Previous Stories

A most unusual request...

stuffed gorilla...came into the office recently by phone. A distraught father told Tammy his dilemma with great urgency in his voice. It seems the stuffed gorilla his four-year-old son had been given by The Craddock Center Santa last December was now missing after his son’s birthday party in the home. He wanted to know if Santa could tell him where this gorilla had come from. To which Tammy responded appropriately, that it had come from the North Pole via Kohl’s Department Store. The father then asked if there might be more where that one came from.  We were afraid there were no more gorillas but said we’d check.  And lo and behold, in the last storage place we checked, there, looking so happy to be rescued from the dark closet, was one more gorilla.  Come to find out, it seems this little fella had grown very attached to the gorilla Santa gave him last December in his Pre-K class.  The father and the boy were thrilled.  Such is only a small part of the Children’s Enrichment Program of the Craddock Center, which is a member of Disciples Care Network.

For more information, please contact:
The Craddock Center, P.O. Box 69, Cherry Log, GA 30522, 706.632.1772 craddockcenter@tds.net
Trisha Senterfitt, Director - Dr. Fred B. Craddock, Director Emeritus
Tammy T. Blair, Office Manager
www.craddockcenter.org

Taking Care of Our Own and Others!

Sidney Back (Doc) has been a member of the First Christian Church in Barbourville, Kentucky for most of his life. He has served the church in about every role possible – deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, board chairman and at one time or another chairman of most of the committees. You know who I am talking about. There is a Doc in almost every church and we thank God for them!

Sidney is now 96. After a hospital stay, it became clear to Sidney’s daughters that their dad was too frail to continue to live alone in his Barbourville home. They were stressed over how their dad’s needs would be met. They remembered hearing about “The Homes” (now Christian Care Communities) from their father as little girls and hear about them today as members of three different Kentucky Christian Churches. A few telephone calls later, Sidney was received as a new resident in the Christian Care Health Center in Corbin.

Listen to what they say –

“As a child, I remember seeing my dad praying on his knees and reading his Bible faithfully. Now I am so grateful that he is the beneficiary of excellent care at the Christian Care Communities. The skilled and compassionate care givers deserve enormous credit for helping dad get stabilized, both physically and emotionally. They have delivered care that has been a blessing to him and those of us who love him.”

“I remember seeing a letter in which dad, while serving in WWII, instructed my mother to give 10% of his military check to the church. I thank dad for partnering with my mother to prepare my soul for eternal life with our Lord.”

“Dad always said that he didn’t want to go to a nursing home. But after he realized he couldn’t do things for himself and needed help, he was more accepting of Christian Care Communities and the wonderful services provided by the employees. While he still wishes to be home, he has friends who work at Christian Care and receives visits from them and others in the Christian Church Community. We do still hope to take him home when he becomes able, but in the meantime are grateful for the care he is receiving at Christian Care Communities.”

Sidney’s story could be your story and Christian Care Communities is our story. Since 1884 the Kentucky Christian Churches have partnered together through Christian Care to provide care and services for older adults and their families during times of greatest need. This is why we continue to support Christian Care Communities.

Christian Care Communities
A founding member of Disciples Care Network

For more information, please contact:
Ralph Allen, CTFA
Vice President-Mission Advancement
Christian Care Communities
12710 Townepark Way, Suite 1000
Louisville, KY 40243
Phone 502.254.4253
Email, ralph.allen@ccc1884.org

Mike lived homeless for 7 Years

The day we met Mike he was dressed in white shorts, with an unbuttoned Levi shirt. The crotch of the shorts had a large bright pink fabric sewn in place. The pockets of the Levi shirt had bright red fabric with graffiti all over the shirt. His homemade clothing was like reading a book that you had to continually turn to hear the whole story. He wore a hat of red felt sewn together with an electrical extension cord, and never wore shoes. We later found out he used to work in the garment district. He emitted a unique fragrance of part ivory soap, part garlic. His excitement after receiving a pre-admission letter was observed by our staff as he was running down the street barefoot in the outfit described, while waving the letter in the air.

Mike has many obstacles to overcome. He does not trust people. But after living homeless so long, his feelings are certainly understandable. Since moving into a Christian Church Homes affordable retirement campus in the summer of 2008, Mike has shown a very slow, yet steady, improvement. His van is now free of graffiti, in fact to allow him to park it on site we asked him to paint the van. With his families help this task was completed. He now wears shoes while walking inside the building, he socializes with other residents, and just this week he came down for the residents weekly coffee hour. He even comes down and asks our professional staff for help. So far we have been able to help him with some coping skills to organize his life in order to help acclimate to living in a community, getting much need medical help, and getting socially involved.

Seeing Mike's growth has been a beautiful experience. To be honest, it has taken a lot of effort on the part of staff, to help this resident feel safe, accepted and to help him adjust to a different style of living, but slowly we have been able to do this, in spite of substantial challenges. He is what society shuns out of fear, or feels uncomfortable being around, because he is different. He is an intelligent man who just needed to be given a chance to thrive. You helped make his progress happen in one of the Disciples Care Network care ministries serving more than 48,000 persons annually.

Mike is a success story for Christian Church Homes - if you are interested, there are many more. Give us a call and we'll talk your ear off.

For more information, please contact:
Christian Church Homes
303 Hegenberger Road, Suite 201
Oakland, CA 94631
510.632.6712
www.cchnc.org

Xiomara's Story

Recently, one evening, Child Saving Institute’s emergency shelter received a call requesting placement of a 15-year-old girl.  She was brought to the Children’s Crisis Center after being taken to the emergency room because she was one month pregnant but experiencing some cramping and complications.  The doctor told her that everything was okay, but while at the hospital with her boyfriend, the hospital staff contacted Child Protective Services and the Omaha Police Department and informed them that this 15 year old was pregnant by a 21 year old male.  He was arrested for what is considered statutory rape and taken to the correctional center.  Xiomara recently arrived in the U.S. from Guatemala and was here illegally.  She came with her mother who returned to Guatemala without her and left her to live with her boyfriend. 

When Xiomara arrived around midnight on Wednesday she was very scared and sad.  She had only been in Nebraska since late December and spoke only Spanish.  The Shelter Director knew a little Spanish and the staff worked to comfort her, but she spent most of her time crying and isolating herself. 

Imagine for a moment what it would feel like to be 15, one month pregnant, alone, in a strange country, without a visa, and you know no one.  Mom leaves you alone and you know no one and can not speak the language, and the police come and take away your only ‘friend’ and take you to a strange building with other young people who don’t speak your language.  You are scared and intimidated and very lonely.

CSI’s Director of Foster Care services found out about Xiomara’s placement in the shelter and immediately contacted another staff person who is Hispanic and asked Marie if she’d take a little time out of her morning to go speak with Xiomara.  Marie went down to the shelter and introduced herself, and then sat quietly with Xiomara, comforting her, and talking with her about where she was and why and what would be happening next.  In the meantime, the Foster Care Director contacted a foster parent, Sophie, who is also Hispanic.  She had two young foster children in her home (ages 3 and 6) but is licensed for 4.  The Director asked if Sophie would consider a 15 year old and Sophie responded, “You know I don’t take teenagers – I can hardly control this 3 year old and I think teenagers are a lot like 3 year olds.”  [probably a pretty fair assessment]  The Director explained the situation and asked if Sophie would just come and meet Xiomara and talk with her.  With Marie introducing her, Sophie walked into one of the therapy rooms where Xiomara was waiting.  As she walked in, Xiomara was staring into space, looking traumatized and scared with tears running down her face.  Sophie took one look at Xiomara, walked over to her holding out her arms, and gave her a big hug and then sat down beside her on the sofa where the two talked rapidly in Spanish to each other – Xiomara sobbing most of the time. 

At the end of their talk, Sophie wholeheartedly agreed to take Xiomara home with her, and for the past two weeks, Xiomara has slept in a warm bed, in a safe place, at Sophie’s house, where she can speak her own language and has loved the engaging antics of the two younger children in care.  What will happen remains to be seen – possibly deportation?  But, the important thing is that this is just one example of the kind of nonjudgmental care provided by this 118-year-old child welfare agency in Omaha, Nebraska.

As one of the Disciples Care Network agencies, CSI is proud to be part of caring for and helping more than 48,000 persons a year served through one of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) care ministries. 

For more information, contact:
Judy W. Kay, LCSW
Chief Operating Officer
Child Saving Institute
2525 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68132
402.553.6000
www.childsaving.org

You were there...

when Robert, age 8, and profoundly deaf, said, “I now have a forever family who can communicate with me and love me just as I am. Thanks to Southern Christian Services” [for Children and Youth in Jackson, Mississippi].

You were there…

After “Bobbie” attempted killing her beloved dog and taking her own live.  She woke three days later with her dog licking her face.  A social service agency called Christian Manor in West Palm Beach, FL.

Bobbi is now a resident of this affordable housing center for seniors.  Daily she is in the halls with her bubbly personality, her make-up and clothing impeccable and spreading positive energy to other residents and staff.

Yes, there are many persons with very limited income in West Palm Beach!

You were there…

William's fondest wish was to live in an apartment of his own.  After 15+ years of restricted residential care facility living due to a severe epileptic condition, William's dream came true (more than 3 years ago).  Through Serra Center's supported living services, William obtained a unit in a HUD subsidized apartment complex in Fremont, California.  He chose a roommate; they enjoy living together.  He has a team of caring support staff who provide him with 24-hour care and are committed to helping William achieve maximum independence.  William works 5 days a week, deposits his paychecks into his personal checking account, is learning how to use public transportation, and enjoys taking walks independently to his neighborhood 7-11 store.  When asked what he likes best about living in his own apartment, William responds, “I'm the boss!"

You were there...

When Michael, age 11, gained this insight; “I learned that what happened to me wasn’t my fault, since I’ve been at Tennyson Center for Children” [at Colorado Christian Home in Denver].