Women of the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA SYNODICAL WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION  
Home  |  What's New  |  Organization  |  Contacts  |  Calendar  | Committees  |  Search
             Program Ideas |  Special Events | Synodical Gathering |  Projects  |  Resources 
NC Women of the ELCA Monthly Bulletin |  Carolina Vine  |  Cathy's Corner  |  Photos  |  Links  |  Feedback 

Back to Projects Page

SAFE HAVEN for Children
North Carolina Lutheran's Promise

Click HERE for NC Promise Book
Click HERE for a form to become a SAFE HAVEN


SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILDREN  

At the 18th Annual Synodical Gathering, June 10-12, 2005 the following churches were added as SAFE HAVENS in North Carolina:

Abiding Savior - Fairview
St. James - Rockwell
Unity - Hickory

There are now 117 North Carolina Lutheran Churches serving as SAFE HAVENS. If your church is interested in becoming a SAFE HAVEN for your community children, email the web manager for information.

 

STORY OF THE LITTLE RED WAGON. "The little red wagon. A symbol of childhood. It could be filled with a child's hopes and dreams or weighed down with their burdens. Millions of American children need our help to pull that wagon along. Let's all pull together."

General Colin L. Powell USA(Ret.)      

Someday, somewhere, somebody is going to ask you:

       What did you do for the children?

        Did you treat them right?

        Do you have the answers?

We can make a difference for our youth--our future.

 Every child in our state needs and deserves an ongoing relationship with a caring adult. Our youth need the support and opportunity we had. Children and young people are our nation's future. They need our congregations to point them in the right direction. If you have any questions or comments on safe havens for children, please indicate this on the "feedback" page and you will be contacted.

Ways for Congregations of Promise to help:

  • Organize a book drive. Donate money to help someone learn. Start scholarship funds for needy kids.

  • Develop a mentoring program at your church or start an after school program. Contact your local school for knowledge and support.

  • Create community centers where kids can go after school. Set up and supervise places where teens can hang out.

  • Help build a home for low-income families by working with Habitat for Humanity.

  • Volunteer to help at your local Christmas Bureau or Empty Stocking Funds.

  • Clean up a play ground.

  • Volunteer to help with a food and clothing drive for you local food bank, Christian Ministry, or Salvation Army.

  • Adopt a school. Call the principal for guidance.

  • If you are an athlete, call the recreation and parks departments and see if you can help out in a sports program.

  • Volunteer to tutor in a school program, help a child to learn to read, or be a lunch buddy.

  • Be a Big Brother or Big Sister. Work to prevent child abuse.

  • Help prepare and serve meals at the local Soup Kitchen.

  • Reach out to latchkey kids. Offer to care for a neighbor's child or volunteer at at Boys and Girls Club.

  • If you have a special hobby or collection, share it with students at a local school.

  • Form family cluster groups in your congregation to offer families a sense of an extended family.

  • Recruit mentors and tutors to serve in the community surrounding your place of worship.

  • Enlist senior congregation members to share their hobbies, living or job skills with young parents and children.

  • Invite senior congregation members to become surrogate grandparents at nursery schools or day cares.

  • Help young people's transition into adulthood after high school. Publish graduation plans and stay in contact.

  • Writer letters or send care packages to college students.

  • Assist young people by establishing a scholarship fund to Lutheridge.

  • Establish a Parent's Morning Out program. Provide child care so parents can attend church service.

  • Help fund programs for abused and runaway children, the homeless and families in need.

  • Create a network list for new mothers to relieve the sense of isolation many new mothers feel.

  • Open a child care center. Provide space for Girl Scout and Boy Scout programs.

  • Sponsor after school or evening programs for children.

  • Offer support groups for single and step parents, a divorce recovery workshop, and a recovery program for children of divorce.

  • Educate congregation parents how to make a home safe for children.

  • Invite kids in neighboring community to participate in church activities.

Congregations can provide kids with all they need for success. They are in every community, offering safe spaces for education and service and  -  perhaps above all - a wealth of faithful, motivated volunteers. We celebrate all that they do. America's houses of faith are key places for site-based delivery of resources to children and  young people.                                      

General Colin Powell       

Former Chairman America's Promise     

get involved                                        get involved                                            get involved

Top   5