Today was the first job fair of the year for Christian HELP and the Central Florida Employment Council. Over 60 companies were represented and many job openings were available. Thousands of people came out in hopes of finding a job. I stopped and spoke to one gentleman who was very professionally dressed and I told him that we did have links to all of the employers on our website and he could also apply for jobs online when he got home. He simply said to me "I don't have a home." Wow...
This man was not someone who looked homeless. He was clean, he was professional, and he was very humble and nice. Kristy Owens, our Operations Director had a chance to speak with him and hopefully we can find him a place to stay. At least he still has his truck.
Another lady came, desparate for a job. The shelter she is in gave her notice that if she cannot find a job, she will not be able to stay. She has 2 kids.
Last year over 6,000 people found jobs at our job fairs. It is my prayer that we will help connect more this year. These are our friends and neighbors. They need our help. If you know about jobs, please share them with us so we can share them with others.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
Hard Times- Huge Blessings
Christian HELP was blessed to be able to serve over 500 families for Christmas and help additional families through 13 other partnering agencies from Homeless Ministries to United Cerebral Palsy and the Greater Orlando Autism Society. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated toys and donated finances. This was a really tough year for so many people and we were so blessed to be able to make things a little bit easier for so many.
One Adopter said, " I just wanted to say thank you for having a program to help people in need. We were blessed to adopt a lady and and her grandchildren. We have meet with her twice to deliver the tree & decorations and then this past Friday my husband meet her to deliver the gifts. After meeting my husband, she called me crying and so telling me how thankful she was to have us. We asked her not to tell her grandchildren about us so one day in their little lives they can truly be blessed."
Our prayer for 2010 is for more job oppportunities for our clients and your continued involvement in our ministry. If you have not been out to see us, please consider joining us for a lunch and tour on January 11th from noon-1. Let Jackie know at 407-8340-4022 if you can make it.
Have a safe and wonderful new year!
One Adopter said, " I just wanted to say thank you for having a program to help people in need. We were blessed to adopt a lady and and her grandchildren. We have meet with her twice to deliver the tree & decorations and then this past Friday my husband meet her to deliver the gifts. After meeting my husband, she called me crying and so telling me how thankful she was to have us. We asked her not to tell her grandchildren about us so one day in their little lives they can truly be blessed."
Our prayer for 2010 is for more job oppportunities for our clients and your continued involvement in our ministry. If you have not been out to see us, please consider joining us for a lunch and tour on January 11th from noon-1. Let Jackie know at 407-8340-4022 if you can make it.
Have a safe and wonderful new year!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Is it Christmas yet?
This year is seems like Christmas started in October. The stores were dressed to the hilt with ornaments and lights, Christmas trees were decorated before the pumpkins and costumes were even hauled away.
For those in need, it can be a reminder of how their dollars wont be able to stretch to cover more than just expenses if even those. At Christian HELP we are blessed thanks to our friends and neighbors, churches, and businesses to be able to fill in the gaps for many unemployed and underemployed families. Each year Z88.3 http://zradio.com partners with Christian HELP to tell the stories of families who have applied to our Christmas adoption program. This year they are sponsoring the bags for food and toys as well. Chick-fil-a, Centra Care, and Qdoba are Dove Tree locations. Northland, Willow Creek, First Baptist Longwood, Aloma Baptist Church, Brush Arbor Baptist Church, Metro Church, and Wekiva Presbyterian are challenging their congregations to help others in need through toy collections. Master's Academy is helping with toy and food drives. Ipod and Noah's Ark are providing storage space. And there are so many more businesses, churches, and volunteers who are a big part of this program.
I am so thankful for all of the people who step forward and say "I am here, send me". There is still room for you to help out. Please call us at 407-834-4022 if you would like to be a part of blessing others through Christian HELP.
Last year I worried that we would not have enough toys. Dick Wilson, Founder of Christian HELP kept reminding me that God was in control and there would be enough. He was so right. This year, I know God will take care of the need through people like you. Be blessed!
For those in need, it can be a reminder of how their dollars wont be able to stretch to cover more than just expenses if even those. At Christian HELP we are blessed thanks to our friends and neighbors, churches, and businesses to be able to fill in the gaps for many unemployed and underemployed families. Each year Z88.3 http://zradio.com partners with Christian HELP to tell the stories of families who have applied to our Christmas adoption program. This year they are sponsoring the bags for food and toys as well. Chick-fil-a, Centra Care, and Qdoba are Dove Tree locations. Northland, Willow Creek, First Baptist Longwood, Aloma Baptist Church, Brush Arbor Baptist Church, Metro Church, and Wekiva Presbyterian are challenging their congregations to help others in need through toy collections. Master's Academy is helping with toy and food drives. Ipod and Noah's Ark are providing storage space. And there are so many more businesses, churches, and volunteers who are a big part of this program.
I am so thankful for all of the people who step forward and say "I am here, send me". There is still room for you to help out. Please call us at 407-834-4022 if you would like to be a part of blessing others through Christian HELP.
Last year I worried that we would not have enough toys. Dick Wilson, Founder of Christian HELP kept reminding me that God was in control and there would be enough. He was so right. This year, I know God will take care of the need through people like you. Be blessed!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Chase Community Giving
As I write this blog, the lobby at Christian HELP is filled with people in need. They have lost jobs or had their hours cut back. Many are hungry, many are tired, and some have even lost hope. Christian HELP is able to provide job leads, coaching, and a listening ear to those in need. We can minister to the hurting and hungry. Please help us to continue to provide these wonderful services by voting for us in the Chase Community Challenge. If you are on facebook, it just takes a moment to vote and share. 100 Charities will recieve $25,000. Please help us to be one of them by clicking on the vote now button.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Friday, October 23, 2009
God is in Control and He is Active at Christian HELP
I just wanted to share my speech from Harvest of Hope- here is what God laid on my heart:
My heart breaks every time I walk through a job fair and see professional people dressed in suits looking for jobs… many times looking for any job that will feed their families and keep a roof over their head.
My heart breaks as I listen to the stories of people who have worked hard all their lives who are now facing layoffs, foreclosures, and health issues.
My heart breaks as I listen to people who have no hope for the future because they cannot see past today. The pain and grief of not being able to provide is just too much to bear.
My heart breaks when a client says save the food for someone who needs it more. I can go without…
A year ago, I spoke at the Harvest of Hope when employment was at 6.4% and we thought things were bad. Now it is at 11.5% and I know it is bad for many people who have never had to deal with job loss before. Some are hopeful, but others are paralyzed. We have had clients who came in and could not speak because they were crying so hard.
The one thing that has remained steady and allowed us to remain positive is that God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
When Debbie needed help with food and bills after not being able to work for several months due to a sore on her foot caused by diabetes, we couldn’t see how we could help, but God did.
When we were nearly out of food and thought we might have to shut down our pantry, God provided manna from heaven so no one would go without.
When I struggled to figure out how WE were going to provide for so many families at Christmas, God blessed us with more toys than we knew what to do with and we were able to bless other ministries.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
Christian HELP was formed in 1992 by Dick and Madge Wilson and their friend Harry Kunish. In over 17 years, Christian HELP has connected over 70,000 people with jobs- enough to fill a football stadium and given away over 6 million pounds of food.
In the past year we added Employment seminars, Job search skills classes, and additional training for our counselors to meet the changing dynamics of finding a job in this economy. We opened 3 satellite offices, strategically placed in South, East, and West Orlando to meet people at their point of need, and provided on-site job skills seminars for several churches.
We serve over 70 people a day in our center who are looking for jobs, food, and hope. We provide a listening ear, job leads and food, and offer hope through prayer. Harry, one of our counselors had a client who cried, when he came in, cried during counseling, and cried as he left because he had put out over 2000 resumes with no calls back. A week later he came back to tell Harry that his prayers had worked and he found a job!
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
As we look at 2010 and beyond, we plan to continue to expand our services to meet the needs of our clients. We will have more employment seminars, expand our job search skills classes, and continue to expand our satellite office locations.
We are still battling with space issues and are working on our plans to expand our space.
We will continue to collaborate and work with community partners to be able to provide holistic services to our clients and meet their needs. We will strive to work on solving root cause issues and giving hope to those with no hope.
Where to do you fit in?
Without you, there is no Christian HELP. There is no hope. God uses people like you and me to help others. In 2nd Corinthians 9:8-9 God’s word says 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
You may be here today because you are passionate about Christian HELP and want to help in any way you can. You may be here because someone invited you and you wanted to know more. Maybe a friend dragged you kicking and screaming… God makes no mistakes. He wanted you here today.
Please prayerfully consider what God lays on your heart as you participate in the program today. He may give you a thought of where you fit in, or a number you should give. As you consider what he lays on your heart, I pray that you will come alongside us prayerfully and financially to continue this important ministry.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
My heart breaks every time I walk through a job fair and see professional people dressed in suits looking for jobs… many times looking for any job that will feed their families and keep a roof over their head.
My heart breaks as I listen to the stories of people who have worked hard all their lives who are now facing layoffs, foreclosures, and health issues.
My heart breaks as I listen to people who have no hope for the future because they cannot see past today. The pain and grief of not being able to provide is just too much to bear.
My heart breaks when a client says save the food for someone who needs it more. I can go without…
A year ago, I spoke at the Harvest of Hope when employment was at 6.4% and we thought things were bad. Now it is at 11.5% and I know it is bad for many people who have never had to deal with job loss before. Some are hopeful, but others are paralyzed. We have had clients who came in and could not speak because they were crying so hard.
The one thing that has remained steady and allowed us to remain positive is that God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
When Debbie needed help with food and bills after not being able to work for several months due to a sore on her foot caused by diabetes, we couldn’t see how we could help, but God did.
When we were nearly out of food and thought we might have to shut down our pantry, God provided manna from heaven so no one would go without.
When I struggled to figure out how WE were going to provide for so many families at Christmas, God blessed us with more toys than we knew what to do with and we were able to bless other ministries.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
Christian HELP was formed in 1992 by Dick and Madge Wilson and their friend Harry Kunish. In over 17 years, Christian HELP has connected over 70,000 people with jobs- enough to fill a football stadium and given away over 6 million pounds of food.
In the past year we added Employment seminars, Job search skills classes, and additional training for our counselors to meet the changing dynamics of finding a job in this economy. We opened 3 satellite offices, strategically placed in South, East, and West Orlando to meet people at their point of need, and provided on-site job skills seminars for several churches.
We serve over 70 people a day in our center who are looking for jobs, food, and hope. We provide a listening ear, job leads and food, and offer hope through prayer. Harry, one of our counselors had a client who cried, when he came in, cried during counseling, and cried as he left because he had put out over 2000 resumes with no calls back. A week later he came back to tell Harry that his prayers had worked and he found a job!
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
As we look at 2010 and beyond, we plan to continue to expand our services to meet the needs of our clients. We will have more employment seminars, expand our job search skills classes, and continue to expand our satellite office locations.
We are still battling with space issues and are working on our plans to expand our space.
We will continue to collaborate and work with community partners to be able to provide holistic services to our clients and meet their needs. We will strive to work on solving root cause issues and giving hope to those with no hope.
Where to do you fit in?
Without you, there is no Christian HELP. There is no hope. God uses people like you and me to help others. In 2nd Corinthians 9:8-9 God’s word says 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
You may be here today because you are passionate about Christian HELP and want to help in any way you can. You may be here because someone invited you and you wanted to know more. Maybe a friend dragged you kicking and screaming… God makes no mistakes. He wanted you here today.
Please prayerfully consider what God lays on your heart as you participate in the program today. He may give you a thought of where you fit in, or a number you should give. As you consider what he lays on your heart, I pray that you will come alongside us prayerfully and financially to continue this important ministry.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thank you for giving to the Lord
The words of the song "Thank you" are dancing through my head as I read e-mail after e-mail of support for a lady we saw in our office who is in a dire situation. I feel so blessed to be part of an organization with such wonderful supporters. I am definately feeling the love coming from our donors today.
Christian HELP's services are so needed right now. 10.9% of Central Floridians are unemployed. Many are desparate to find jobs and resoources. People are falling behind on their rent, car payments, and other bills. Some have no food in their refrigerator to eat. Many feel they have nowhere to turn.
Please continue to keep Christian HELP in your prayers. Our staff needs your prayers as well. They are doing all they can to be a light to those who are feeling darkness surrounding them. We are also asking you to continue to support us financially. Like other non-profits, we too are seeing the economy affect our operating income. Job fair revenue is down and this is a major blow. We need you.
We would love to have you come to our Harvest of Hope on 10/22 at First Baptist Winter Park. Ifyou would like to come, just e-mail jackie@christianhelp.org and we will have a seat for you at the event. Lunch is free and donations are encouraged as the Holy Spirit leads.
If you are not able to attend, but would lke to support us, remember no amount is too small (or too big :) ) and God has a way of multiplying your gift.
Be blessed, and thank you for giving to the Lord.
Christian HELP's services are so needed right now. 10.9% of Central Floridians are unemployed. Many are desparate to find jobs and resoources. People are falling behind on their rent, car payments, and other bills. Some have no food in their refrigerator to eat. Many feel they have nowhere to turn.
Please continue to keep Christian HELP in your prayers. Our staff needs your prayers as well. They are doing all they can to be a light to those who are feeling darkness surrounding them. We are also asking you to continue to support us financially. Like other non-profits, we too are seeing the economy affect our operating income. Job fair revenue is down and this is a major blow. We need you.
We would love to have you come to our Harvest of Hope on 10/22 at First Baptist Winter Park. Ifyou would like to come, just e-mail jackie@christianhelp.org and we will have a seat for you at the event. Lunch is free and donations are encouraged as the Holy Spirit leads.
If you are not able to attend, but would lke to support us, remember no amount is too small (or too big :) ) and God has a way of multiplying your gift.
Be blessed, and thank you for giving to the Lord.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Preparing for the Harvest
A year ago the unemployment rate was on the rise. It was 6.1% and we thought that was high. Today it is 11% and jobs are much harder to find. Christian HELP's client count has gone up dramatically from 30-50 people a day to an average of 80 a day now. The needs in the community are so great. We cannot do this alone.
We have our annual Harvest of Hope fundraiser coming up October 22nd at First Baptist Winter Park from 11:30 AM-1 PM. This event helps Christian HELP to continue to provide much needed services to the communtity. When others are shrinking, we are expanding both locations and services. We have been tremendously blessed by God with food to meet the needs and He keeps showing us that He really is in our day to day lives.
If you are able, we would love to have you be a table captain and invite your friends, church group, or business associates to join you. Each table seats 8. Please e-mail or call Jackie 407-834-4022 or by e-mail at jackie@christianhelp.org if you would like more information.
We have our annual Harvest of Hope fundraiser coming up October 22nd at First Baptist Winter Park from 11:30 AM-1 PM. This event helps Christian HELP to continue to provide much needed services to the communtity. When others are shrinking, we are expanding both locations and services. We have been tremendously blessed by God with food to meet the needs and He keeps showing us that He really is in our day to day lives.
If you are able, we would love to have you be a table captain and invite your friends, church group, or business associates to join you. Each table seats 8. Please e-mail or call Jackie 407-834-4022 or by e-mail at jackie@christianhelp.org if you would like more information.
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