Announcements from the Faith Community
Check here regularly for announcements of pertinent information for the whole community from Valparaiso-area churches and faith-based organizations, as well as pertinent information from across Northwest Indiana.
Book Drive for Sppring Valley Shelter — Chuck Ventura, an Americorps member serving the Valparaiso Community Schools, has taken on the organization of a fundraiser and looking for sponsors for a book and bookcase drive for Spring Valley Shelter. Needs include bookcases and or book shelves for book storage, as well as new books and /or monetary donations. The goal is to be able to shop for groups of the same books for children and adult reading clubs - 7 to 15 of the same sets of books. Teh goal of the campaign is to fight illiteracy, and help people to reach their full potential. With reading a child can see what was, is and what could be.
Substance Abuse Recovery Program Scholarship — Limited scholarships are available for a 12-week session of substance abuse recovery support offered by Frontline Foundations for young adults 18 to 25 years old. The scholarships will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis for the session that begins at 6:30 p.m. July 24. Certified substance abuse counselors and substance abuse professionals facilitate peer-to-peer group sessions and individual counseling for client and family members in need of recovery support. Registration is required. The group is limited to 15 clients. Call (219) 628-0606 for information.
“Stuff the Bus” — The Salvation Army of Porter County will take applications the week of July 21 through July 25 for their annual Stuff the Bus campaign. The campaign assists children in need in grades kindergarten through 12 by providing school supplies. Applications will be taken at the Salvation Army headquarters, U.S. 6 and Capital Road, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Parents or guardians are required to bring the following: photo ID for each adult living in the household; birth certificate for each child; Social Security cards for everyone living in the household; proof of all income for the last 30 days (food stamps, TANF, paycheck stubs, child support, SSI or other Social Security); proof of Porter County residence (a current bill with your name and address) and proof of registration for school is required at distribution — no exceptions. Children must be age 5 by Aug. 1 and registered to attend a Porter County school. The Salvation Army initiated this program in 2007 with the intent that all Porter County children in need would return to school with the tools required to learn. More than 100 children were helped in the first year of the program. The Salvation Army has again partnered with Staples in Valparaiso, Kmart Superstore in Portage and Kmart in Chesterton to collect the school supplies for this program and will have The Salvation Army bus in their parking lots July 28 through 30 (Staples), July 31 and Aug. 1 (Kmart Portage), and Aug. 2 (Kmart Chesterton) to accept donations. To help, buy the pre-packaged bags prepared by the stores, make up your own bag of school supplies (possibly including a backpack) or put a cash donation in The Salvation Army kettle at the bus or donate online at ringbells.org. Volunteers are also needed to help with this project by going to www.ringbells.org and clicking on Porter County. For additional information, contact Emily Smith at The Salvation Army, (219) 762-9191.
Volunteer to Assist Indiana Flood Victims – To help Hoosiers affected by severe weather, the Indiana Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) is coordinating private volunteer and donation efforts with the American Red Cross. A toll free number has been established to create a central repository of statewide volunteers. The telephone number is: 1-888-335-9490. OFBCI will coordinate and match volunteers to opportunities that best meet the skills and resources of each volunteer or group of volunteers.
Material Dontations for Indiana Flood Victims – OFBCI also will coordinate donations of needed supplies and goods. A storage and distribution center has been established at Pen Products, 6075 Lakeside Boulevard, near I-465 and 71st Street, in Indianapolis. Donations will be organized at that location and sent to areas with the greatest needs. Among needed items are cleaning supplies, water, and personal hygiene products. For directions to the distribution center, call 1-800-736-2550. Or, call the volunteer hotline, and they will take information on material donations to be coordinated later.
Financial Donations for Indiana Flood Victims – Financial contributions are the most useful form of disaster assistance. They help guarantee that relief workers have the funds necessary to provide disaster victims with needed supplies in a timely fashion. Donating money also eliminates many of the logistical concerns like transportation, distribution and spoilage frequently associated with donations of unsolicited, unsized clothing and perishable or mixed food items. Money also helps the local economy recover.
The state recommends that short-term monetary donations be made to: American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, P.O. Box 2303 Dept. 154, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-2303. The American Red Cross will accept checks or money orders. On your check or money order, please write “Indiana Disaster Relief” in the memo line. Or, you may visit www.redcross-indy.org or www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp to find a chapter in your local area.
Additionally, the Salvation Army provides immediate relief services to victims of disasters. You may send your check or money order to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 88517, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208-8517. Please indicate “Indiana Disaster Services” or “June Flood, May Tornadoes” in the memo line. To make a donation online, you will need to visit The Salvation Army’s website at www.salvationarmyindiana.org.As you are probably aware, after the federal government concludes its efforts in an affected community, nonprofit groups and faith-based organizations assume the long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. We ask you to consider making a donation to the Hoosier Disaster Relief Fund (HDRF). The Hoosier Disaster Relief Fund is an outreach of Hope Crisis Response Network, a 501c3 disaster response organization based in Elkhart, Indiana. The purpose of the Hoosier Disaster Relief Fund is to assist disaster victims who are not able to recover on their own. Gifts raised through the Hoosier Disaster Relief Fund go to support victims of disasters through the purchasing of building supplies and materials, which will help repair and rebuild homes. The Hoosier Disaster Relief Fund works together with other volunteer agencies to place Hoosiers “back home again in Indiana.” Please send checks or money orders to: Hoosier Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 2123, Elkhart, Indiana 46515.
Myanmar Aid – United Church of Christ is asking for donations for a $100,000 emergency appeal and long-term aid to help the people of Myanmar (Burma), struck by a devastating cyclone May 3 that has killed thousands of people and left many more homeless and in dire need of fresh water and food supplies. Visit www.ucc.org/disaster for more details.
Inkjet Cartridges for Education — Victory Christian Academy has started a toner/inkjet cartridge collection program. The fundraiser encourages families and friends of the school to donate empty toner and inkjet cartridges that most people just throw away. The school has a unique opportunity to sell these empty cartridges to major recycling companies that typically recycle thousands of cartridges per month. As opposed to collecting and selling to the “middle man” and receiving one to two dollars per cartridge, teh school can sell directly to the buyer. By collecting large volumes, the school will be eligible to receive maximum prices for each shipment.One of our goals is to build a new school facility for their growing body of students. According to industry publications, more than 350 million cartridges go into North American landfills every year. If stacked end to end, there would be enough cartridges to circle our planet three times annually! If you have any questions on how to donate, or on the program itself, call Office Manager Donna Sassman in the school office at 548-8803.
Substance Abuse Assistance – Based out of Chesterton, Frontline Foundations is a substance abuse agency that connects a clinical and spiritual approach to recovery by combining the two to reach and support young adults. Executive Director Amber Hensell says that the program’s wrap-around curriculum combines traditional behavioral and clinical based methods in conjunction with a nondenominational format, and offers individual, family and peer-to-peer group counseling. The program meets at 802 Wabash Ave. in Chesterton, and will start in July 10 with limited seating. On board is a certified substance abuse counselor, a prevention specialist and volunteer pastoral counselors. The average cost for the program, which includes the initial intake assessment and 12 weeks of group and individual counseling is $510 per client. The foundation is funded through grants and public contributions. It is for ages 18 to 25 who have an addiction problem. Hensell said this program differs from others out there because it is faith based. After the young adults finish the program, the church tries to link them with a local church so that they continue getting help. For more information about the program or about the collaboration with pastors, call Hensell at (219) 628-0606.
School Seeks Donations – Victory Christian Academy has moved into their new building on 325 East. The location and facility are great, and we anticipate this enhancing the ability of VCA to minister to our surrounding communities. The building was bare of any equipment or amenities when we acquired it, and through many generous donations we have been able to rise to a well functioning level very quickly. The sanctuary is the last renovation area that is soon being completed, and is in need of music or sound equipment. Right now, the students bring in all their own equipment for chapel services and rehearsals all week. Types of items that would help include, but are not limited to: Sound Mixer Board, Power Amps, Speakers, Audio Cables, Guitar or Bass amps, CD and Tape deck, Microphones and cables. Anything that may come to your mind that you have around your ministry could certainly put to use. Please don’t hesitate to respond with what it may be. To make a donation, contact Regin Johnson through Heartland Christian Center.
New Childcare Ministry – Members of Living Waters Church are ministering to the community by providing the Living Waters Childcare Ministry. The childcare program is for ages 0 to 5 and Living Waters members will receive a discount. This project is the brainchild of Sara Foreman, wife of Pastor Glenn Foreman. It is her vision to have a childcare program and she also hopes to have a school attached to the church some day. The daycare will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parents with more than one child enrolled will receive a 5 percent discount on each child’s tuition. The staff is trained and certified in first aid CPR and universal precautions. And the staff undergoes drug testing and criminal background checks. Tuition for ages 0 and 1, not walking, is $140. Toddlers, ages 2-5, is $130 per week and potty trained and walking 2-5 year olds is $125 per week. Living Waters Childcare Ministry is located at 88 E. U.S. 6. For information, call (219) 531-9123 or email childcare@livingwaterscurch.us.
Volunteers Needed – The Portage Resale Shop, 404 W. U.S. 6, is seeking volunteers to serve as cashiers, to sort through donations and to help with various other jobs. Volunteers can earn “resale dollars” by volunteering a certain number of hours and by recruiting other volunteers. The shop also names a volunteer of the month. The shop’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Portage Resale Shop is a nonprofit organization. The money generated stays within Porter County. Call Michelle Farmer or Dawn White at (219) 764-3375 to volunteer or to find out more information.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED — Meals on Wheels, a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County, is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver meals to elderly and homebound residents. The need is particularly great in Portage, though volunteers will be considered for all parts of the county. Volunteers pick up the meals at a central site on weekdays and spend about an hour to 90 minutes delivering the food on their route. Drivers can volunteer as often as their schedules permit. Last year, the Porter County program delivered 60,000 meals to more than 350 residents. Organizers are looking for businesses willing to adopt Meals on Wheels routes and provide volunteers to deliver meals, also. For more information, please call (219) 462-5195.
RECORDERS WANTED — Crocker Baptist Church of Chesterton is requesting donations of musical recorders (tonettes) to be sent to the church’s missionary, Shirley Killosky of Kids Alive International in Valparaiso. She is serving in Hauna Village in Papua New Guinea, and the recorders and books are used to teach the village children to read music and play the instrument. Donations can be taken to the church, 275 W. County Road 1050 North. For more information, please call (219) 395-6607
Donations Accepted — Valparaiso Community Church is accepting donations for residents of Maywood Mobile Home Park. Plastic grocery bags are needed to divide donations, as well as any household items. To donate, contact Pastor Mike Eddy at Valparaiso Community Church, 1817 Calumet Ave. or call 219-548-0625
Portage Resale Opens Furniture Outlet — The Portage Resale Shop has opened a 3,500-square-foot furniture warehouse. The warehouse, which features used furniture and appliances for sale, is located immediately behind Gabriel’s Horn homeless shelter on McCool Road, just south of U.S. 6. The warehouse will be opened from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours for the resale shop, 404 W. U.S. 6, have also changed, to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Wednesday will continue to be half-priced clothing day, and there are also special discounts on merchandise offered each month. The resale shop is operated by Portage Compassion Ministries. Proceeds from the shop are distributed to several area social service and charitable organizations.
The Presbyterian Weekday Nursery School is now accepting applications for the 2008-2009 school year. Classes meet at the First Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso and are available for children 3, 4, or 5 years of age. Children must be three by Sept. 1. For over 30 years, PWNS has prepared children for a successful kindergarten experience in a Christian environment by encouraging and broadening their horizons, developing new interests, stimulating exploration and creativity, and giving them the academic skills they need for success. Classes begin in late August. Call (219) 464-4985 or visit www.fpcvalpo.org.
Stephen Ministry - First Presbyterian Church now offers a Stephen Ministry to its congregation and community. Stephen Ministry is a worldwide program that provides high quality, one-to-one, confidential Christian care from trained volunteers to individuals experiencing a crisis or challenge, such as divorce, grief, loss of a job, hospitalization, childbirth, terminal illness, relocation, or loneliness. A Stephen Minister is usually assigned to only one individual at a time and meets with that individual for an average of about one hour each week. Additionally, Stephen Ministry is confidential. The names of the individuals receiving care and specific details are never discussed with anyone including Stephen Ministers supervisors. Stephen Ministers only meet with individuals who have agreed to receive care. For more information, or to connect with a Stephen Minister, contact the church at (219) 464-4985.