Dear Friends,
This year we have been reminded we can take nothing for granted. The majority of us have never had to worry about having a stable job, paying for health care, losing our home, or having food or school clothes for our kids. Unfortunately, that has not been the experience for many Maple Valley residents. Recently your Community Center convened sixteen participant families to discuss what they need to thrive in the face of these challenges. Most families were encoutering a never before experienced reliance on public assistance. Stable employment, health care, and affordable housing were identified as major needs in addition to free and low cost activites and support services.
Our Challenge
The Greater Maple Valley Community Center is the main provider of human services and human service referral for Maple Valley residents. In addition to the problems identified by this focus group, we also know that many children in our community are in the care of family, friends and neighbors who often lack current knowledge of early child development, are less likely to provide adequate preparation for kindergarten, and are more likely to neglect or abuse. We know youth in our community believe it is better to drink alcohol than use drugs, and think it is better to use marijuana than tobacco. We know teens as early as eighth grade have experienced dating violence, and we know bullying is a significant problem at all grade levels. We know seniors on fixed incomes are at risk of isolation and hunger, and depend on others for transportation.
These problems exist right here in Maple Valley. We encourage you to visit our website to view the testimonies offered in the linked video which share our story of service for children, teens, parents, adults, and seniors. In only eight minutes you can hear and learn of the good work made possible by your support. Our challenge today is to continue to operate in the face of reduced revenue streams without cutting programs and support services.
You Make the Difference
As 2009 draws to a close, we ask for your help. Funding for GMVCC programs represents the decision as a community that everyone deserves healthy and supportive relations, and everyone has the right to live in a safe and healthy environment. The Lucky7 Foundation has offered to match dollar for dollar any individual contributions received from new donors or donors who have not given in the last three years. Our goal is to receive $10,000 in donations by the end of the year.
Please accept our deepest appreciation for your continued support of our work, our mission and our hopes for those we serve. We invite you to make a donation directly through the Secure Paypal Link on our website.
Credit cards donations are also accepted by phone at (425) 432-1272.
Checks can be mailed to:
GMVCC
22010 SE 248th ST
Maple Valley, WA 98038-6067 | |
