Community Outreach

Community Outreach We extend our Christian faith and assistance to others in need in our community and the world by supporting these programs:

Church without Walls

Ambleside School Veterans Chapel 

You’re invited to Veterans Chapel.  The faculty and students of Ambleside School of Ocala cordially invite you to attend a service in honor of our country’s veterans.  A coffee reception will follow immediately after.   

Saturday, February 21, 2009

9:30 to 11:00 a.m. 

Please call the school office at 694-1635 for more information.

Genesis House Genesis House is looking for: 1) a person to work two nights a week with a small group of teens on art activities such as block printing, weaving, drawing. Must be tolerant of young people who have had a hard life and are street smart. 2) a family willing to build a relationship with a youngster ready to age out. A family to give support on general living decisions. 3) a data entry person to enter personnel training into files. This person would work 2 half days a week. All opportunities must be background screened. This can be done at Childhood Development Services, Inc. Genesis House contact for interest and more information on either of these opportunities is Jazmine Achumba at 629-0055 ext. 308.

Habitat for HumanityThe push is on to get Angelica and family into their new home for Christmas. As of this writing Nov. 12th the dry wall is ready to be nailed in place, so, get your paint clothes out and please find time in your busy schedules to get the finishing touches in place on time. You can contact Susan Hicks at 361-6153 to volunteer Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday 8-2 (or any part there of) We really need help to complete this home.

Parent Advisory Council of Marion County The Parent Advisory Council, in partnership with the Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) to inform parents and community representatives of relevant guidelines and/or changes to the School Board’s policies and rules. For further information, please call Yvette Mitchell, Representative,

Parent Advisory Council at352-351-4075.  13 N.E. 36th Avenue Ocala, Fl. 32170 624-2001

 Interfaith Emergency Service Interfaith Hospitality Network - Helping Families Stay Together Join us September 30th at 6:30PM as we host an informational gathering to discuss how the Ocala faith community can partner with an agency called Family Promise. Family Promise is an organization that helps families who are experiencing homelessness stay together. The assistance comes from the organizing of local churches and synagogues to provide temporary shelter for these families. The goal is to arrange for fifteen churches and synagogues to provide on-site temporary shelter for four families, three to four times a year. The Family Promise program has been very successful across the country, including our neighbor to the north, Gainesville. In a city that only provides temporary housing to individuals and single mother families, an organization that assists in keeping the whole family intact is a welcomed site. If you have questions, concerns, or just want to find out about this wonderful opportunity please join us on Tuesday, September 30th at 6:30PM What do $40 and a young person being released from the Department of Juvenile Justice have in common? A “Fresh Start.” $40 buys a new pair of pants, a new shirt, new shoes and new undergarments. For this young person it means greater self-esteem, it means that someone cares, it means a better chance to get a job and it says they are important. If you would like to know how your contribution can help with this special project “Fresh Start Closet,” contact Gary Linn at Interfaith Emergency Services at 629-9968. We are in need of volunteers in several areas. Examples of areas needing assistance is our Thrift Store in Ocala and our Food Pantry. We will find that special area for the volunteer that best fits their personality. If you would like any further information, please contact Interfaith at 629-8868.

MARION COUNTY CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE BEGINS WORK ON FAMILY VIOLENCE On the second Tuesday each month, we are meeting at the Ocala Police Department on Pine at noon for a “Bag the Violence” lunch. It is a time for parents and others who work with children and youth to meet the school and community officials and to discuss ways we can overcome bullying and violence. Bring your lunch! A drink and dessert will be provided. 

 CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE BOARD MEETING Marion County Children’s Alliance This emerging group is led by a Board of Directors including the Directors of DCFS, the Regional Manager of Juvenile Justice, the State Attorney, the Legislator from our District, The Director of United Way, the Superintendent of the Public Schools, the Representative of the Faith Community, the head of the Judges in the county. The vision of the Alliance is to create a community that values all children and families, accomplished by nurturing the family environment while providing, effective services of the highest quality. It has a coordinator, Dr. Mike Jordan. The head of the board is Sheriff Ed Dean, and it has quickly moved to find grant money for a Director. It now has 34 agencies as a part of its Steering Committee. This group is quickly at work in building better Communication, Coordination , and Collaboration in helping children and youth at risk and their families in this county. It is something we have long needed in Marion County. Many are very excited that we have this group underway. Alliances are forming across the State of Florida in every county, but in Marion County we are ahead o of most all the other counties, because we saw the need before Tallahassee began to ask counties to form Alliances. It is going to take the whole community working together to really deal with the problems of children and youth at risk in our county. We need to not only agencies, but also Faith Communities and business to join forces. This group has the mission to make this possible. You can come to their meetings at the Sheriff’s office. We also introduced people to the One Church (or Faith Community) One Child program. We are looking for 12 Faith Communities to take on one youth & family who are just starting to get into trouble. The idea is for Faith Communities to turn around these folks before they get into deeper trouble. We already have six faith communities on board with this program. The Faith Community Network is looking for five new after school care programs to be started this year. If you know of any group interested, let us know. The Alliance has started a group called the Violence Forum that is seeking to overcome violence in Marion County. We are encouraging the city to get behind its curfew laws for people under the age of 16. We are also starting new programs in the evening where youth can congregate with supervision. The Faith Community Network is also asking Faith Communities to take on one youth who is 11-14 years old and coming before the judge for the first time. The Faith Community would reach out to this youth through it’s youth program and provide mentoring and tutoring. They would work with the youth’s case worker from Juvenile Justice to help turn the youth around. If you have interest or know of others who might be interested, contact Jim Bullock at 694-4121. The Children’s Alliance meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Sheriff’s auditorium.

RAPE CRISIS CENTER Needs donations of sheets, bleach, trash bags and paper products. Please leave your items in the basket in the narthex.

Children’s Advocacy Center Kimberly Cottage The Children’s Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization which provides support for abused and/or neglected children. It was organized one year ago and has chosen not to seek government funding, rather to seek community support. The agency is asking churches and their members throughout the community to participate in a faith initiative project. Various ways of assisting, as well as, donating funds, could be; become a mentor at the Center, volunteer at the Center, provide refreshments for the children, add the children and the staff to your prayer list. If you are interested in helping make a difference in a child’s life, call Debra Gelinas, Executive Director, at 369-2341.