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Looking Back at
UMCH in 2009 |
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Thanks for what you did! Click here for a look back at 2009. |
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Greetings!
I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Thanks to your efforts and support, the United Methodist Children's Home was able to help provide a joyous Christmas to those youth who would not have had one otherwise.
We are looking forward to partnering with you again in 2010 to nurture even more youth and families and to bring healing those who are hurting. As the needs of families and children grow, so will our resolve to provide comfort and support.
Remember to log onto our website to see the latest news on what's happening around campus or visit us on Facebook. UMCH is always looking for willing hands. If volunteering is one of your New Year's resolutions, click here to contact our Volunteer Coordinator. If you would like to visit our campus for a tour, you can click here to get more information, and remember to share our newsletter with your friends.
May you continue to be blessed as you have blessed us, and have a happy New Year. |
| Three Ways You Can Help |
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Volunteer, Give, Foster
The new year is a time when we evaluate the last year and make decisions about how to improve the coming one. Giving back to the community is one thing many of us commit to doing in the coming year. Do you want to make a difference but aren't sure where to start? Here are three ways you can make a difference in the lives of children and families.
Volunteer:UMCH offers a variety of ways for you to volunteer a little or a lot of your time. You can come as you are, or bring your friends or co-workers. The Children's Home needs tutors, grounds keepers, and help with building upkeep and other projects around campus. You can commit to one day or once a week. Click here to learn more.
Give:Despite cutting expenses by 5 percent last year, UMCH needs your support to help us continue to serve children and families. The demand is higher than ever before, and with your help we can meet the needs of those who ask. You can contribute to the general budget, designate a project, or make a remembrance gift. Click here for more information.
Become a foster parent: UMCH is looking for foster parents willing to open their homes as a temporary living arrangement for children in need of loving families. We particularly need foster homes open to:
- sibling groups of two children or more (of all ages)
- medically fragile children of all ages
- teenagers, including teen mothers and their babies
Click here to learn more about foster parenting. |
| Around Campus |
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UMCH Activity Snapshots
Building on a relationship that began last year with a simple party for children who could use some extra joy in their lives, the UMCH youth visited youngsters at Our House for a winter party. Our House is an early education center for children of homeless parents. Activities and snacks were all winter-related and included eating snow cones and building styrofoam snowmen.
Recently the UMCH boys' under-18 basketball team traveled to South DeKalb YMCA to play their second game of the season. The team had been practicing hard since their first loss of the season and were ready to get back on the court after a long Christmas break. The boys have really improved from their first game and came within six points of winning, but timely shooting by the other team ended the game with a 42-36 loss.
Despite the defeat, the boys were in good spirits after the game and are preparing to work even harder to earn a win. We're proud of our team! Games continue each Saturday through mid-Feburary.
In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, UMCH youth entered a campus essay contest, "What Human Rights Mean to Me." Many great ideas were shared, and each writer was given a chance to read their essay aloud at our MLK, Jr. Day luncheon, where youth and staff gathered to share food and fellowship. Click here to read excerpts of our youth's writings. |
| Seven Tips for Keeping Children Safe Online |
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It's Elementary 
It's elementary school; how much trouble could they get into? This idea often keeps us from discussing internet safety with our children. However, in our technology-savvy society, it's important to give our children guidelines and help them understand the potential dangers of the internet. Introduce your children to the videos and games found at: www.ikeepsafe.org and www.media-awareness.ca/english/games/privacy_playground/, and teach your children to follow these seven rules whenever they are online:
1. Don't send or post personal information or pictures for people you haven't met in person.
2. Don't accept emails from people you don't know.
3. Never meet up with someone you have only met on the internet.
4. Question what you read - not everything on the internet is true.
5. Never give your username or password to anyone.
6. Don't share things you don't want others to see - nothing on the internet is private.
7. If someone is mean to you, don't respond.Tell an adult. | |
The United Methodist Children's Home is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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