Greetings from Church Without Walls.

I want to thank all the people who have helped Church Without Walls to continue its programs this fiscal year. We have had a very challenging year, fronting a grant from Marion County Children’s Alliance for SAFE and dealing with ancient computers and the heating and air in the Mission House. Youth Reach oversaw five SAFE programs assisting 65 families to better communication and a more reasonable life situation in the home. Classes were held in the CWW office as well as at First Presbyterian Church and the Shores Assembly of God Church. Lorelei is particularly pleased to have helped a family with two elementary school boys whose acting out was getting to the point of getting them both thrown out of school. Through the SAFE program the family attended it was discovered the adults could not read or write. The counselors facilitating this class arranged to have the boys tested for learning disabilities. They are now in classes tailored to their needs and are flourishing at school. The tense upset atmosphere that had existed at home has been replaced by cooperation and a joint effort to learn. SAFE is the only whole family intervention program in Marion County. I hope you can all keep CWW in your thoughts and prayers for the coming year. If you want to help young people achieve a decent life call Lorelei at 624-2001. In Christ’s Love, Joyce-Ellen

Habitat for Humanity

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

Interfaith Emergency Services, Inc.'s Food Bank is experiencing low volumes in the warehouse. Please make it a habit to buy one non-perishable food item each time you go food shopping. Start your "Grocery List" with a line reading "1 non-perishable food item", then put this item in the car or your purse and drop it off in the box provided for this mission in the Narthex on your way into church. If each member of our church can do this, the box will be overflowing every week. Each month our church is responsible for feeding the residents at Interfaith Emergency Services, Inc. Thank You in advance for all your mission work. 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.

Domestic Violence 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.