| In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Acts 20:35 |
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ABCCM Women & Children’s Shelter Story
April, 2008
Hello Friends,
A heartwarming success story this month touched 11 women’s lives -- thanks to Lauren Glass and her Asheville Jr. League colleagues. Lauren, along with Allyson Rollins, Lisa McQueen and Jean Sexton, taught the “Jobs for Life” program for the last 9 weeks.
Thanks to Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church and their multipurpose rooms, the classes were taught off site which allowed both the teachers and their students this “semester” to really concentrate in their own dedicated space. This Christian-based jobs readiness program provided fruit, chips and snacks for the ladies each class, great speakers from AB Tech, Goodwill Industries and Job Link to help connect them to CNA and GED classes. They helped the women create or revise resumes, list 10 positive character traits and weave those positive affirmations into a “60 second commercial” to increase self-esteem and help them with direct interviewing skills.
One of the teachers donated new business suits for the ladies to wear to their job interviews. Aside from teaching the women to think about their short and long term goals in a structured and welcoming environment, the ladies shared honestly some of their struggles, obstacles, joys, triumphs and how God has been molding them into the women He wants them to be.
The investment from both the Jr. League “teachers” and their “students” of time, energy, hard work, encouragement and love could be seen in the lives of the ladies on their graduation April 14th. The graduation was a grand affair. Reverend Scott Rogers offered congratulations and encouragement to all. A speaker from UNCA read a poem, “The Invitation” which inspired all and a copy of the poem was given to the women as a wonderful memento. A catered feast from Ianucci’s Italian restaurant was provided by the Jr. League for the women and their invited guests. They also gave each graduate a gift bag full of “girlie things” along with a potted plant and a beautiful graduation certificate.
In this year’s mission of transforming lives, the collaboration of the Jr. League and ABCCM Women & Children’s Shelter did just that. Together we transformed lives, impacted lives, challenged lives to live new stories and look to the future with faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love.
Barbara Collins-Director
Volunteer Today
For more information on our ABCCM services
please email or call us at (828) 259-5300. |
