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 UMCH is now on Facebook! Come visit us today! |
| Work Day Offering is September 20! |
Every year United Methodists all over north Georgia give to our Work Day Offering - ensuring UMCH's ministry to children and families continues. Anyone can "work a day for the Home" by giving a day's pay to the Work Day Offering.
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Greetings!
Bright yellow buses showed up on our campus this week, signifying the start of another school year. For many of our youth, school is a difficult place, as they struggle with balancing their education and dealing with the problems in their lives and in their families. Your prayers are always appreciated! For specific ways you can pray for our children, families and staff, see our website. We have broken ground on the rebuilding of Leigh Cottage, which was burned in a fire late in 2007. Construction has begun, and soon United Methodist Men from around the northern half of Georgia will lend a hand in the rebuilding. If your UMM group is interested in joining in, click here for more information. Remember to check our website in between newsletters for updates, and you can save a stamp by making your donation there as well. Lives are being changed daily at the United Methodist Children's Home, and we thank you for making that possible!
P.S. Remember to click the "Forward email" link below and send this email to your friends and family. Thanks! |
| VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT - KIDS (DO) CARE |
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Neighborhood children plan party for Short-term Housing families
The children in the Leafmore Creek Park subdivision in Decatur know what it means to give back to the community. They have formed a club called "Kids Care," and the group is definitely living up to its name. On the heels of a project where the children themselves collected over $3,000 for a local animal shelter with a pasta dinner fundraiser, they contacted UMCH to see how they could help our children and families.
Because the children in Kids Care are so young, a typical volunteer job with UMCH wasn't a possibility. But in working with our Volunteer Coordinator, Charli Whitfield, the group came up with a great plan to help the families in our Short-term Family Housing program.
Each Leafmore family was assigned to one of the children living in the Short-term Family Housing units. They collected and purchased clothes, school supplies and backpacks for the children, and each UMCH family also received a gift card for a nice dinner out. Then, last Saturday, the Leafmore families arrived on our campus, cars loaded with not only the items for the children, but also full of food and fun. Everyone headed down to the pool and gym where the Leafmore and UMCH families together enjoyed swimming, fishing and a cookout.
The Short-term Housing families, along with the rest of the UMCH community, are so grateful to Kids Care and their families for the fun day in the sun and all the items they gave!
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| ANNOUNCEMENT - ARTWORK MAKES NOTECARDS! |
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 Our youth's artwork graces beautiful notecards
You can make a difference in (more than) one person's life: send them a notecard reminding them you care, and at the same time, you'll be supporting the life-changing work that happens at UMCH every day!
Our youth spend a lot of time in our Healing HeArts Center, creating beautiful artwork that expresses what they're feeling in a way where words sometimes fall short. This artwork reminds us of what can be going on in their hearts and minds, even when they can't verbally share that. The notecards will help you remember the difference that your support is making in the life of a child.
The notecards are sold in a 12-pack for $15 (there are four cards of three different designs in a pack). One of the card designs is a thank you card, with the letters in "thank you" being spelled out with the artwork. The other two cards are artwork-only. All of the cards are blank on the inside. There is a $3 shipping and handling charge per order as well.
If you would like to purchase a packet of cards, call 404.327.5839 or email Scott Young. |
| THE "HOW TO" CORNER |
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 Healthy after-school snacks
Now that school is back in session for most children, life gets a little crazier for families. When sports, dance practice and music lessons all resume, not to mention homework, it's easy to forgo nutrition and health in favor of what's quick and easy.
Thankfully there are a lot of healthy foods available that also fit the bill of quick and easy. Pre-cut fruits and veggies are now available in your local grocery store, making it easy for your children to grab something healthy out of the fridge when you're on the go. Or, if you're trying to watch your wallet as well, wash and cut your produce as soon as you return from the store. Designate a section or drawer in your fridge, as well as a spot in your pantry, where you always keep quick and healthy snacks. Make this section easy to find so that everyone is less tempted to go scrounging for junk food when stomachs are growling.
Looking for something yummy to dip those veggies in?  Try this simple recipe for hummus from FoodFit.com. Make up a platter of whole wheat pita bread, red peppers, carrots and celery (or whatever vegetables your family prefers), and keep it next to the hummus in the fridge. Then - voila! - you've got your own version of fast food for snacks on the go! | |
The United Methodist Children's Home is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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