A Summer to Serve
Despite, or maybe because of, a worldwide pandemic, Summer 2020 turned out to be quite special and memorable for our Campus Care youth in Dothan. In addition to some of the fun summer activities our kids are accustomed to enjoying, this year, these teens in our care were able to participate in a few service projects too. These projects not only impacted others in their community, but it impacted our kids as well!
BLESSED WITH OPPORTUNITIES
The first opportunity for them to learn more about giving back locally this summer came through a 3-day missions camp hosted by the church they attend, Calvary Baptist. For three days, students got to participate in coordinated service projects during the day and worship and teaching at night.
House mom Jennifer McDuffie shares, “For three days, our kids were on a team, and they spent one of those days helping with a 1-day Bible kids camp for 1st–5th graders. Another day, they went to an apartment complex to pass out flyers for our church VBS and served ice cream to the kids there too. They also spent one day writing cards, scriptures, and encouraging notes for nursing home residents.”
Jennifer says that upon hearing that we were looking for other service projects for our kids to be involved in, one of our long-time volunteers, Carolyn, reached out. With a need of her own, she called and asked if the kids could help her repaint and finish some patio furniture. This activity and opportunity to give back to a volunteer who has given to us in so many ways was something the kids wound up really enjoying!
“When we got there, she had enough furniture and cans of spray paint that each child was able to paint their own piece, and they were so proud of their work,” says Jennifer. “I think it gives them a sense of accomplishment to know they can do something that can help someone else. We even heard some of them on the phone sharing about it with their family later, one saying, ‘Yeah, I helped her paint furniture, and it looked really good!’ They were really proud of what they got to do.”
Carol, another volunteer who for years now has come to teach our kids to sew, helped Area Director Kim McGainey and the kids come up with a special project for local residents of a nearby assisted living facility. Someone had donated a lot of fabric swatches to us, and Carol led our kids in sewing special bags and purses that can hook onto the residents’ walkers or wheelchairs.
House dad Kevin McDuffie says, “Before delivering them, we got to pray over each bag, and that was neat. With all of these projects, the kids have been able to see how much it takes to do ministry; that it is not easy, but it’s rewarding.”
INVESTING IN TOMORROW, TODAY
The children in our care come to us with many needs, and they are richly blessed by so many who provide for these needs through gifts of time, talents, prayers, food donations, and financial resources. Kevin shares, “Our kids here in the home see what’s given to them (from donors and volunteers), and this kind of service to others allows them to be a part of giving back.”
Knowing they have been through a lot, being able to help our kids grow in this way is special to our house parents, and it is just one of many ways they nurture the hearts of children in care. With all teenagers in the house this summer, they have spent time preparing them for life after high school, from cooking to college searches. Whether they return to family or graduate while in our care, they want our kids to know they can be successful when they eventually leave our care, and they are intentional to spend time with them on many levels.
Through sharing daily house devotions and prayers, being present to talk through struggles or life questions kids have, or finding opportunities to invest in a child’s unique hobbies or academic pursuits, our house parents make time to regularly encourage and develop the God-given potential each child has to grow and impact their world for good. And for some of these kids, it will have started with a summer to serve.
Is serving at a nearby campus your next step in caring for children in need? Learn more here.
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