Mobile Clothes Closet: Canton, GA

Mobile Clothes Closet

What It Is:

A partnership between BigHouse and a local church or organization serving foster families to provide a one-day shopping event for foster families in their area.

For our trip to Canton, we worked with First Baptist Church Canton's new foster care ministry, PURE, to arrange the location of the event. Through PURE we got in touch with the Cherokee Co. Foster and Adoptive Parent Association and Division of Family and Children Services in order to get the word out to foster families in the area. The families registered online via BigHouse.

What Our Partners Did:

We were able to set up the clothes shopping area in their church library, and use the hallway and a few Sunday School rooms for other items.They already had clothing racks for us to use. They bought new socks, underwear, and pajamas for all the kids who were registered. They had a team of six adults who helped with the event from set-up to break-down. The church also provided food and drinks for the volunteers. We spent the night with a host family nearby so we didn't have to spend money on hotel rooms.

What BigHouse Did:

In Opelika we collected new and gently used children's and teen's clothing items, sorted them by size, packed them in bins, and loaded all of it into a truck, loaned to us by H & W Motor Co. We recruited a team of four volunteers, along with our two staff members and their families (total of 8 adults and 1 very helpful preschooler). We coordinated the registration for the families to get their kids' names, ages, and clothing sizes. We had 24 families register, and a total of 52 kids shopped.

                                                                                     

Set Up:

10 six foot, bi-level clothing racks on wheels. 10 long tables, one round table - all provided by the church. (We are having our own racks built so we can go to places that don't have racks.) It took about 4 hours to set up, including sorting and hanging donations we received once we got to Canton (everything we brought from Opelika was already on hangers and sorted by size).

Shopping:

The families selected a 2-hour block of time to shop (9-11am, 11am-1pm, 1-3pm). Some families brought the kids with them; some made arrangements for childcare. On average, the families took about 30 minutes to shop. Each child was allotted 12 items (5 outfits plus 2 pairs of shoes) from the clothes closet, plus a new duffle bag with extra goodies: new socks/underwear/pajamas, book/stuffed animal/small toy.

Relationship Building:

One goal of the Mobile Clothes Closet is to provide an opportunity for the local organization to meet the foster families in person. We believe that once you put a face with foster care, people are much more inclined to get involved. We got to talk to the families about their experience with foster parenting. We talked with the kids over cookies and juice and found out what things they really wanted (for one little guy - a superhero toy; for a three-year old girl - a pink jacket; for a teen boy - new jeans and Polo brand shirts. Want to know how awesome our God of the fatherless is? We had those exact items for them to choose from.)

Packing It Up:

We put all the leftover items back in our bins, loaded up the truck, put the church back in order, and pulled out of the parking lot at 3:30 (half an hour after the event ended). Wow! The whole process was so smooth, we'd love to go back to First Baptist Church Canton again. We loved working with PURE and Cherokee Co. Foster and Adoptive Parent Association.

We Want to Come to You!

Email us at bighouse@ourbighouse.org about hosting the Mobile Clothes Closet for foster families in your area. See more pictures from our trip on our BigHouse Foundation facebook page.

BigHouse is on the move!

This weekend, we're taking our Mobile Clothes Closet program on its maiden voyage to Canton, GA to serve foster families in the North GA area. We'll be loading up a truck full of new and gently used kids' and teens' clothing from our Clothes Closet and presenting a one-day shopping event with help from First Baptist Canton and the Cherokee Co. Foster and Adoptive Parent Association. We'd like to thank H & W Motor Co. for loaning us a box truck for the trip! Look for pics from the trip to be posted to our facebook page this weekend.

Our next big news is that we're expanding to Birmingham, AL! We are planning to do four events for foster families in that area in 2013, the first of which is our 2nd Annual Glitz, Glam, and Gowns event to be held at The Church at Brook Hills on March 2nd. Last year, we had girls who drove from 3 hours away to attend the event, so we hope that having it more centrally located in the state will help make it accessible to more teens in foster care. Equally as important, we hope to engage the Birmingham community in this fun and much-needed event to provide new and gently used formal and semi-formal dresses, shoes, and accessories to high school girls in foster care who may not otherwise be able to attend their prom. Check out our website for more info on Glitz, Glam, and Gowns 2013 including drop-off locations where you can take donations through the end of February. 

Keep up with the development of BigHouse Foundation - Birmingham through our new facebook page, and show your support for bringing BigHouse events and programs to the mid-state area. This an exciting venture that wouldn't be possible without the continued blessing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We just celebrated our 4th birthday as an 501(c)3 non-profit. Did you know that only one-third of non-profits survive their first 5 years? We're so grateful to be GROWING rather than throwing in the towel. Thanks so much for your support!

Speaking of support, have you checked out our Neighborhood? This is the visual representation of the monthly donors who have come alongside us to provide valuable programs like the Clothes Closet, Kids' Night Out, Birthday Club, Statewide Swimsuit and Towel Drive and events such as Glitz, Glam, and Gowns, Back-to-School Bash, Family Beach Retreat, and Breakfast with Santa. You don't have to live in Opelika to be part of the BigHouse Neighborhood - we have monthly supporters across the nation! The easiest way to donate is online through Razoo.com.

Favorite Fall Recipes

In our last volunteer newsletter I asked for people to send in their favorite fall recipes to share with our families. Here are a couple of great ones:

Mulled Cider

Ingredients:

1.       1 qt. apple juice

2.       1 cinnamon stick

3.       10-20 black peppercorns (optional)

4.       10-20 whole cloves

5.       1 to 2 Tbs. brown sugar

6.       Lemon zest (optional)

Process:

1.       Select a pot or pan large enough to hold all the apple juice. Toast the cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns to bring out their distinct flavors and aromas. Do this by heating your pan over medium heat with the spices in the pan. Toss the spices in the pan occasionally to prevent burning. The spices should become very fragrant within a minute or two.

2.       Pour the apple juice into the pan and bring to a boil over high heat. When the apple juice gets warm stir in the brown sugar so it fully dissolves.

3.       Once the apple juice is boiling, reduce the heat so it just simmers. Add the citrus zest at this time.

4.       Maintain the simmer for thirty minutes.

5.       Pour the mulled juice/cider through a fine mesh strainer and into the container of your choice. If your cider has a great deal of particulate matter, you may want to place a cheesecloth or coffee filter in your strainer (or sandwiched between two strainers) to filter out the fine particles. Serve hot. (Only necessary if you have used the lemon zest).

Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

1.       ¾ cup light corn syrup

2.       ¼ cup margarine

3.       2 tsp. cold water

4.       2 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar

5.       1 cup marshmallows

6.       5 qts. plain popped popcorn (unpopped kernels removed)

Process:

1.    In a saucepan over medium heat, combine first five ingredients. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn until it is all coated.

2.    Grease hands with vegetable shortening and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls before it cools. Wrap with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Family Beach Retreat 2012

2nd Annual BigHouse Family Beach Retreat

Location: Laguna Beach Christian Retreat

Nothing but blue skies and sunshine!

Our kids had a blast with the sandcastle contest.

 A little friendly beach volleyball competition engaged the teens.

 When the sun went down, we went crab hunting, followed by an ice cream social.

 Group pic taken after our Sunday morning worship service.

58 made the trip with us!

 Couldn't have done it without our awesome volunteers!

Check out more pics on our facebook page. Many thanks to all of you who donated money and provided food for our trip! We had a great time with our families. Here's some feedback we got (Blake interviewed the parents without telling Micah or Susannah):

“Thank you BIG HOUSE for such a wonderful beach get-a-way for my Family!! The trip was AWESOME!! Not only affordable but such a blessing to have all the volunteers to help with the children!! Also the food was TERRIFIC!!!! Micah please thank your Sunday School Class for takin

g the time to make all of the Yummy Casseroles....it was so WONDERFUL to be able to rest and not have a worry in the world...no cooking...no planning...no schedule making...no cleaning....it was just a little piece of Heaven!!!!”

“The annual BigHouse Beach Trip is AWESOME! It's so relaxing to know that my kids are able to run around and have fun in a safe environment.”

“My family got to relax, which doesn't happen often. We enjoyed watching our children forge friendships with other kids who have similar backgrounds.”

“The beach trip was fun and relaxing. It was a special time that families came together for fun and fellowship. We enjoyed good food, shopping, and great exercise and to top it off a word from on high.”

“Micah and the BigHouse staff are awesome! They say when you start fostering you should have a good support system, and it's nice to know that we can consider BigHouse a support system and just a listening ear in good and bad times. May God bless the BigHouse Foundation, the staff and all the families involved with BigHouse.”

More Than Fun

"I'm afraid I won't do enough good things to get into Heaven."

This was a fear expressed by one of our teens during an activity at Kids' Night Out. This is why we must "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15) Fortunately, the small group leaders were able to address her fear with real hope - none of us can do enough good things to get into Heaven, but "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Our monthly Kids' Night Out events serve a variety of important functions:

• Respite for foster parents who desperately need that short break.
• A chance to build relationships with our preschoolers, kids, and teens.
• A way for volunteers to "put a face" with foster care, which always has a significant impact on them personally. (Read an account from a first-time KNO volunteer here.)
• An opportunity for churches to connect with foster families by providing the space and meal for our event. We are grateful to Cornerstone Church for partnering with us and hosting KNO this year!

This Fall we've taken a more structured approach to help minimize chaos and create more opportunities to be spiritually intentional with our kids. This is what KNO looks like:

Space for preschoolers to play and make friends

High-energy Team Leaders who facilitate games and crafts

Worship

(lively for preschoolers and kids; acoustic for teens)

Small group Bible lessons for all ages

Interested in joining our KNO Team for the Spring? Email us at bighouse@ourbighouse.org. Give online here to support this important BigHouse program!

Serving Well

The Conflict

When you are exposed to someone else’s need, you have a choice – to respond or ignore. There are consequences either way. If you respond – you will make some kind of impact on the other person (positive or negative), you will be held accountable for your actions, and you will open yourself up to respond to more needs. If you ignore – you will have to figure out a way to go on living like you did before you were made aware of the need, you will be held accountable for your inaction, and you will try to protect yourself from those who are needy.

As Christians we are commanded to respond.

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17)

But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17)

“For the poor will never cease to be in the land, therefore I command you saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and your poor in your land.’” (Deuteronomy 15:11)

Pressure.

At BigHouse, our hearts are stirred and broken by the needs of foster children. The more we know, the more helpless we feel to adequately meet their many physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We will be the first to tell you we do not feel qualified to do what it takes to help them. There is a constant pressure to do more – for those we are already serving in some way, to minister in other ways; and for those we do not yet know, to find a way to reach them. We want to serve.

Fear.

Our pride constrains us from taking on tasks that do not look attainable. Our self-dependency blinds us to the all-sufficient provision of our Almighty God. We can be consumed by the worries of “What if?”s. What if we don’t have what it takes? What if this isn’t the right time? What if we pour our energy and resources into this and it fails? We want to succeed.

Urgency.

Foster care is a whirlwind. Here today, gone tomorrow. The longer they wait, the longer it will take to recover. The more homes they live in, the less likely they are to build meaningful attachments. The older they are, the closer they get to “aging out” and facing the world on their own.  Social workers, foster families, teachers, and caregivers all float in and out of their lives without much explanation. We want to stabilize.

The Remedy

Humility.

I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me. (Psalm 57:2) We are dependent on God for our very life and breath, so surely we must depend on Him to do the work He’s called us to. It is foolish and sinful to try to do it on our own.

Faith.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) We believe God’s Word, and He says that He hears the cry of the orphan, and that He knows what we need before we ask Him, and that He works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Love.

[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8) Love is not the giving of gifts, or clothes, or time. Rather, it is the motivator behind our every action. If we continue to run programs and host events and build relationships, but do not sincerely and sacrificially love the people we are doing it for, we are laboring in vain.

Our Prayer:

Father, thank You for holding the world in Your hands. Thank You for loving us and saving us from sin and death. Thank You for giving us life and purpose through Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for sending Your Helper, Your precious Holy Spirit, to guide and teach us. Thank You for giving us everything we need for life and godliness. Lord, the needs around us are great, but You are greater! Help us to obey Your commands to love You and love others with everything that we have. Forgive us for trying to do it on our own. Forgive us for ignoring the needy. Forgive us for being self-focused. Please use us to do your work. We give all that we have, and all that we are to You, for Your glory. In the victorious name of Christ Jesus we ask these things, amen. 

Ready for school!

On Saturday, July 28th, we hosted our annual Back-to-School Bash in conjunction with DHR's foster care unit and Lee County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association. We had over 60 school-age kids receive a total of 874 school supplies and 359 items from our Clothes Closet. Several also got a trim from a hairstylist who volunteered. Toiletry kits that had been given to DHR were also distributed. All of these necessities were provided for free thanks to the generosity of our community!

(Most kids received 15 school items and were allowed to select 10 clothing items.)

(Average haircut cost: $20 - thanks, Amber, for donating your time and talent for our kids!)

(DHR, LCFAPA, and BigHouse supporters provided a hot dog lunch for all the attendees.)

(As a special project, we invited everyone to paint their hand print on our new shed wall completed by AUMC's Sweat Week work crew.)

We collect school supplies throughout the year that can be given to kids that come into foster care (many times with only a few personal belongings). We also keep our Clothes Closet stocked with new and gently used kids' and teens' clothing. Donations can be dropped off at 211 Samford Ave. in Opelika from 9-5, Monday - Thursday or after-hours in our donation box in the parking lot.