Summerhill Community Ministries Newsletter Nov08
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Transcript of Summerhill Community Ministries Newsletter Nov08
Newsletter ~ November 2008 SERVING INNER-CITY YOUTH & FAMILIES IN
THE DOWNTOWN ATLANTA AREA
Interview by Brett Bentley-Desire Street Ministries
Loretta Wilkins is radiant with
enthusiasm. Sitting in a wicker
chair at the kitchen table in her
home on Washington Street in the
shadow of Turner Field, Ms. Loretta
cannot say enough about
Summerhill Community Ministries
and Justina Dix.
Despite her current battle with
cancer, Ms. Loretta excitedly relays
story after story of how SCM has
transformed her neighborhood,
and, more personally, the
incredible impact that the ministry
has had on her family. Her
grandsons, Josh (now 12) and
Jordan (9), have both been
involved with the ministry’s after
school and summer programs, but
Ms. Loretta’s roots with Justina run
deeper than that.
A smile creases her face when she
recounts the first time they met. Ms.
Loretta would ride the bus to school
with Josh, but without any mode of
transportation of her own, she
would have to ask others for a ride
back to her neighborhood. But on
Testimonial - Ms. Loretta Wilkins one fateful morning, it was Justina
rolling down the window, offering
assistance to her. “Ever since that
day, I have felt blessed to call
Justina my friend.”
When Ms. Loretta’s gas and
electricity were in jeopardy of
being shut off, Justina came in to
offer temporary help. When her
grandsons and other children in
her family needed clothes, shoes, a
coat for the winter time…they knew
where to turn. Recently, when Ms.
Loretta learned of her cancer
diagnosis, Justina would routinely
drive her to and from the hospital
and, “she even went into her own
purse one time to help me pay for
some medication. That really meant
a lot to me.”
Ms. Loretta also raved about other
staff members at SCM, Jennifer
(Brumfield-Caraway, formerly with
SCM) and Mr. Phil (Yarberough) in
particular. “My boys loved Mr. Phil.
He’d take them to the movies and
football games. They love that man.
And Jennifer… oh, my! ...that girl
was always going above and
beyond the call.”
When asked what she would like to
say to the staff of Summerhill
Community Ministries, Ms. Loretta
responded without hesitation, “Just
keep doing what y’all are doing.
May the Lord keep you strong –
and keep Ms. Justina on her feet!
“I love you all.”
“Ms. Loretta excitedly relays story after story of how SCM
has transformed her neighborhood…”
Community MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity MinistriesCommunity Ministries
The playground has been refurbished and now
needs certified “Play Safe” wood chips. The
chips need to be in before the kids come.
The cost is $600 to purchase the chips. If you
would like to designate a gift to help (even $10),
please write “wood chips” in the memo section of
your check to Summerhill.
Jordon at last year’s Wrapping Party
After School Program Move-In Target Date December 1st
The target date for the After School Program to
start using the Mission House is December 1st.
Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc. November 2008 ~ Page 2
This winter season, the Summerhill
Community kids are participating
in a “Hats for the Homeless” Drive.
While driving around the city of
Atlanta, especially downtown,
Justina noticed many homeless and
needy people that were walking
the cold streets with no covering.
After receiving a donation of coats
from the Hall Family of Redemption
Fellowship, she looked for some of
these people that she had seen and
gave them a coat. They were so
happy to have something to help
keep them keep warm. Justina
wished she had hats and scarves to
give.
This year our after school program
children and teens are going to
give a gift to the community. They
will earn or save a dollar, to
purchase a “skull cap” from Wal-
mart for a homeless person. The
teens will deliver these hats to the
homeless and needy women,
children, and men throughout the
city.
Will you please join us and donate
a hat, scarf or a pair of gloves to
support our “Hats for the
Homeless” project? If your church
or group would like to collect these
items, SCM staff would be more
than glad to pick them up if you are
in driving distance. Please mail
other donations to SCM, P.O. Box
160294, Atlanta, GA 30316, or 275
South Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30315.
Hats for the Homeless
Our website has a new look! Thank you Chanelle Henry!
www.summerhillcm.com
A Note From Justina
As we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, would you
consider doing three important things to sustain this
ministry?
• We desperately need your continual prayer support.
• Consider a special year-end gift. Your gift will help to
fund our after-school program, summer camp and job
training program . By contributing you are helping to
address needs and improve lives throughout our entire
community.
• Present Summerhill Community Ministries to your
church. We have many volunteer needs and would love
to welcome you for a day or a summer to get to know
the people in our community
I would love to talk to you about Summerhill and how
you and your church can partner with us in the coming
year. Please contact me. Thank you for prayerfully
supporting the important work we do here. May God
richly bless you this holiday season and in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Justina Dix
Executive Director
soli deo gloria
“This year our ASP children & teens are going to give a gift to
the community.”
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • [email protected] • http:\\www.summerhil lcm.com
November 2008 ~ Page 3
Congratulations Jennifer and Joe on
your recent marriage. Many
people still ask Justina about our
long time faithful Summerhill friend
Jennifer (Ms. Wilkins mentions her
in the first article of this
newsletter.) Justina and part of the
family traveled to North Carolina to
see this very dear friend and
ministry partner - then, Jennifer
Brumfield, and now Jennifer
Caraway - get married. It was a
very special, sweet, and spiritual
ceremony filled with promise and
much prayer as these two joined
themselves in holy matrimony.
Congratulations!
Our Jennifer Marries!
Interview by Brett Bentley-Desire Street Ministries
When Ms. Pamela first opened the
door of her apartment on Fern
Avenue located just a few blocks
from Grant Park, she looked at me
warily. But the moment I introduced
myself and (more importantly)
mentioned my association with
Summerhill Community Ministries,
the wary look was gone in a flash
and replaced by a warm smile and
a pleasant welcome.
Ms. Pamela was quiet at the
beginning of our conversation, but
once we started talking about SCM,
she was certainly not at a loss for
words. Her nine
year old twins,
Jaylen and
Jayden, have
been in both the
after school and
summer
programs for
three years now,
and her five year
old, Niqua, just
recently joined.
Ms. Pamela went
on and on with her praise for SCM -
she appreciates the staff assisting
her kids with their daily homework,
loves how they have Bible study
lessons every day, and the
emphasis the program places on
the power of prayer. Ms. Pamela
told me, “My boy Niqua came
home last week telling me how Ms.
Justina said that ‘I am the light of
the world!’ … I love that my
children are in that environment.”
I asked Ms. Pamela if she had any
specific memorable moments that
have come with being a part of this
ministry.
Testimonial - Ms. Pamela Burke “Everyday is a memorable
moment. To know that my kids are
with Justina and the people there at
SCM – that they’re safe and warm,
getting better with their
schoolwork, and having fun… that
means everything to me. To see the
smiles on their faces as they come
through the door at the end of the
day and to hear the stories from
their afternoon – that’s my
memorable moment”
Jaylen showing off a school project.
Jayden with volunteer Tracy Bunch
Niqua with airplane.
Jeremy, Justina, Joe & Jennifer Caraway, Ashley & Justin
November 2008 ~ Page 4 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • [email protected] • http:\\www.summerhil lcm.com
If you would like to help make one
of our “Christmas Stars” shine a
little brighter this Christmas,
please sponsor a child, teen or
college student. You may request a
“star” by calling, emailing, or by
first class mail.
As we approach the “wrapping
party” on December 18th, the kids
will be doing extra chores around
the house, at school, and
throughout the community in order
to earn “Christmas Bucks.” An
adult will sign a form to show that
the child has completed a task, and
then those Christmas bucks will be
exchanged for the gift they want to
give to a loved one, and they will
receive 2 for themselves.
It is encouraging to see a group of
young people excited about
serving and giving to others during
a season in which they are
generally focused on just
themselves.
Sponsor a “Star” for Christmas!
Sponsor a Summerhill “Star” for Christmas!
Name __________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
City: _________________________ State: _______ Zip: ______________
Phone: _______________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________________________
Yes, I would like to sponsor a child for Christmas. Please send me a child’s Christmas list via: ____ via email
____ via telephone
____ via first class mail
____ I choose not to purchase gifts, but am sending a
donation to cover the cost of gifts for a child.
We will forward to you an index card written by one of the children with the 3 gift wishes. After purchasing the gifts, please return them to a SCM’s representative by Sunday December 14th. Please put the gifts in a bag with the child’s name on it. If finding time to shop is an issue, feel free to send a donation to cover the cost of the gifts for a child. All donations are tax deductible.
We would love to have your help!
If you choose to sponsor a child,
you will receive a card written by
one of the children with three gift
wishes. We ask that you purchase
the gifts and turn them in to a SCM
representative by Sunday,
December 14th. Please put the
gifts in a bag with the child’s name
on it. If you don’t have time to
shop, feel free to send a donation to
cover the cost of the gifts for a
child. Remember that all donations
are tax deductible.