When: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Where: Fellowship Hall at St. Stephen United Methodist in Charlotte, NC
Come enjoy homemade soups, bread, desserts and fellowship!
Donations gladly accepted to benefit Bethlehem Center-Charlotte 2010 Summer Camperships
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
I'd like to help... now what??
We see many potential volunteers in the office here. Sometimes people have a certain area in mind that they want to help with, and other times the conversation with the volunteer goes something like this... "Put me wherever I am most needed."
We love this attitude, but sometimes it's hard for us to let you know what we need most, because our needs are so great! We want to hear what you can do for the kids. Are you a math whiz? Are you a concert pianist? Are you a certified counselor? Do you have a knack for marketing?
All of these things are needs and desires for the program. But our needs are exhaustive, and we can match your talents with our desires.
But specifically, the two areas that we direct most of our volunteers to are this: tutoring and office help.
So what can you expect for each opportunity?
Tutors are asked to commit to an hour a week for a semester. Some decide to stay longer, some cannot for personal reasons. We will pair you with one student, and you will monitor their progress over the semester and help them where needed. The requirements for this are 18 and over, background check clearance, a love of kids, and a willingness to commit for the desired time. Note: Ability to remember high school math not required, but if you can please let us know. One of the top comments we get during tutor interviews is, "I'm horrible at math!" Keep in mind that we assign tutors by highest need to lowest, and since we do not have a tutor for every child at this point, most tutors are working with children on remedial math and reading.
Office assistants will help with one or all of three offices: the BC main office (for the afterschool program), the development office, or the accounting office. We look for people to serve in this area who have a willingness to jump in and do it all. Volunteers in this area are much needed to help keep our staff costs down and our staff sanity up. Volunteers in the past have done everything from stuffing envelopes, answering phones, scanning in checks, and many other things. Due to the sensitivity and nature of the work being done, we do require a background check and for those volunteers to agree to confidentiality.
But what else do our volunteers do?
We love this attitude, but sometimes it's hard for us to let you know what we need most, because our needs are so great! We want to hear what you can do for the kids. Are you a math whiz? Are you a concert pianist? Are you a certified counselor? Do you have a knack for marketing?
All of these things are needs and desires for the program. But our needs are exhaustive, and we can match your talents with our desires.
But specifically, the two areas that we direct most of our volunteers to are this: tutoring and office help.
So what can you expect for each opportunity?
Tutors are asked to commit to an hour a week for a semester. Some decide to stay longer, some cannot for personal reasons. We will pair you with one student, and you will monitor their progress over the semester and help them where needed. The requirements for this are 18 and over, background check clearance, a love of kids, and a willingness to commit for the desired time. Note: Ability to remember high school math not required, but if you can please let us know. One of the top comments we get during tutor interviews is, "I'm horrible at math!" Keep in mind that we assign tutors by highest need to lowest, and since we do not have a tutor for every child at this point, most tutors are working with children on remedial math and reading.
Office assistants will help with one or all of three offices: the BC main office (for the afterschool program), the development office, or the accounting office. We look for people to serve in this area who have a willingness to jump in and do it all. Volunteers in this area are much needed to help keep our staff costs down and our staff sanity up. Volunteers in the past have done everything from stuffing envelopes, answering phones, scanning in checks, and many other things. Due to the sensitivity and nature of the work being done, we do require a background check and for those volunteers to agree to confidentiality.
But what else do our volunteers do?
- Resume writing assistance
- Piano lessons
- Art classes
- Holiday parties for the kids
- Landscaping/outdoor work
- Event planning
- Much, much more!
If you're interested in volunteering with us, please call 704-371-7404.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Resident Camp Preparation 2010
It’s hard to believe as we are experiencing 45 degree highs here in Charlotte, that it’s already time to plan for summer camp 2010!
Each year, the Bethlehem Center sends children to Christian resident camps in North Carolina with the help of area churches, board members and the surrounding community. Every year, we provide Bethlehem Center campers with sleeping bags and a duffel bag full of supplies needed for their camp experience. Most of our campers in 2010 are going to camp for the first time, so we are in need of sleeping bags. (Note: once a child attends a resident camp through us and receive a sleeping bag, they do not receive a new one in upcoming years.)
We are requesting completed packages, but will take any donations supplied. Below you will find what is needed in each duffel bag.
Camper Prep for Camp:
o Duffel Bag (generic, no gender specific)
o Sleeping Bag-Plain, No cartoons
o Flashlight and batteries
o Bar soap
o Shampoo
o Conditioner
o 2 hand towels
o 2 bath towels
o 2 face cloths
o Lotion
o Bug repellent
o Sun block
o Toothbrush
o Toothpaste
o Poncho or light rain coat
o Heavy duty comb or brush
o Deodorant
o Bible (optional, but please let us know if your bag does not have one)
o Anything additional is welcomed, but the above are essential
Please place all liquids in a large Ziploc bag for each child. We are hoping to get “packets” of stuff together to make packing of the bags easier and more efficient.
Campers start registering in February, and we will start taking finished bags on March 1st. We would like to have all bags in by April 15th.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call 704-375-1417.
Each year, the Bethlehem Center sends children to Christian resident camps in North Carolina with the help of area churches, board members and the surrounding community. Every year, we provide Bethlehem Center campers with sleeping bags and a duffel bag full of supplies needed for their camp experience. Most of our campers in 2010 are going to camp for the first time, so we are in need of sleeping bags. (Note: once a child attends a resident camp through us and receive a sleeping bag, they do not receive a new one in upcoming years.)
We are requesting completed packages, but will take any donations supplied. Below you will find what is needed in each duffel bag.
Camper Prep for Camp:
o Duffel Bag (generic, no gender specific)
o Sleeping Bag-Plain, No cartoons
o Flashlight and batteries
o Bar soap
o Shampoo
o Conditioner
o 2 hand towels
o 2 bath towels
o 2 face cloths
o Lotion
o Bug repellent
o Sun block
o Toothbrush
o Toothpaste
o Poncho or light rain coat
o Heavy duty comb or brush
o Deodorant
o Bible (optional, but please let us know if your bag does not have one)
o Anything additional is welcomed, but the above are essential
Please place all liquids in a large Ziploc bag for each child. We are hoping to get “packets” of stuff together to make packing of the bags easier and more efficient.
Campers start registering in February, and we will start taking finished bags on March 1st. We would like to have all bags in by April 15th.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call 704-375-1417.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Status Update
We have to thank you all as a community for what you've done for us this year.
It's been a tough year, we must admit, with predictions mid-year of a $60,000 defecit. While we were proactive by cutting staff and expenses in anticipation of the shortfall, we'd also like to recognize those who stepped up to help close this gap, which has now narrowed to an anticipated $15,000.
In October, we received word that our Thanksgiving distribution to over 400 families was threatened. Our long-term supporter decided to shift focus to a local community, leaving our community to find alternative resources. You all stepped up, providing us with not only enough donations for this year, but some overflow to help lead us into next year as well.
As we look back on a year with such uncertainty, we cannot begin to thank you enough for all of you who have increased your giving. We had churches donate as much as 4 times the amount as last year. 3 churches designated $1500 to our programs (this is an increase from 2008 for all three), with another church conducting a special offering on Christmas Eve in our name.
And we cannot forget our individual donors, like the donor who called and let us know they would be sending us $2800 to support Thanksgiving programming and the countless other donors that dug deep to support us this year.
Thank you all for your teamwork, your efforts, your love, and your encouragement. We cannot keep our mission going without you.
It's been a tough year, we must admit, with predictions mid-year of a $60,000 defecit. While we were proactive by cutting staff and expenses in anticipation of the shortfall, we'd also like to recognize those who stepped up to help close this gap, which has now narrowed to an anticipated $15,000.
In October, we received word that our Thanksgiving distribution to over 400 families was threatened. Our long-term supporter decided to shift focus to a local community, leaving our community to find alternative resources. You all stepped up, providing us with not only enough donations for this year, but some overflow to help lead us into next year as well.
As we look back on a year with such uncertainty, we cannot begin to thank you enough for all of you who have increased your giving. We had churches donate as much as 4 times the amount as last year. 3 churches designated $1500 to our programs (this is an increase from 2008 for all three), with another church conducting a special offering on Christmas Eve in our name.
And we cannot forget our individual donors, like the donor who called and let us know they would be sending us $2800 to support Thanksgiving programming and the countless other donors that dug deep to support us this year.
Thank you all for your teamwork, your efforts, your love, and your encouragement. We cannot keep our mission going without you.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Christmas program now completed!
Thank you to our community, we have now sponsored all families and children in our programs for Christmas.
The final numbers:
-868 children and 47 seniors served through our Stars program
-315 individuals served through our Family Sharing program
Thank you to all who stepped up in sponsoring our families in most need this holiday season.
The final numbers:
-868 children and 47 seniors served through our Stars program
-315 individuals served through our Family Sharing program
Thank you to all who stepped up in sponsoring our families in most need this holiday season.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Charlotte community comes together at Thanksgiving
We are thrilled to announce that the Charlotte community has pulled together to provide more than enough to feed 400 families in our community at Thanksgiving. We truly appreciate all you did to make this happen!
If you are still willing to donate, we would love for you to continue donating to our missions and education program in honor of Thanksgiving. This program provides for the educational needs of many, including afterschool tutoring and gang, drug, and alcohol education.
On a business note, we have literally been receiving donations faster than I can enter them in, so please give me 2 or 3 weeks to send out gift recognition letters. Know that we appreciate each one of your gifts so much, and want to give each one of you the special attention you deserve when thanking you for your endeavors!
If you are still willing to donate, we would love for you to continue donating to our missions and education program in honor of Thanksgiving. This program provides for the educational needs of many, including afterschool tutoring and gang, drug, and alcohol education.
On a business note, we have literally been receiving donations faster than I can enter them in, so please give me 2 or 3 weeks to send out gift recognition letters. Know that we appreciate each one of your gifts so much, and want to give each one of you the special attention you deserve when thanking you for your endeavors!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Bethlehem Center Board Member takes top award with KPMG
Bethlehem Center board member Jim Geisel recently took home KPMG's Chairman's Award. The award is "the highest honor KPMG bestows on partners and employees who perform outstanding volunteer and ommunity service throughout the year," according to KPMG.
Only 26 individuals are selected for this award. These individuals are selected based on their actions holding out KPMG's "commitment to communities." As part of this award, KPMG donated $1000 to Bethlehem Center in Jim's honor.
Geisel joined the Bethlehem Center board of directors in early 2009.
Pictured below working in Ghana:
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