Posted by: Amy @ 4:30 pm
The 23rd Annual UMCH Awards Celebration on Saturday, June 25th, was a big hit and fun was had by all! Children and staff from UMCH locations all over Alabama and west Florida gathered at St. James UMC in Montgomery, Alabama, to celebrate their achievements at this yearly summer event. The celebration is sponsored by the Grace Bellis Foundation and features awards presented to children from all eight of the UMCH residential group homes.
The day kicked off with fun and fellowship led by St. James UMC staff, youth, and volunteers. Rev. Brad Goode, St. James’ associate pastor of evangelism and missions, and his volunteers organized Minute-to-Win-It type of games that got all of the children actively involved and having a blast. Lunch followed with a great spread provided by Fat Boys BBQ Ranch and its owner Danny Loftin of Prattville, Alabama.
UMCH chaplain Rev. Lonna Lynn Higgs introduced Milton Burke and Sharon Hudson representing the Grace Bellis Foundation followed by immensely inspirational speakers Coach Mike Turk, Huntingdon College’s head football coach, and Michael Brown, faculty member at Alabama A&M University and UMCH alumnus.
Coach Mike Turk and Coach Michael Brown
Each group home supervisor announced the winners of awards from their location, and winners received a certificate of recognition. Graduating seniors also received savings bonds. After all of the individual awards were given out, the Overall Group Home Award was presented to Headland Group Home (The Settlement). Congratulations to the boys and staff at Headland!
2011 Grace Bellis Foundation awards by group home:
Birmingham Babies First
Mike Gay Award for Excellence in Independent Living
Crestview
Carole Kersey Lark Helping Hand Award
Jean Hornsby Burgess Award for Most Improved Student
Carol Kersey Award for Excellence in Science
Evalyn Stallings Award for Excellence in Language Arts
Becky Castardo Award for Excellence in Math
Florence
Grace Bellis Award for Best Manners
Doris Steward Award for Excellence in Christian Living
Dave Kersey Award for Excellence in Science
Gulf Coast
E. L. King Award for Good Citizenship
Rosalie Pennington Pribbenow Award for Excellence in Christian Living
Ida Shackelford Love Thy Neighbor Award
Bryan and Sharon Casey Award for Best All Around Girl
Patty Gayle Award for Girl Most Likely to Succeed
Headland (The Settlement)
Horace Acton Award for Excellence in Athletics, Academics and Sportsmanship
Preston Zediker Award for Good Citizenship
Oscar and Miriam Riley Award for Outstanding Participation in Worship
Aldridge Award for Excellence in Trustworthiness, Dependability and Responsibility
Clarence and Ida Shackelford Award for Excellence in Group Home Maintenance
Gladys Carlisle Award for Excellence in Reading
Robert S. Johnson Award for Excellence in Social Studies
Mary Duncan Award for Excellence in Language Arts
Gerald R. Castardo Award for Excellence in Math
Grace Bellis Academic Excellence Award for Highest High School GPA
Grace Bellis Academic Excellence Award for Highest Overall GPA
Bert Pribbenow Award for Scholarship, Leadership and Christian Endeavor
Overall Group Home Award
Mobile Babies First
Jean Pribbenow Award for Christian Leadership
Lucile Hanes Murphree Award for Excellence in Music Education
Janae, Mobile Babies First resident, smiles with one of her two awards certificates
Scottsboro
Mildred Olson Award for Excellence in Athletics, Academics and Sportsmanship
Aldridge Award in Christian Education
Panama City Kiwanis Club Award for Excellence in Trustworthiness, Dependability and Responsibility
Clair P. Holloway Award for Creativity in Music, Art or Writing
Gertrude Carlisle Award for Excellence in Reading
Guy Garrett Award for Excellence in Social Studies
Leonard F. Smith Award for Excellence in Citizenship and Christian Servanthood
Tuscaloosa
Ted and Judy Harvey Award for Christian Leadership
Venice Bates Award for Most Improved Student
Henry Lewis Cole Award for Excellence in Vocational Education
Carol Crisp Award for Excellence in Art
Margaret M. Green Award for Excellence in English
Bill Gay, Junior Award for Best All Around Boy
Grace Bellis Academic Excellence Award for Highest Middle School GPA
Patty Gayle Award for Boy Most Likely to Succeed
Special thanks to the following sponsors, helpers and friends who made this event possible:
The Grace Bellis Foundation, St. Andrews United Methodist Church, St. Andrews, Florida
Mr. Milton Burke, St. Andrews, Florida
Ms. Sharon Hudson, St. Andrews, Florida
Rev. Brad Goode, Associate Pastor of Evangelism and Missions, St. James United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama
The Missions Ministry Staff and Volunteers, St. James United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama
Fat Boys BBQ Ranch and Danny Loftin, owner, Prattville, Alabama
The Alabama-West Florida Conference Council on Ministries
The Cartwright Class, Trinity United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
Capitol Heights United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama
Mrs. Barbara Euler Farrar, Birmingham, Alabama
Fairview United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
Rev. Leigh Meekins, Montgomery, Alabama
Trinity United Methodist Church, Prattville, Alabama
Posted by: Amy @ 3:20 pm
UMCH is so proud of this year’s terrific group of graduates in our residential and foster care programs as well as alumni. This year, there are UMCH children graduating from junior high, high school, and even some alumni are receiving their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Congratulations, graduates! We are so proud of you!
At the Florence Group Home, two of our young men graduated high school; and a young mom from Birmingham Babies First walked with her class at graduation and will receive her diploma in August.
At the Headland Group Home (The Settlement), two brothers just graduated from junior high and are on their way to high school, two more young men graduated from high school on May 19th, and another young man just graduated from Enterprise Ozark Community College on May 12th!
Two young ladies in South Alabama Foster Care graduated on May 31st, and one is even the first person in her family to graduate high school! Both girls have plans to move on to college after graduation.
On May 27th a senior in UMCH’s South Alabama Therapeutic Foster Care in Andalusia graduated from high school with honors! She has been with her foster family since 2002 and plans to become an RN in pediatric nursing.
Gulf Coast Group Home resident Thembi was elected Ms. Santa Rosa High School, and was asked by the principal to give the “motivational speech” at the high school’s graduation in May. She has moved to Selma, Alabama, and hopes to pursue her dream of attending nursing school at Wallace Community College.
Gulf Coast Group Home resident and Miss Santa Rosa High, Thembi
In alumni news, Alisha, a Gulf Coast Group Home houseparent of five years, who was a resident of our group home about 13 years ago, just graduated from the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s degree in social work!
Two more Gulf Coast Group Home alumni also finished degrees this spring - one just graduated from UWF with a bachelor’s degree in education, and the other just graduated from the University of Central Florida with her master’s degree in engineering!
UMCH is so proud of all of you!
On May 16th and 17th, Florida Family Network (FFN) hosted its annual conference where our Crestview Group Home was honored with the Residential Group Care Provider for 2011 award. Crestview Group Home Supervisor Mae Knox and her staff have worked hard and certainly deserve this recognition! FFN provided a copy of the nomination written regarding our Crestview Group Home. The nomination stated:
United Methodist Children’s Home-Crestview: Almost two years ago, a young man was placed at UMCH Crestview. There were many challenges along the way, but with everyone working together, the final outcome is amazing! This young man has many talents- involved in wrestling and football, received many awards for academics and sports, he’s good with his hands, and is very smart. With everyone working together (UMCH & FFN staff), this youth transitioned into a foster home and is doing well.
In order to help make this transition smooth for this young man, Kristin Webb (Florida Regional Director) and Mae Knox (Group Home Supervisor) have offered Mae Knox’s clinical expertise to maintain his new placement. Not only for this youth, but any child placed at UMCH-Crestview who may be in need of crisis counseling in their new long-term placement has a resource in Mae Knox. This is a true example of family centered practice and keeping home alive!
Secondly, Mr. Joe Sims, Crestview’s Social Worker, has been instrumental with assisting children who are on probation and need community service hours. UMCH Crestview have several community partners they work with to help with this task: Boys and Girls Club, Goodwill, and local churches. So far, three children have completed their community service hours.
Also, Crestview utilizes Jobs Plus. Several of the children have had the opportunity to earn money for attending the life skills training and work assignments. One child recently was hired at McDonald’s.
Lastly, in January 2011, UMCH Crestview implemented a houseparent model. There has been positive feedback from the children and staff. The kids have mentioned they like the stability and internal communication has improved with staff. Thanks, UMCH Crestview, for your vision and family centered stance!
Joe Sims, UMCH Social Worker, was on hand to accept the award on May 17, 2011.
On March 10th and 11th one of our Tuscaloosa Group Home residents who attends Eastwood Junior High School participated in the 2011 Technology Student Association’s 2nd Annual State Conference. Our resident participated in the Structural Challenge Competition, placing 5th. In the Problem Solving competition, he received 2nd place honors accompanied by an engraved gold medal. This honor has provided for him an opportunity to attend the TSA National Competition in Dallas, Texas! Way to go!
Posted by: Amy @ 3:08 pm
Please pray for our staff member in Tuscaloosa whose home was completely destroyed by the tornado. A Tuscaloosa Group Home resident’s family also had their home destroyed by the storm
Thank you, Rob Kirkland, CEO, as well as Trisha and Diane of Legacy YMCA of Bessemer, AL, for giving the Tuscaloosa Group Home boys and staff the opportunity to shower and exercise at their facility today.
We were able to get plenty of water as well as porta-potties to the Tuscaloosa Group Home yesterday. Thank you, Central Alabama Porta-Toilet Company of Selma, for donating the use of those!
Power has been restored to the Florence, Tuscaloosa, and Birmingham Babies First group homes. Our group home in Scottsboro is still without power but does have water, phones, and food.
Please send contributions to help get us through this difficult time by visiting our online donation page (Designate your gifts to “Storm Response” at the bottom of the page under Additonal Information).
Thank you so much for your prayers for our children and staff, and thank you to the friends of this ministry who have already responded with gifts to offset costs incurred from the storm. We really appreciate your support!
STORM UPDATE 2:
We have made contact with our missing Foster Family in the Tuscaloosa area, and they are all OK! God is Good! They have four foster children in their care, and they were well prepared for bad weather. They have a storm shelter where they all safely waited out the storm.
Our needs continue at the Tuscaloosa Group Home for boys. We delivered two porta-potties today, and are working to supply them with plenty of bottled water and food. Please consider a gift to help cover our costs for their immediate and long-term needs, as we are not sure how long it will be until all services are restored to the home. Visit our online donation page and designate gifts for “Storm Response.” Thank you so much for your prayers for our children and staff, and thank you to the friends of this ministry who have already responded with gifts today! Your support is really appreciated!
Devastating Storms Affect United Methodist Children’s Home Locations in North Alabama
We are praying today for the many people affected by the storms that tore through Alabama yesterday, and ask for God’s hand to guide us all to recover and rebuild together. By the Grace of God, our children and staff are OK, and our group homes were not damaged.
However, our boys’ home in Tuscaloosa is currently without power, water, sewage service, and phone service. We have assessed their needs and are acting very quickly in getting bottled water, food, and portable toilets to them today.
While the Jasper Foster Care office is not accessible due to fallen trees and debris blocking the office entrance, the Jasper office staff has gone to the Tuscaloosa home to offer assistance and to help check on all our foster families affected by the storms.
Please pray for the safety of one of our foster families west of Tuscaloosa who have four children placed in their care. We are still in the process of trying to contact them.
Prayers are also needed for our staff members in Tuscaloosa – one of whom was with the boys at the group home for the past 24 hours and whose home was completely destroyed by the tornado.
Our boys’ home in Florence and our girls’ home in Scottsboro are also without power but do have water, phones, food, and generator capabilities.
Power has been restored the Birmingham Babies First home, and no damage was experienced there.
We are asking for financial assistance to help cover these costs from anyone who can send a contribution today. (Designate your gifts to “Storm Response.”)
We will continue to update you on our boys in Tuscaloosa, staff, and foster families. Any contributions you can send will help us tremendously to get us through this difficult time.
Posted by: Amy @ 4:43 pm
Annual Buzz Carter Easter Egg Hunt Keeps on Hoppin’
The Annual UMCH Easter Egg Hunt at Camp Sumatanga was a big success again this year thanks to the enthusiastic support and involvement of several churches and volunteers. Each of our UMCH group homes were represented by residents and staff who enjoyed the festivities. The weekend was once again organized by Clyde and Brenda Cork; and four churches - Gardendale-Mt. Vernon, Alabaster First, Christ Harbor, and the Beacon - all provided resources and volunteers to ensure the event’s success.
The service on Friday night was led by Christ Harbor UMC staff and youth with the sermon given by former Alabama football player Martin Houston. Following the Easter Egg Hunt, all UMCH children received backpacks filled with toiletries, and those who found the golden eggs received luggage. Thank you so much to all the organizers and volunteers who make this special event happen!
Easter Baskets Everywhere!
UMCH also appreciates the churches and groups that made it possible for all children in this ministry’s care - including our residential group homes, foster care, and family preservation programs throughout Alabama and west Florida - to receive an Easter basket. It means a lot to our kids as well as our staff that all of the children we serve received an Easter surprise. Thank you all for your friendship and support!
These generous gestures for UMCH’s children were made by the following:
UMW of Jackson UMC, AL
Fairview UMC, Birmingham, AL
Florence First UMC, AL
Donda Goodson
Guild Circle of Myrtle Grove UMC, Pensacola, FL
Oakmont UMC, Birmingham, AL
Pathfinder Class & Progressors Class of First UMC, Dothan, AL
Trinity UMC, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Trinity UMC, Tuscaloosa, AL
UMW of Scottsboro First UMC, AL
On February 13th, Libby, a young member of First UMC Marianna, in Marianna, Florida, presented the United Methodist Children’s Home with her collection of 93 stuffed animals so they could give comfort to the children in our ministry’s care. Libby was presented with a certificate of appreciation that Sunday for her thoughtful gift by Robert Powell, Outreach Specialist for Alabama and west Florida. Below is Libby’s letter to UMCH describing her thoughts behind her gift. Thank you, Libby!
Dear United Methodist Children’s Home,
It’s time for me to give away my stuffed animals. I’ve finally decided that I don’t need my animals anymore. It’s time because I don’t play with them and they’ll just collect dust. I got my collection from family members, friends, and lots from my Papa. After many years, I had more than I bothered to count.
Next year I’ll be in high school and it just came to me one day that it’s time to give up my collection. I don’t want to give them to be sold. I want to give them as gifts from me. The United Methodist Children’s Home is the perfect recipient. Papa always supported the United Methodist Children’s Home with his monetary gifts, and I thought it would be cool to give my support to the United Methodist Children’s Home by sharing some other gifts of Papa’s.
My Papa gave me so much love and part of it he showed by giving me stuffed animals. Now that he is gone, I feel that I need to share his love by giving away my animals to others.
I’m looking forward and leaving behind the chapter of my life where I was Papa’s little girl. Now I don’t see myself as his little girl anymore. I see myself as Papa’s young lady.
I hope the children of the Children’s Home enjoy these animals as much as I have.
Love,
Libby
Posted by: Amy @ 9:37 am
Many of UMCH’s friends have tirelessly collected Campbell’s Soup labels for years, and we truly appreciate your efforts on behalf of our ministry’s children. Because the time required to count and redeem the thousands of soup labels sent to us is prohibitive for our small staff, and because most all items available through this program benefit schools rather than our residential facilities, UMCH and its program locations are no longer accepting labels as of January, 1, 2011.
We have found schools near UMCH program locations that collect labels so we can pass along their contact information to anyone who wishes to continue collecting. Please call Cherry Johnson, UMCH Outreach Specialist for north Alabama, at (205) 983-1056, or Robert Powell, UMCH Outreach Specialist for south Alabama and west Florida, at (334) 718-2193, to learn more about the schools collecting labels in your area. Thank you!
Posted by: Amy @ 3:35 pm
You are invited to drop by, enjoy some refreshments, and meet the UMCH Scottsboro Group Home residents and staff! We would love to give you a tour of this residential girls’ home and tell you about this ministry’s programs. Come learn more about how the United Methodist Children’s Home helps children in need of care and guidance.
Date: May 1, 2011
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Scottsboro Group Home
104 Hamlin Street
Scottsboro, Alabama 35768
For more information and directions call Cherry Johnson, UMCH Outreach Specialist for North Alabama, at (205) 983-1056 or send an email to cherry@umch.net.
Posted by: Amy @ 3:26 pm
You have the opportunity to make United Methodist Children’s Home a big winner by participating in the Regions Tradition Birdies for Charity program. We will receive every single penny of the donations generated on our behalf! Additionally, you have a chance to win great prizes when you pitch in to help us! Simply make a pledge of $0.02 or more per birdie or make a flat pledge of $10 or more.
To create additional excitement, the Regions Tradition is giving you the chance to “Guess the Birdies” that will be made during the tournament by the Champions Tour Players! The donors who guess the correct amount of birdies are entered into a drawing to win the “Stay & Play Package” at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, FL! It is expected that around 800 birdies are going to be made based on past tournaments. There will also be weekly give-a-ways every Friday for all donors with great prizes such as restaurant gift certificates, tickets to local sporting events, and even a $1,000 gift certificate to Diamonds Direct!
Why is your pledge important? The top ten organizations that raise the most money will receive additional funds from the Regions Tradition. The top 10 charities get “Bonus Bucks” with the top charity receiving $10,000 from the Regions Tradition.
Help us make that goal by pledging here.
Thank you for your support of UMCH!
Posted by: Amy @ 3:07 pm
Christ UMC of Mobile’s Annual Charity Car Show was incredibly successful again this year with over $11,000 in proceeds being donated to the United Methodist Children’s Home! This fantastic family event on Saturday, March 12th, featured 200 hot rods, antique cars and trucks, motorcycles, and specialty vehicles. The Christ UMC Car Club organized the event with the help of two dozen Christ UMC volunteers who also directed traffic and parking that day.
All of the food for the concession stands was donated, and another dozen Christ UMC volunteers cooked and sold the concessions with the proceeds benefiting UMCH.
Jim McKnight, Christ UMC Car Club member and Children’s Home Advocate for Christ UMC says the crowd was estimated to be between 3,500 and 4,000 people, “It was fantastic!” Mr. McKnight continued, “We were glad to do it.”
Christ UMC’s 2010 and 2011 car show proceeds donated to UMCH total over $20,000! Thank you, Christ UMC of Mobile!
Posted by: Amy @ 11:20 am
Bring your mothers, sisters, and friends to the annual luncheon fundraiser benefiting the United Methodist Children’s Home’s Birmingham Babies First program! The event will be at 11:30 AM on Saturday, April 16th, at the Brandon Ministry Center in Florence, Alabama. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00 with registration for the luncheon from 11:00-11:30 AM that day. You may also reserve your space now by sending a check made out to “North Alabama Conference” to:
Brandon Ministry Center
c/o Pam Storz
1701 Cole Avenue
Florence, AL 35630
When your check is received, a name tag will be made and waiting for you on the day of the luncheon and will be your ticket. The entire cost of the food this year has been donated by Mike and Jane Stonbraker. Mike is District Superintendent of the Northwest District. Thank you, Jane and Mike!
Directions to Brandon Ministry Center:
From Birmingham take I-65N to Cullman then 157N to Muscle Shoals. Turn right on 133N to Florence. Take the first exit after bridge onto Veterans and go straight through the exit ramp light onto Ironside. Turn right on Cole Avenue.
For more information contact Jane Stonbraker at jgstonbraker@comcast.net
Posted by: Amy @ 6:01 pm
Tony Caminiti of Fairhope, Alabama, was presented the James Award by Alabama-West Florida Conference United Methodist Men president John Croft at Fairhope UMC’s UMM meeting on February 16th. Tony was honored by his local unit, conference, Southeast Jurisdiction and the United Methodist Children’s Home for organizing and sponsoring the annual UMM softball tournament benefiting UMCH. In the ten years of its existence, the tournament has raised over $22,000 for UMCH.
The James Award was created by the Southeastern Jurisdiction of United Methodist Men to honor local church members who are “doers of the word and not hearers only . . .” (James 1:22). For more information on the James Award, go to www.sejumm.org.
The 11th Annual United Methodist Men’s Softball Tournament benefiting UMCH will be held Saturday, June 18, 2011, at Trione Park in Daphne, Alabama. Please call Tony Caminiti at 251-591-8007 or email him at stcaminiti@gmail.com for more information. Please click here to read about last year’s tournament winners.
Tony Caminiti, left, receives James Award from John Croft, right
The UMCH family was saddened to hear of the passing of former UMCH President/CEO Roy McLaughlin, III, this weekend in Selma, Alabama, after a long illness. Mr. McLoughlin was a member of Church Street UMC and served as UMCH President/CEO from 1977-2002. Throughout the years, his heart for children and his Christ-like love made a difference in the lives of so many children. Please join us in praying for his wife June, their children, Kim and Jeff, and their extended family. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the United Methodist Children’s Home, Church Street United Methodist Church, or Cahaba Hospice.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 8th, at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma.
We ask that our community in Christ be in prayer for our staff and moms in our Babies First home in Mobile. Early Thursday morning (Jan. 27th), one of our young mothers lost her newborn son at only 6 weeks old. Please join us in praying for comfort for Hollie, Thelma, Sophia, Ellen, Kristin, Blondine, Franscella, Jessica, and Rev. Lonna Lynn. We are grateful to the Pastoral team sent from Christ UMC in Mobile, who went to the Mobile Babies First home to offer their care to our staff, moms and babies dealing with this tragic loss.
Posted by: Amy @ 3:56 pm
In our mission to serve children and struggling families, the United Methodist Children’s Home ministry works with families in crisis to resolve issues and prevent children from being placed in out-of-home care. Unfortunately, it sometimes becomes unavoidable that the children in these troubled situations must be removed from their home. Consequently, in addition to residential group homes, UMCH provides foster care programs throughout dozens of counties in Alabama and west Florida with offices in Jasper, Dothan, and Andalusia, Alabama, and Milton, Florida.
Foster care placements are intended to be short-term while UMCH staff works the child’s family until they can be reunited in a healthy situation for all. In the meantime, UMCH foster parents provide a nurturing family-like environment for the children in our care. The UMCH Foster Care program is a vital component of our mission that includes four major parts: foster parent training, foster home licensure and approval, placement of children, and supervision of children in our care. UMCH’s Foster Care program also has three levels of care: Basic, Therapeutic, and Enhanced:
Basic Foster Care provides private homes for children who are unable to live with their own families. Any child identified by county authorities to have been abused or neglected may be placed in our foster homes.
Therapeutic Foster Care provides specially trained and certified private homes for children who require one on one attention. This program supports homes that can provide more structure and a more intensive family involvement than regular foster homes and serves children whose special needs cannot be met through less restrictive foster care resources.
Enhanced Foster Care provides private homes for groups of four or more siblings who are unable to live with their own families. UMCH does its best to keep sibling groups together so that after they suffer the trauma of being separated from their home and family, they won’t have to endure the added trauma of being separated from each other.
Being a foster parent takes a special type of person, and UMCH provides training and lots of encouragement along the way to support these extraordinary families.
Meet UMCH’s Defuniak Springs Foster Families
Jason and Kristen Howell had thought about being foster parents for a while, but when Marilyn Benham, a fellow member at Defuniak Springs UMC (FL) decided to recruit a group to go through foster parent training together, they agreed it was time. Michael and Michelle Schack, parents of four young children and members of Defuniak Springs UMC for five years, felt “a fire was lit to help God’s children.”
Michelle says, “We thought ‘What are we blessed with? What can we share?’ We have a child-friendly home, we’re already cooking for six, and the range of ages of our children gives pretty much any child someone to bond with.”
“We were nervous and skeptical, and you don’t feel you’re equipped. Being put in charge of someone else’s children is a big responsibility.” Michelle continues, “I had to listen to my gut, and not shut any doors. I had a conviction that there is a baby who needs me.”
The Howells and the Schacks ultimately went through MAPP training with Kristin Webb, UMCH Regional Director for West Florida Foster Care, and then completed their home study program including interviews with the families’ children. MAPP, which stands for Model Approach for Partnership in Parenting, is 24 hours of training which usually takes eight weeks to complete. Some classes take place on weekends, so the training is not always eight weeks straight. The Howells feel Kristin was “very supportive and helpful” as they progressed through their training.
Michelle Schack says, “Kristin took us step by step through the training and incorporated her own experiences so we could retain it. She kept it light and fun and gave helpful parenting techniques that have helped us in our own family.”
The Howells, parents of a three-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, became licensed in December and had two toddler girls placed in their care that same month. The Schacks were licensed in November and just had an 18-month-old boy placed with them in mid-January.
Both couples enjoy participating in their young adult Sunday school class activities like bowling nights, so four staff members from Defuniak Springs UMC’s child care facility completed a background screening and can now provide babysitting for the couples’ foster children when needed. Defuniak Springs UMC’s pastor Rob West says the Sunday school class is “very close, and they stay in touch frequently through Facebook.”
The entire Defuniak Springs UMC congregation has also been very supportive of both foster families through this process, and some church members even ensured the Howells had enough money for Christmas gifts and donated toys.
Taking on two foster children has had its difficult moments for the Howells because there has been some competition between the children closest in age. Kristen Howell says of UMCH West Florida Foster Care staff members Kristin Webb and Tammie Candiano, “They have been there to help me and support me. I rely on them for support and to talk about issues. Kristin tells me it’s okay to learn and know what family dynamics will fit.”
Even though this first foster care experience was more challenging than they expected, the Howells want to continue with foster care. The Schacks have just begun their first foster placement and are happy with their decision to become a foster family.
Michelle says, “Every child is different, every experience is different. We’ll take it one day at a time and see where it leads us.”
The United Methodist Children’s Home is very proud of the growing number of families like the Howells and the Schacks who open their hearts and homes to children in need. All of our programs are actively recruiting families who are interested in partnering with UMCH to provide care for children in their homes.
Posted by: Amy @ 2:53 pm
Throughout the year, the UMCH ministry continues to receive many generous displays of amazing support for our children in all of our group homes, foster care and family preservation programs. Thank you does not begin to cover the gratitude we feel - each and every deed and gift is deeply appreciated! UMCH is truly blessed to have so many wonderful, faithful supporters who bolster our ministry’s efforts to improve the lives of children in need. Thank you so much for your tremendous support!
The following list is an attempt to acknowledge all of the churches, Sunday school classes, and other organizations or individuals who gave monetary donations, provided gifts or dinners, or volunteered at UMCH group homes and programs. This will be an ongoing list, so it will be updated if anyone has been left off accidentally.
Gifts/events for all eight residential group homes or other UMCH program:
The Annual UMCH Easter Egg Hunt at Camp Sumatanga was a big success again this year thanks to the enthusiastic support and involvement of several churches and volunteers. The weekend was once again organized by Clyde and Brenda Cork; and four churches - Gardendale-Mt. Vernon, Alabaster First, Christ Harbor, and the Beacon - all provided resources and volunteers to ensure the event’s success.
UMCH also appreciates the churches and groups that made it possible for all children in this ministry’s care - including our residential group homes, foster care, and family preservation programs throughout Alabama and west Florida - to receive an Easter basket. It means a lot to our kids as well as our staff that all of the children we serve received an Easter surprise. Thank you all for your friendship and support!
These generous gestures for UMCH’s children were made by the following:
UMW of Jackson UMC, AL
Fairview UMC, Birmingham, AL
Florence First UMC, AL
Donda Goodson
Guild Circle of Myrtle Grove UMC, Pensacola, FL
Oakmont UMC, Birmingham, AL
Pathfinder Class & Progressors Class of First UMC, Dothan, AL
Trinity UMC, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Trinity UMC, Tuscaloosa, AL
UMW of Scottsboro First UMC, AL
Joan Burden and the sewing circle from Frazer UMC, Montgomery, AL, regularly deliver batches of beautful clothes they have created for UMCH children.
A child from a UMCH FOCUS family wears one of the Frazer sewing circle’s creations.
Libby, a youth from First UMC of Marianna, FL donated her collection of 93 stuffed animals for UMCH children to enjoy.
Tony Caminiti, of Fairhope, Alabama, organizes and sponsors the annual UMM softball tournament benefiting UMCH in June each year. In the last ten years of its existence, the tournament has raised over $22,000 for UMCH.
Millbrook
UMC and youth – Christmas party and gift cards for all of the group homesDexter Avenue UMC – Messiah Sing-along offering collected $833.00 for UMCH (approximately $2,500 has been collected over the past 5 years through the Sing-along for UMCH).
Jackson UMC – Christmas gift cards for each child in the group homes, UMW has also given Easter baskets for many years
Prattville UMC – personalized pillowcases filled with goodies for all group home residents
Prattville UMC Angel Tree – Christmas gifts for a family of five adopted siblings
145th Battalion Aviation Regiment commanded by LTC Mikael Ash from Fort Rucker, AL - angel tree for UMCH Southeast Therapeutic Foster Care in Dothan and for the Headland Group Home (The Settlement).
Birmingham Babies First - Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Quilt Guild, Pinson, AL, gave eight baby quilts they created
Church at Cahaba Bend, Helena, AL
Liberty Crossing, Birmingham, AL
Sylacauga First UMC, Sylacauga, AL
Trinity UMC, Homewood, AL
On November 7th, several groups from Trinity UMC of Birmingham sponsored a baby shower for the new moms at Birmingham Babies First. Groups included Circle 3, Circle 4, Ascend Sunday School, Gamos Sunday School, Journeys Sunday School, and the Trinity Office.
Vestavia UMC, Vestavia Hills, AL
Renee Robinson’s first grade class from Victory Christian School in Pell City adopted a new mom and baby at BBF and presented them with a new baby swing and other gifts
Crestview Group Home - Crestview, FL
Bethel United Methodist Church, Crestview, FL
First United Methodist Church, Crestview, FL
The Crestview, FL, Wal-Mart donated clothing
The ERA Realtor of Crestview, FL will be donating I-PODS to the children
Florence Group Home - Florence, AL
Chip and Sallie Timme have spearheaded campaigns at Madison United Methodist Church to provide the Scottsboro and Florence group homes with in-kind items and groceries.
Headland Group Home (The Settlement) and Transitional Living Program - Headland, AL
The 145th Battalion Aviation Regiment commanded by LTC Mikael Ash from Fort Rucker, AL - angel tree for UMCH Southeast Therapeutic Foster Care in Dothan and for the Headland Group Home (The Settlement). Along with the gifts for each of the children, a Play Station 3 was also given to the group home. LTC Ash is also committed to do maintenance on UMCH buildings at the Headland Group Home, and his regiment is going to provide some tutoring and mentoring for the boys at the group home. The Battalion has 2,200 Warrant Officers in it. Thank you, 145th!
Southeast TFC Supervisor Patsy Liveoak with LTC Ash and a major from the regiment.
Beasley Allen Law Firm presented the Headland Group Home with a Wii gaming system in its year-long “Wii Give Back!” campaign.
First UMC Dothan – Tuesday night dinners and painting and redecorating
David and Maurine Johnston – First UMC Dothan.� Maurine is also a UMCH Board Member.
Bethel UMC – UMW and UMM
First UMC of Ozark John Wesley Foundation Class at Ozark First UMC
Knights for Christ
Winslet UMC
WELB radio station in Elba
Highland Park UMC
Timothy and Virginia Hornsby, Headland, AL
Clifford and Ann Garner
Scott and Pem Helms – Christmas Eve cookout
CDR 1-14 5th Avian Regiment, Building 5911, Fort Rucker led by CW2 Brian J. Blume
Paul and Elizabeth Hudson, Troy, AL – flat screen TV
Gayle Nelson & AFS Women’s Group, Columbia, AL
Wise Mill Assembly Of God Church, Elba
Northwest Therapeutic Foster Care - Jasper, AL
First United Methodist Church in Jasper, AL, hosts an annual Christmas party for Jasper TFC led by Children’s Director Angie Lewis and Pastor Tex Ergle, where they provide dinner for the foster parents and children, and Santa presents everyone with gifts.
Bible study group from Cornerstone UMC in Auburn, AL, gave five sisters in our Jasper TFC a sleigh-full of Christmas gifts from their wish lists.� The Bible study is led by Nic Cofield.
Mobile Babies First - Mobile, AL
Toulminville/ Warren St. UMC
Jim and Becky McKnight and David and Lavonna Vesely from Christ UMC volunteer regularly and brought Christmas gifts from Christ UMC.
Fellowship SSC from Christ UMC donated time and money to help redecorate the Mobile group home.
Scottsboro Group Home - Scottsboro, AL
Center Springs UMW - quilts for girls
Chip and Sallie Timme have spearheaded campaigns at Madison United Methodist Church to provide the Scottsboro and Florence group homes with in-kind items and groceries.
Tuscaloosa Group Home and Transitional Living Program - Tuscaloosa, AL
Montgomery First UMC (Children’s Council Holiday Hopela) – new towels
St Mark UMC, Jenkins SSC, Northport, AL
Forest Lake UMC, Night Circle
David and Terry Foster
Northside Lions Club
Just Cooking - monthly dinners
Gulf Coast Group Home - Milton, FL
Destin UMC
Cokesbury UMC, Pensacola, FL
Corry Station military community (a Naval training base, Pensacola, FL)
Pine Forest UMC
Jim Robinson Sunday school class from Gadsden Street UMC has been providing Christmas gifts for 20 years
Piecemakers Quilt Guild gave each of the residents their own quilt to keep
Mount Carmel UMC in Jay, FL, provided gifts the girls received on Christmas.
Rev. Joe McKinney, pastor of Mt. Carmel UMC in Jay, Florida, is an extremely supportive Advisory Board member as well as foster parent in our UMCH Florida Foster Care Program with his wife Katie.
The Myrtle Grove Guild Circle gave a much needed mixer, baking pans and utensils and cookie cutters, and a George Foreman grill.
Myrtle Grove UMC - UMM hosted residents and staff at their annual Christmas banquet where the girls each received a beautiful wooden angel with an inspirational saying on it.
Member of the Advisory Board, Alice Benson, and other members of the women’s guild from Myrtle Grove UMC have helped our girls at the group home celebrate countless holidays by bringing baskets full of goodies every other month for many years.
The youth group from St Luke UMC in Pensacola invited our girls to join their youth group for a progressive dinner on Dec 17th.
Latham Chapel UMC - UMW took residents and staff out to lunch at Hemingway’s on Pensacola Beach
St. Andrews UMC, Brandon, FL, regularly provides care packages
Gulf Breeze UMC, Gulf Breeze, FL, has sent their youth group to do yard work at the group home
First UMC of Pace, FL, has hosted dinners on Wednesday nights
Mrs. Billie Salter, First UMC of Jay, Florida, has collected thousands of soup can labels and conducted a quilt raffle to raise money for UMCH and the Gulf Coast Group Home.
Henry and Jane Roberts - Jane serves on the UMCH Board of Directors as well as the Gulf Coast Group Home’s Advisory Board, and Henry, an architect, donated his services to build the group home.
Dr. Noel Spurlock, a dentist in Pace, Florida, has provided free dental care for our girls, including some major restorative work, for over 16 years, and has paid for the group home’s lawn care for over 11 years. Dr. Spurlock has been on the Advisory Board for the group home about two years now.
Linda Sanborn, a member of the Gulf Coast Group Home Advisory Board, and other members of Christ UMC in Milton, Florida, have provided pizza and birthday presents for our girls every quarter for years. Linda’s husband Mike even donated his time and materials to enclose the Gulf Coast Group Home’s patio for extra living space.
Mark Sopris is a member of the Advisory Board and Woodbine UMC of Pace, Florida. This church’s youth have done maintenance at the group home, and the church membership have provided weeks’ worth of youth camp for our girls, who have also volunteered on projects with the Woodbine youth.
Thank you all for everything you have done for the children! We really appreciate all your efforts, and those of anyone we may have failed to mention so far. Thank you!Posted by: Amy @ 1:21 pm
On Saturday, December 11th, Millbrook First UMC in Millbrook, Alabama, hosted the UMCH Christmas party for all of the residential group home residents. A fantastic Christmas dinner was provided and served by Millbrook members and youth, and a special blessing was prayed for each group home as well as the staff. Santa and Mrs. Claus were also on hand to present each UMCH child and staff member with a Christmas gift card. The festivities then moved over to the Millbrook First UMC Youth Building where Millbrook and UMCH youth played ping pong, pool, air hockey, and four-square. Thank you, Millbrook First, for a fun-filled afternoon!
UMCH Staff from the Crestview, Tuscaloosa, Headland, and Birmingham Babies First Group Homes with Santa
Headland resident William
Santa and Mrs. Claus
Millbrook First UMC elves served Christmas dinner
Tuscaloosa resident Jeremy plays pool at the Millbrook First UMC Youth Building
Posted by: Amy @ 11:50 am
Come by and meet the staff at our United Methodist Children’s Home Christmas Open House at our Montgomery Headquarters on Sunday, December 5th, from 2 PM - 5 PM. We’ll have refreshments and fun holiday fellowship, so stop by to celebrate the Christmas season with us! Our Headquarters address is 3140 Zelda Court, Montgomery, Alabama. If you need directions, please call 334-386-5354.