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From Our Home to Yours

The Newsletter of Rainbow Village
April 2013

NANCY YANCEY PREACHES AT CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Rainbow Village CEO Nancy R. Yancey preaches at Christ Episcopal Church, birthplace of Rainbow Village, during Mission Month. From L-R: the Reverend Nancy R. Yancey, the Reverend Ceci Duke, and Greta Loeber.

THE CHANGE RAINBOW VILLAGE GAVE...
Living here now at Rainbow Village has given me a chance to work on building my credit and savings account at the same time. It has always scared me since I was about 25 years old to look at my credit report. I was afraid of what I might see on there.

Recently, Lisa Ray, Financial Program Director at Rainbow Village, met with me and helped me pull my credit for the first time. I always thought of doing this but I was scared of the outcome so I avoided it all together. After pulling my credit report, Lisa helped me go through it thoroughly to make sure only my debt was on there. Then we started to plan ways to resolve that. I felt very confident after planning and preparing to face the creditors because I had spent time asking Lisa for advice on how to approach certain situations.

I feel this really helped because I had a feel of what I might be asked and a quick heads up on negotiating with them so when we did speak I felt motivated. I called each creditor on my credit report and started to set up payment arrangements for the following week. Some accepted payments as low as $5.00 a month. I was really excited once I started to pay them down and felt powerful in getting control over my credit.

Once my tax check was deposited into my account, I decided to pay some of my settlements off. I ended up paying them all off. I feel very happy about this and felt the need to share this with the world.

Once you start to try, most of the time something or someone gives you a great big push. I feel like Rainbow Village was my boost. I know that I could have attempted to do this on my own, but due to life, there would have been many obstacles in my way - rent, utilities, new medical bills, etc. Being here at Rainbow Village gave me a real chance at using my taxes in a very positive way because the things I normally would use them for were already handled and this gave me time to clear up my credit and put something back for a rainy day. I feel strong and excited when I think about the future now because I know that my credit report was top priority to me.

Some of you may feel after seven years it will go away, but mine was still there. The debt was sold to others and remained for another seven years. If you have a chance to fix your credit, do so for your family. It does matter and it really makes a difference. I can apply for positions that I was afraid of before due to my credit report. I feel that I put my family first and completed the biggest and hardest goal ever when I did this and in so doing, I know now that I can achieve all other goals in my life. A Woman with a Plan! Thank you Rainbow Village for the warm welcoming that you've given to all of your residents.


GOLF IS UPON US!

Spring is not the only thing upon us. The 18th Annual Rainbow Village Golf Classic is May 6 at TPC Sugarloaf. This is a perfect opportunity to play a round of golf, and if you don't golf, you can sign up as a sponsor or attend a fabulous dinner provided by Outback Steakhouse. Outback graciously sponsored dinner for us last year and their ribs are not to be missed! Please join us and support Rainbow Village. Click here to register or sponsor!

 

RAINBOW VILLAGE FINANCIAL SUCCESSES
  • One resident paid off a finance loan
  • One resident paid off a long-standing GA Power bill
  • Three residents put $1800 - $2000 aside from tax refunds in savings
  • One resident paid off a title pawn
  • One resident paid off a GA Tax bill
  • One resident put their security deposit in their savings
  • One resident has paid off the majority of items on their credit report with their tax refund (over 10 debts)
  • One resident added $1,000 to RV savings in March
  • One resident went from a part-time to a full-time job
VOLUNTEER CORNER
Volunteers Needed for the Rainbow Village Mother's Day Dinner
Join us as we honor the mother's in Rainbow Village Thursday, May 9 from 6pm to 8pm with a fabulous meal and quality time with friends. We have volunteer opportunities for set-up, decorations & flowers, meal preparations & service, breakdown/clean-up. If you can help please contact Lynnette Ward at 770-497-1888 x14 or [email protected].
DATE: Thursday, May 9, 6-8 p.m.
LOCATION: Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church, 3700 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA 30096

Rainbow Village is grateful to have Epiphany Lutheran Church as a faith partner. Not only did they designate Rainbow Village as a recipient of their First Fruits Giving, but their members have engaged with Rainbow Village and volunteered in a number of ways. Rainbow Village staff and Graduates were invited to speak to groups within the church. Currently their Outreach Mission Team is exploring ways for Epiphany to further engage with Rainbow Village. Welcome and bless you for your service.

NCR Volunteers
Friends from NCR Corporation deliver welcome home boxes for new Rainbow Village residents.

Lizzie Hampton and Kelly Ward
New Board member and Rainbow Village graduate Lizzie Hampton and Rainbow Village graduate Kelley Ward volunteer at the Gwinnett Family Fun Day.

Episcopal Women
The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Board of Directors representing various parishes met at Rainbow Village to tour the facility and take the mission of Rainbow Village back with them.

We are GRATEFUL for our evening meal providers:
  • McKendree United Methodist Church
  • Johns Creek United Methodist Church
  • Perimeter Church
  • Mary & Scott Yost, Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church
  • Simpsonwood United Methodist Church
  • Cornerstone Church
  • Life Changers Church

Pictured above: David Wilson, Damita Wilson, Fran Henry, Don Henry with Life Changers Church.

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK:
April 21-27
We gratefully extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to the more than 800 volunteers who give of their time, talent, and treasure at Rainbow Village. If you've ever wondered how volunteers help, read on. They:
  • Answer phone calls from homeless families in desperate situations...
  • Assist with after-school and evening programs...
  • Make care packages and special treats for families who struggle to keep their head above water...
  • Give of their own time to plan special events...
  • Plant flowers to beautify the homes of Rainbow Village families...
  • Rock babies to sleep in the nursery so parents can attend life changing education classes...
...and countless others! We couldn't provide for our families without volunteers! Come be a part by contacting Lynnette Ward, Community Resource Director, at 770-497-1888 x14, or [email protected]. On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, THANK YOU RAINBOW VILLAGE Volunteers!

VOLUNTEERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Jennifer Sycamore Jennifer Sycamore is one of our most treasured volunteers at the after-school program. We are proud of her work with Rainbow Village and outside Rainbow Village. She is a sophomore at Duluth High School, will attend Vanderbilt University's Summer Academy (VSA) for Talented Youth, to participate in the "Chemistry of Everyday Things" camp. VSA is a program featuring challenging courses for academically gifted students, taught in university classrooms and labs by Vanderbilt scholars. Jennifer will spend three weeks in July living at Vanderbilt's Nashville, Tennessee campus. Jennifer is also a recent inductee to the Duluth High School Chapter of the National Honor Society. Thank you Jennifer for your support!

 

Read more from a special group of volunteers:

 

"Nerds - The CanDI" presented their project March 23 at Destination Imagination, at the state level and won in their category (middle school age) Project Outreach challenge. This is the video they presented.

 

DI movie
"Nerds - The CanDI"


Their challenge was to design an activity or project that would creativity make a real difference in their community. They picked our middle school children to be their focus. They went to local businesses and collected book bags and school supplies. They also secured tickets to a local play, and invited Rainbow Village families with middle aged children to join the team and their families for a night of fun and friendship.

 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR
A Night Of Comedy Benefitting Rainbow Village - May 21, 2013
A Night of Comedy - May 21, 2013

18th Annual Golf Classic  

Mark Your Calendars!    

Annual Golf Classic to be held May 6 at TPC Sugarloaf!  

Click here for
more information
and to register!
 


Save the date for the Annual Gala - October 5, 2013, at The Atlanta Athletic Club 

Capital Campaign

"Building Strong Communities... One Family at a Time." Learn how you can make a difference.


It truly does take a village to change the lives of homeless families with children now and for generations to come. Contact Sandra Cathy, Chief Development Officer, to learn more.

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Pledge a recurring monthly gift to support our ongoing operations and be a guardian angel to our families.

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NOTE NEW ADDRESS:
Rainbow Village, Inc.
3427 Duluth Hwy 120
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 497-1888
rainbowvillage.org 

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Rainbow Village, Inc. � 3427 Duluth Highway 120 � Duluth, Georgia 30096 � (770) 497-1888 � rainbowvillage.org