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Letter of Encouragement
What - Write a letter to teenage boys in the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center
Received by: October 28
Guidelines for Letters [since they are going to a detention center]:- messages of hope
- words of encouragement
- can include Bible verses/prayers
- think about the kids in your groups, clubs and school and what they would need to hear!
- can be half a page or a full page
- no stickers or glitter or any other embellishment
- can have drawings but no crowns, 5-pointed stars, SpongeBob, sports logos, etc. do not use red or blue paper
- do not sign with any last names, addresses or any personal information.
Gardening/Weeding at Genesis:
The Genesis playground needs some 'green thumbs' to assist in pulling weeds, trimming plants and general maintenence of the garden areas. Contact Melanie Gehrt for information: melanie.gehrt@ctrcc.com
Sanitizing Volunteers at CtR:
If your family is comfortable attending the weekend Masses and looking for an opportunity to serve please consider serving as a "Sanitizing Volunteer"- Please use this link to sign up so that we are aware of who will be serving at each Mass.
- All volunteers must be in good health and have no symptoms related to COVID-19.
- All volunteers must wear masks.
- Volunteers will need to arrive one hour prior to Mass and enter through the Huffmeister side doors. There is a lead sanitizer for each Mass. Your family will check-in/sign-in at the Parlor (there is a sign-in sheet) and the lead sanitizer will explain what to do.
- If you can bring your own gloves, that would be handy (pun intended, haha).
- Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Other Ideas:- Make Thank-You Cards or Thank You Letters for First Responders [Hospital workers (including cleaning crews), Firefighters, Police, etc.]. For Baylor College of Medicine - Mail to: Michelle Kelly; 1977 Butler Blvd E6.100; Houston TX 77030
- Contact a nursing/retirement facility and schedule video chats with residents.
- Find out who in your neighborhood is on the 'front lines' [hospital, fire, police, delivery drivers,etc.] and make them a nice meal with dessert and leave with a 'thank you' note [make sure they are home when delivering!].
- Help a single parent and/or elderly resident in your neighborhood with chores such as mowing and edging the lawn, power washing the driveway, pulling weeds and cleaning landscaped areas, wash exterior doors and windows.
- If you know how to keep yourself safe, CAM is in need of volunteers at the food pantry.
The key during this time is to be creative! You may attach photos of you performing the service if email verification is not possible [in lieu of a signature ]. Here is a list of great service ideas.
Please reach out to Cypress Assistance Ministries and Cy Hope to find out how you can help. Both need volunteers as they serve more and more families during this uncertain time.
*CAM volunteers need to be 16 years old to volunteer by themselves, otherwise they must be accompanied by a parent or group.
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Sanitizing Volunteers at CtR:
If your family is comfortable attending the weekend Masses and looking for an opportunity to serve please consider serving as a "Sanitizing Volunteer"- Please use this link to sign up so that we are aware of who will be serving at each Mass.
- All volunteers must be in good health and have no symptoms related to COVID-19.
- All volunteers must wear masks.
- Volunteers will need to arrive one hour prior to Mass and enter through the Huffmeister side doors. There is a lead sanitizer for each Mass. Your family will check-in/sign-in at the Parlor (there is a sign-in sheet) and the lead sanitizer will explain what to do.
- If you can bring your own gloves, that would be handy (pun intended, haha).
- Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Examples of Ongoing Projects:- Tutor a fellow student for a semester or a school year
- Assist with swim meets throughout an entire season [keeping time, setting up lanes, check-in]
- Coach a youth sports team [YMCA, Special Olympics, your own sport program, etc.]
- Assist a teacher through an entire year [organize the classroom, file papers, assist in grading papers, etc.]
- Visit an assisted living home at least once a month
- Volunteer with an animal rescue group at least once a month
- Visit a childrens hospital once a month [play video games, play board games, read, etc.]
Description: Assist RE by writing notes of Encouragement
Date: Writing letters/notes of encouragement to our R.E. families/children 3-4 times during this year.
Contact: Sign up by joining the sign up genius here
Description: CtR Youth Singers, Grades 8-12
Date: Rehearsals on Mondays 7-8:30pm, Twice a month at 11am Mass
Contact: Bridget Wenk, bridget.wenk@ctrcc.com, or show up to rehearsals
Description: CtR Choristers, Grades 3-8
Date: Rehearsals on Mondays 5-6:30pm, Twice a month at 11am Mass
Contact: Bridget Wenk, bridget.wenk@ctrcc.com, or show up to rehearsals
Description: Greeter for any of the Saturday/Sunday Mass times
Date: Saturdays and Sundays during the Masses (open enrollment closes November 1, 2019) New Server Training Sunday, November 3 at 12:30pm
Contact: Caroline Champness, champness@comcast.net; please text "CTRCC" to 84576 to join the Greeter group, then select "How to Join" and Caroline will help you from that point.
Description: Assist with Children's Liturgy of the Word during 9am and 11am Mass. Teens can receive credit for an ongoing project if they attend 12 sessions and an occasional project if they attend 3 sessions through out the school year. Sign up to be a reader or crowd control via the Sign-Up Genius link below.
Date: Sundays during the 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Masses
Contact: Megan Schulz, schulz0526@gmail.com or sign-up by clicking here
Description: Play a musical instrument with the Contemporary Choir. One practice during the week is required. Visit the music page on the CtR website for details.
Date: Sunday at the 5 p.m. Mass
Contact: Mark Dolce, dolce.tm@att.net
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Organizations to contact about service needs [both ongoing and occasionally]:
Note that many of these require an adult to attend with the student. These are in no particular order. If you know of another organization looking for volunteers, contact Stacie to add them to this page.
Organization: Wreaths Across America (WAA)
Description: Place wreaths on the graves of fallen US Soldiers at the Houston National Cemetery - Major holidays
Contact: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
Organization: Loaves and Fishes
Description: Soup kitchen located downtown
Contact: Ann Justus, ajustus@mhihouston.org
Organization: Mamie George
Description: Food Fair once a month in Richmond
Contact: Dottie Mateman, dbateman@catholiccharities.org
Organization: Krause Center
Description: Rhabiliation center for juvenile teens. Female's only
Contact: Alicia Jarrett, alicia.jarrett@upbring.org
Organization: Heritage Park
Description: Nursing Home
Contact: Katie Simonson, katie.simonson@hpkaty.com
Organization: Houston Food Bank
Description: Food distribution center
Contact: Eunice Bank, eubanks@houstonfoodbank.org
Organization: Brookwood
Description: Home for special needs adults
Contact: Greg Glauser, gregg@brookwoodcommunity.org
Organization: St. Vincent de Paul
Description: Thrift Store and Food Bank, downtown
Contact: volunteer@svdphouston.org
Organization: Ballard House
Description: Place for Cancer patients undergoing treatments
Contact: 281-717-4670
Organization: Reach Unlimited
Description: School for special needs adults in Cypress
Contact: Lora Clack, lclack@reachunlimited.org
Organization: The Beacon
Description: A center for homeless meals, showers and laundry service
Contact: Ron Marshall, rmarshall@beaconhomeless.org
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VBS Information for 2020
Are you available to walk with us for 2020 Virtual VBS?
We will open registration on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 9:00 am for the following:
3 teen options (Fall 2020 Confirmation I or II and RISE 8th Grade students)
1 adult option (18 or older by July 1, 2020)
Registrations will be on a first come first served basis. When we are full we will begin a waiting list for those that have registered. We will continue to update those who have registered. As more children register to attend we will create more crews which will allow more volunteers to be used. (Do you know family or friends who would like to attend our free Virtual VBS? If so, have them go to https://ctrcc.com/vbs to register. They can live anywhere in the world.)
Please note: If you cannot accomplish all of the bullet points in the option you choose please allow others to volunteer. We are continually trying to think of ways to expand the options to include as many teens as possible. Please be patient with us and considerate of each other as we work through VBS this year.
Volunteer options:
Teen Option 1 -Theatre Production/editing (Fall 2020 Confirmation I, II, or RISE 8th grade)- Attend 1 virtual volunteer meeting (May 26 at 7:00 pm or May 28 at 7:00 pm).
- With assistance from the staff, produce videos needed for Virtual VBS. In June you will be required to work in small groups, following social distancing guidelines, to produce videos that will be put together to run VBS. This could include videos on Bible stories, KidVid productions, games, Sing and Play, Snack, etc. More information will be given during the volunteer meetings.
- Edit videos produced and submit to Linda Watso by no later than June 25 so they can be uploaded and ready for VBS in July.
Teen Option 2 - Older Teens (Fall 2020 Confirmation I or II)
- Attend 1 virtual volunteer meeting (June 27 at 10:00 am or June 30 at 7:00 pm).
- Watch all 5 days of VBS online when they are available (will be released the night before virtual crews meet but can possibly be sent ahead of time – will be discussed at meetings).
- As a team with the rest of your crew leaders digitally prepare short videos to create hype about 2020 Virtual VBS. Send to Linda Watso for approval. These will be posted on social media as well as sent to families. This will be discussed at meetings.
- As a team with the rest of your crew leaders prior to VBS email each crew member welcoming them and introducing the entire crew leader team.
- During the week of July 13, work with another older teen in a virtual room to lead the crew in discussions about VBS and how it relates to our lives during this time.
- Arrive 15 minutes early to virtual crew room and welcome children as they arrive.
- Remain in the virtual room until all of the participants have left and you have conducted your mentoring with the younger teen assigned to your room.
- Mentor a younger teen to help them achieve success at next year’s VBS program.
- Write a personal letter/card to crew members when VBS is over pointing out at least 1 good thing the person did/contributed during VBS 2020. Give these to Linda Watso no later than July 30 so they can be sent to each participant.
Teen Option 3 - Younger Teens (Fall 2020 RISE 8th grade)
- Attend 1 virtual volunteer meeting (June 27 at 10:00 am or June 30 at 7:00 pm).
- Watch all 5 days of VBS online when they are available (will be released the night before virtual crews meet but can possibly be sent ahead of time – will be discussed at meetings).
- As a team with the rest of your crew leaders digitally prepare short videos to create hype about 2020 Virtual VBS. Send to Linda Watso for approval. These will be posted on social media as well as sent to families. This will be discussed at meetings.
- As a team with the rest of your crew leaders prior to VBS email each crew member welcoming them and introducing the entire crew leader team.
- During the week of July 13, work with 2 older teens in a virtual room to lead the crew in discussions about VBS and how it relates to our lives during this time.
- Arrive 15 minutes early to virtual crew room and welcome children as they arrive.
- Remain in the virtual room until all of the participants have left and the older teens/adults in the room have answered any questions you might have or given you mentoring tips to make you more successful during next year’s VBS program.
- Write a personal letter/card to crew members when VBS is over pointing out at least 1 good thing the person did/contributed during VBS 2020. Give these to Linda Watso no later than July 30 so they can be sent to each participant.
Adult Option - 18 or older by July 1, 2020
- Attend 1 virtual volunteer meeting (June 27 at 10:00 am or June 30 at 7:00 pm).
- Watch all 5 days of VBS online when they are available (will be released the night before virtual crews meet but can possibly be sent ahead of time – will be discussed at meetings).
- Arrive 15 minutes early to virtual crew room and welcome children as they arrive.
- Monitor the virtual crew but allow the teens to lead the room. Be there to help the teens answer hard questions that might arise.
- After all participants have left the room, stay to offer pointers to the teens on things you saw that worked/didn’t work and offer any suggestions that can help the teens be successful crew leaders.
- Be up to date on your Safe Environment training with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. To register for or check your training status please go to: https://galvestonhouston.cmgconnect.org/
For more informaiton visit https://ctrcc.com/vbs
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