“Walking Together / Serving as One”
Happy New Year! This past year, I have been visiting students at Napa’s court schools at Chamberlain High School, Liberty High School, and Creekside Middle School. In December, our congregation had the privilege of participating in the school’s Giving Tree. As I mentioned last month, the response from everyone was “pawsome!” Your generosity enabled us to sponsor thirteen families. All children and adult members of each family received gifts that included toys, clothes, blankets, household items, warm jackets, bikes, and food. Additionally, more than 150 dozen homemade cookies were made so that each student AND staff member at Camille Creek could take home a dozen cookies. Forty-five bags of hot chocolate and candies were given to independent studies students.
The response from the students and staff was very humbling. The families were greatly moved that strangers would care so much for them and one father was “completely baffled” by the generosity. Students were overheard saying, “You made my day, no my week!” “A dozen? Just for me?” “I’ve never had a homemade cookie before!” The staff, too, was very appreciative, telling us “These kids really need this,” “This is amazing,” “You guys are angels.”
We also received an unexpected donation of a large number of new and gently used coats. These coats were not requested and as such had no specific purpose. When the staff was asked if they could use the coats they immediately said YES! It turns out that several students did not have coats and were showing up to school wrapped in blankets. Within just a few short hours all the coats were distributed to the students in need and they were extremely happy. This was most certainly a GOD THING!!!
These students (and their families) face many challenges which may include poverty, struggles in school, dealing with substance abuse (their own and/or a family member’s), emotional issues, abuse, and/or neglect. Some have made a mistake with HUGE consequences. As a result, many feel alone and invisible. This season St. John’s and the Aaron Comfort Dog Team let the staff and students at Camille Creek Campus know in a BIG WAY that they are in fact NOT alone and that we do indeed SEE THEM and care about them! A big THANK YOU for supporting this effort! Several St. John’s families mentioned that they really enjoyed shopping as a family for this project. A big thank you also to Autumn Zimmerman, who coordinated this effort. What a blessing! Thank you for your support.
Please continue to pray for our team and the students, families, and staff of Camille Creek. Praise be to God for the opportunity and blessings of this ministry!
Aaron Comfort Dog
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