Does confidence matter? How about friendship?

This afternoon I spent time in one of the Martha's Way classes, visiting with the students (who are all women). Four graduated today and are about to embark on building their business, so I asked lots of questions to learn more about them and how we're impacting their lives.

It was a great conversation, and there's most definitely a sense of camaraderie among the students. One woman, who was a victim of domestic violence, said the other women gave her great support which has helped her to transition from a bad home, to a shelter, and then eventually out on her own. The program has given her the tools she needs to earn an income for herself and her two children.

Another woman said the program gave her confidence that she didn't have before. She plans to create a business with her mother and sister, and her entire being said "I am so excited to do this!"

Hearing all the stories and observing the relationships made it clear that while the class curriculum is superb, the friendships formed and subsequent mutual support are also vital to the program's success.

I drove back to my office grateful to have spent some time with these wonderful women and grateful for the friendships in my own life. 

The Holy Spirit in you, the Holy Spirit in me

I love this picture because of the little sign to the left.  How could our interactions with others be different if we saw the holy in each person?

In the last few months, I've attended several memorial services for CCSC volunteers who helped to establish and grow the organization in its early days. In nearly every service, family members would share how much their loved one enjoyed volunteering with us. The adult daughter of one said her father's time with CCSC changed his life, his perspective on the poor, and his understanding of how a life of faith is to be lived. "Because it so influenced his life," she said, "it has also influenced mine."

So whose lives do you influence, and do your actions match your values?  For most of us, narrowing the gap between values and action is a life-long journey, and in my opinion, the journey is best traveled in a faith community. If you don't have a church home, start checking out churches in your neighborhood, and then once you find the right one, jump in. Join a small group where you can get to know others as you dive deeper into the spiritual side of your life.

Toothpaste, again

Last Friday we nearly ran out of toothpaste. I say "nearly" because just as a staff member was leaving to purchase some, the doorbell rang, and outside was a 9 year old boy and his mother. With a box filled with toothpaste.

God's wonderful timing, right?

But the best part of the story is the 9 year old boy. He recently celebrated his birthday, and instead of gifts, he had his friends donate toothpaste for CCSC's food pantry. I imagine him saying to his friends, "No gifts for me, thank you, but I want to help people who don't have anything so would you bring toothpaste to my party instead?"

Kudos to this boy's parents for teaching him to think of others. I love seeing philanthropy nurtured in youth because the people I admire most in the world are generous, loving and outwardly focused.  And these qualities are nurtured and cultivated over time, from when we are young and teachable.

Hunger in Houston

Last week I sat through the interview of a single mother to a young, elementary school-aged girl. The mother works, was laid off, and had been rehired. All in six weeks.  She barely missed a paycheck, but a "barely miss" at her income level was enough: she couldn't quite pay her rent and had already begun cutting back on her own food portions so her little girl would have enough to eat.

She walked into a CCSC church, asking for help, and was sent over to us.  By the time she left, we had completed her rental payment, provided food, and shared how our children's programs could help her daughter in the coming year. 

We helped 198 other families last week who also found themselves in undesirable situations. Each family is interviewed to ensure they qualify for assistance, and then we provide for their immediate needs and connect them to other resources, both within CCSC and with other agencies.  The people who hear the stories, answer the phones, sack the food, and provide direct assistance are volunteers. So if you're looking for a meaningful volunteer job, please call our office at 713-961-3993. We'd love to have you involved in our work.

Did you brush your teeth this morning?

It's the first thing I do in the morning, and I don't think about it. Most of us don't. Yet, CCSC just ran out of toothbrushes at one of the food pantries, a highly requested item by the people who come to us hungry.

I have to remind my 13-year old son to brush his teeth regularly because he dislikes doing it. Last year, when he was on a week-long camp out, he didn't brush his teeth all week.  But I digress.  I need to tell my son that oral hygiene is a privilege and a luxury, not simply a chore.  This is one of the many things in life we take for granted.

By the way, the other highly requested item besides food and toothpaste is bibles. They fly off our shelves. 

Are your hands open?

We've finalized our numbers for 2014, and now know precisely how many people we helped and how we helped them. On Tuesday night, we shared these results at our Annual Meeting.  The new Board President, The Reverend Patrick J. Miller from St. Mark's Episcopal Church, did some quick math during the meeting and then shared an interesting statistic:

If CCSC didn't exist, each of our 41 member churches would have been expected to help 1,600 Houstonians last year with food, basic needs, employment services, connections to other community resources, and/or the seasonal needs of children.

Each church working alone would be inefficient, especially considering how many of the churches are located near each other. CCSC's purpose is to be the local outreach office on behalf of each church, minimizing the duplication of services and creating a more efficient delivery system.

As we begin 2015, it's good to remember our purpose.

The picture below is of the stained glass in Bethany Christian Church. I'm sure it reflects a particular verse of scripture, but whenever I see a picture of Jesus with his hands open, I think he's telling us we should also have our hands open, ready to serve. Do you?

It really is the people who matter

CCSC's JobNet Manager sent out her program's newly-completed 2014 statistics this morning. She began her email with a statement about the quality of work done, noting the many individual lives this program positively impacted. She then shared a few client stories followed by a dashboard view of the statistics.

I love that our staff meticulously tracks and maintains program statistics (which are a valuable tool) while staying focused on the people behind the numbers.  We value a balanced view of quantitative information coupled with qualitative, non-measurable data. It's like using both the left and right sides of your brain.

Here is a snapshot of a few clients who successfully used JobNet this past year:

• Mary completed an on-line application at CCSC and had a phone call for an interview when she got home that day
• Ben landed his ideal job after being prepped by one of our volunteer coaches
• Eva spent her summer at JobNet, researching teaching jobs and ultimately finding just the right fit
• John, who came faithfully after serving a prison term, found a job in the public sector
• Anne gained confidence through coaching and workshops and was able to find a job that fits her current stage in life

If you know anyone who is struggling in their job search, have them call JobNet at 713-626-8320. We'd love to help.