent their Spring Break time in service to God and our community. Work groups help make it possible for us to share hope and opportunity with the youth in Near Southeast Fort Worth; our programs wouldn't be possible without the generous support and selfless contributions from folks like these:

<---- Jimma McMindes and friends from Lake Cities Church of Christ, who've spent several weekends clearing ground, building fences, and installing a new playground for Building Blocks Early Learning Center. (Stay tuned for an email announcing the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication of the new playground!)
 
Eric Opton and the leaders in his youth group from Monterey Church of Christ in Lubbock, who spent their Leadership Retreat tackling some unbelievably dirty jobs! They also packaged and delivered grocery boxes to some our our Fortress families.
 
Coy Siders and the youth from Northcrest Church of Christ in Mexia, who organized an amazing donation drive, filling three plastic tubs with after-school snacks for our FLC students. While here, they cleaned and organized, and prayed over our neighborhood and its children.
 
Fort Worth native Michael Crouch and friends from Harding University, who spent a day working on a mosaic tile project that our students started, repairing rain-damaged photo timelines, and working with FLC students after school.
 
Matt Wilson and the youth group from Faith Village Church of Christ in Wichita Falls, who planted flowers and helped deep clean and reorganize offices, the back room, the supply closet, and the back yard.
 
The youth group from Mid-Cities Church of Christ, who helped deep clean and reorganize our pantry and back room, and put a ton of muscle into the barn.
 
Casandra and Mizuki from ACU, who assembled info packets and worked with our after-school programs.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Our Core Purpose: Providing opportunities for inner city children and youth to experience powerful life change in order to become productive Christian adults.

The financial burden of a non-profit never goes away, but in these trying economic times, Fortress YDC is more in need than ever before. We ask you to prayerfully consider supporting the beautiful ministry that God began here. Every little bit helps; no amount is too small. To make a one-time donation with a credit card, go to www.fortressydc.org and click on "donate now". To find out how to make a monthly commitment (either by credit card, automatic withdrawal or check), email terri@fwydc.org. Checks can be made out to Fortress YDC, PO Box 422, Fort Worth, TX, 76101.
If you're unclear about our purpose, we invite you to visit our website, www.fortressydc.org. If you'd like an Info Packet for yourself or someone else who'd be interested in our programs, email info@fwydc.org and request either a hard copy or an electronic one.
 
Thank you for your continued interest in and prayerful consideration of Fortress Youth Development Center.