"Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have."
Friends,
As some of you know, my wife is the special events manager for the non-profit organization Olive Crest. Children that are victims of abuse and/or neglect by the hand of their parent(s) are taken from their homes and put into a state foster care system that often times continues the abuse by the hand of "bureaucracy". Children that have learned they have no value are commoditized by that system as they are passed from one foster family to another. Children that have learned they can trust no one are placed into a system that often fails itself. Some of the state’s 10,000 foster children have seen 14 different homes. These children (children!) who come already wounded only become more wounded, more hardened, more distrusting and more “unlovable”. And the most unlovable of these kids that the state is most ill-equipped and unable to care for come to Olive Crest. Olive Crest believes that “family” is the best antidote for the poisonous effects of abuse; “family” is the healing agent for these deep, previously untouchable wounds; “family” says ‘I understand your anger but here you can trust, here you can let go, here you can surrender to a love like you’ve never experienced and so desperately desire. Here you can breathe, whether it’s for a day or the rest of your life, Olive Crest can be your family’.
Olive Crest offers counseling and education services, emergency sheltering, foster care support and adoption/permanent placement. I invite you to learn more at www.olivecrest.org.
These economically challenging times can be financially debilitating for families. As many of you have experienced firsthand, coming up with the resources to make ends meet causes a lot of stress on the familial system. Such is the case with Olive Crest. The money from the state has been cut 40%. Donations from corporations, foundations and donors have decreased. Sponsorships for Olive Crest events are harder to come by. Yet children are being fed into the system in increasing numbers and the needs of the children and the families continue to exist. Hence, the question and challenge for you…
How can you help Olive Crest?
On March 6th, Olive Crest will hold their annual gala auction. But items to be auctioned are in small supply. So here is my request: Do you own a business or have contacts/friends that own a business that can donate a service or item that could be sold to benefit this cause? Do you own a vacation home in a place that would cause a paddle-raising frenzy and earn Olive Crest a donor’s big check?
Or maybe you’d like to make a financial gift? Again, how can you help Olive Crest?
If have an item or service please let Toni know. She can be contacted at toni-young@olivecrest.org. You can title your email “Get Tim off my back” so it’s not dismissed as junk.
Your prayers for the organization and the families and kids would be greatly appreciated. My hope would be that in giving you would experience the richest of blessings.
Sincerely,
Tim
