Volunteer Voice

For the first time in my 39 years of life, I met a woman who I want to be when I grow up. When I grow up, I want to be just like Annie Mae Gathers:  beautiful, forgiving, focused, generous, optimistic, and drenched in the Holy Spirit. Annie Mae has been a volunteer in the Christian Help food pantry for eight years doing “whatever needs to be done”.

Having raised her own seven children, while working 21 years in janitorial services with the school system and 24 years cleaning domestically, Annie Mae is blessed with 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Now, Annie Mae’s 84 years of fervently serving others has transitioned to a dedication for volunteerism. She tells me, “I get something money can’t buy” when clients coming to the food pantry hug her and thank her she says, “it’s like filling up my tank with gas.” “At my age,” says Annie Mae, “I’m feeling like I’m being of help to somebody”. She adds, “if you want a place you feel competent that you are helping, you can come to Christian Help”. “They show a lot of love, you can feel it when you go into the pantry.”

Annie Mae attributes her motivation and inspiration to her relationship with God. She shares with me, “you’ve got to have your card activated--that relationship with God-- otherwise nothing is going to work for you---it makes you love one another.” She tells me she gets up on Thursdays and prays, “God, you and me are going to the pantry today!” And God never fails to inspire Annie Mae on mornings when the pantry is bare and the volunteers gather to pray and just in time a truck pulls up fulfilling all their needs. In addition, on her days away from Christian Help, Annie Mae blends her joy of cooking with her generosity: Just last Monday she made spaghetti and fed three neighborhood families in need!

I will never forget Annie Mae Gathers. She’s the type of person I enjoy just being in the same room with, soaking up her wisdom, and watching God’s light emanate from her eyes. With God’s help, when I am 84 years old, I want to be ....beautiful, forgiving, focused, generous, optimistic, and drenched in the Holy Spirit.

September Jobs Initiative Classes

Volunteering is a great way to get involved and give back to your community. At Christian HELP, we consider our volunteers to be Angels to those we serve. 

Here are some immediate openings we have:

Food Pantry- Volunteer a whole day or 1/2 day. Afternoons 12-4 are the greatest need. Help to sort, stock, and serve clients. Must be able to stand for long periods of time and lift to 30 lbs.  We also need a few people to help break down cardboard boxes daily. 

Call Julie at 407-834-4022 or  e-mail volunteer@christianhelp.org.

Jobs Initiative Volunteer Needs

 -Class Instructors- Teach one or more components of the 6 modules for the Jobs Initiative (JI) Classes. This requires training or teaching experience and the ability to commit to teaching at least one class a month for 2 or more hours. Class days are projected to be Tuesdays and Thursdays, but are subject to change.

 -Mock Interviewers- Work with JI Students to insure interview readiness by performing mock interviews and providing feedback to the students. Work with the students to coach them to become comfortable with the interview process and be able to articulate their experience and value to a potential company. Some interviews will take place during class 5, others times may be flexible. Must have previous interviewing experience.

 -Mentors- Work with JI graduates once they have completed the program and been hired by partner employers. The mentor will be the liaison between the employer and the graduate to continue to coach the graduate and moderate any issues. Ideally, mentors will be at the partner locations, but they can also be outside influencers.

 -Class Facilitators- One to two people per class to set up the class, put together class materials, set up snacks, and be a support to the instruction team. No experience needed. Must be able to commit to a 6-8 hour class period one or more days a week.

To indicate an interest in any of these positions call 407-834-4022 for Zeynep or e-mail zeynep@christianhelp.org

Join us for our next Life Changing Jobs Initiative Class series!

Job Resources - FREE! Coaching, Resume help, Job Skills Classes

 

Events and News CFEC is a Division of Christian HELP Foundation- in our office we have:  One on one coaching and counseling- walk-in hours Monday and Friday 9:30 AM- 1:00PM or call for an appointment for Tuesday-Thursday.   Resume review and preparation- Tuesdays 10 AM-2 PM Weekly Job Skills classes 3:00 PM- 4:30 PM More information on Job Skills Classes  Intensive Boot Camp Classes Additionally, we have a food pantry, computer lab, and ACCESS center. We are located at: 450 Seminola Blvd Casselberry, FL 32707 407-834-4022   We also have a GREAT new program - the Central Florida Jobs Initiative.  This is a 3 week program with 6 full day classes encompassing: Creating your job search plan Resumes and Cover letters Networking Job Search tactics Interviewing and Impressions Performance Excellence This series included Mock interviews and when the classes are successfully completed, an interview with a suitable company.    For information and an application, email Zeynep or Michael However, if you have already found employment, then please let us know this great news by simply replying to this email with: Your Name: Your Employer:    Sincerely, The CFEC.org Team Central Florida Employment Council www.CFEC.org   Please feel free to share this with a friend!
In the community... Mayor's Job Fair, Orlando, FL   May 15, 2013 ~ 12 Noon - 4:00pm Central Florida Fair Exposition Park 4603 W Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32808 Over 60 companies and job search resources!  Free Admission & Free Parking. Open to all Job Seekers. No children please Attire: Professional / business dress required   "Thousands of career openings in various industries as well as job seeker resources on hand to assist you with your job search!"    ** Military friendly companies as well, so veterans are encouraged to attend!    More Information click here
or visit us online... We believe the best way to get a job is to have help. We established our online employment resource website as a gateway to linking job seekers and employers from the Central Florida region online. On our website you will find valuable information for your job search in Central Florida Job Seeker Resources:   Online Job Board Search  Employer Career Centers  Blog: read current local advice for your job search Job Search Seminars Job Skills Classes Job Loss Support Group Employment Counseling Interview Help Resume Help Networking Groups Job Fair Tips on how to be most successful and much more More Information click here and visit Job Seeker Resource Menu Follow us on twitter, facebook, and read our blog for updated job search news and resources!
	TIP:  Log into your job seeker account today at www.CFEC.org and make sure your most current resume is uploaded and all of your job seeker contact information is updated!

Re-Charge and Re-Energize Your Job Search Seminar

If you have not sent us your RSVP already, we still have seats available for THIS Thursday's FREE seminar for job seekers - feel free to invite a friend....

  

Re-Charge and Re-Energize your Job Search Seminar

Presented by Christian HELP / Central Florida Employment Council

This Thursday Evening,  April 4, 2013 ~ 6:00-9:00pm

     

"Whether you are a professional, mid, or entry level job seeker, you can expect to be re-charged, encouraged and engaged. You will have an opportunity to meet up and network with other people, presenters, and helpful service providers over refreshments. Expect to be able to get back into the game after you are re-energized for your job search. We know the best way to find a job is to have help!"

  

RSVP is required. Attendance is free. Seating is limited.

 (Refreshments and door prizes are included)

Location:

College Park Baptist Church/Fellowship Hall 1914 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, FL 32804 (Located just south of the intersection of Princeton Avenue and Edgewater Drive in College Park. It is accessible from Interstate 4, Colonial Drive (Highway 50), and Lee Road)

Location map click here

  

Attire:

Professional/Business

SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS/SPEAKERS:

Social Media - Who's Watching? Christine Jacob, Manager of Client Services, VACO Orlando, LLC
Signs of a Great Résumé: How to Write a Resume that Speaks for Itself Scott Vedder, a Fortune 100 Recruiter and Best-Selling Author of Signs of a Great Résumé
"How to Wow them at the interview"? The chemistry of the interview Farnaz Namin-Hedayati, Ph.D., Doctor of Corporate Psychology Strategist and Peak Performance Coach, Center For Work Life, LLC

Reservation is Required. Seating is Limited: Job Seekers may reserve their seat by visiting the event page at www.CFEC.org and then click on the job search seminar page.RSVP Click here

You Can Make Twice the Impact in March and April

Every day, we are blessed with the opportunity to meet new people, to share in their journey and lives as they pursue employment.  It is through YOUR donations and involvement, the magic happens: People get jobs, families aren't hungry anymore, and they have hope for a future...

Here is a letter from someone we recently had the opportunity to touch...

Please allow me a few minutes to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I know you are busy, individually and  as an organization, that collection of a few paid and a swarm of volunteers you call Christian Help. You are swamped everyday helping virtual strangers, that comprise a cross section of the very needy seemingly with nothing in common but need. An endless parade of human floatsam marginalized from society that washes up on Seminola avenue with enough stories to keep Chaucer busy with  volumes of the Casselberry tales.

So from time to time you must wonder, did it really help that one or did we just feed him for a day ( or a week, or a year).  Well I'm here to tell you, that at least in my case, the help was more than you know.

 How do you measure that help, really? From what it says in the 'notes', or is it in terms of " did they get a job" or not? It must be like trying to read the effect of a tsunami by the human misery that washes ashore on a distant shore.  I'm sure some tell you, but i bet just as many are never heard from  again after they stop coming .

I will spare you the details but you should know the gist of it. Two years ago I spent Christmas sleeping on the concrete slab of a an empty house that was in short sale. No electricity and no water. When the sun went down it was dark and cold. I did read my bible everyday I could and never felt closer to Gods love. Oddly enough it was a very nice neighborhood.

I had no job. I fell behind on my child support and my drivers license was suspended. However, I never needed nor lacked. God provided what I needed in many ways. And eventually I showed up at your door. Thus began the healing, because in a case of a positive, ... " for lack of a nail a shoe was lost, for lack of a shoe a horse was lost..." you know the rest.  Because of your help, or at least in a great part, I was able to get part time work, through which I begin paying my child support, and thus reacquired my license and thus visited my daughter regularly. 

The last session I had with a counselor, I informed him that my daughter Sofia had been accepted at the University of Florida, and qualified for the Bright Futures scholarship which covers about 75% of her costs. I was also told by my employer that they would sponsor and pay for my Community Association Manager license ( CAM ), which when I pass,( and God willing I will) they will consider me for a full time position through which I can at least help Sofia while she is in school.

Is it over? Hardly. But, as a sojourner that is about to leave the shelter that your organization so kindly provided, I wanted to say thanks.

I told Ginger this morning that one day my Lord had cured ten lepers at the same time; Only one came back to thank Him. I am that one leper. Thank you and all the smiling faces that so generously and kindly gave of their time, talent and treasure to help people that may never be able to repay them.

              

But,  some can at least say,

                                                     "thanks".

                                                            God bless you

                                                                      Sincerely,

                                                                                Manny Leon

Donations in March and April are matched through the generosity of the Feinstein Foundation and several generous donors.  Please consider investing financially in making a difference for families in need.  Your $60 donation will become $120 and feed 2 families for a month, $100 will become $200 and sponsor a student for our Jobs Initiative Classes,  $500 becomes $1000 and can keep 2 families from losing their home. Thank you for your generosity!

Donate Online Today or mail a check to 450 Seminola Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707.