Dear Friends,
Last Tuesday evening the Consistory voted to make the PAL Youth Center a ministry of Lynnhurst UCC during the academic year of 2019 – 2020 with the hope that we will continue the program in the coming years. The PAL Key Leader Board will be hiring two people to run this program: a Program Director for 19 hours a week and an assistant for 15 hours a week. Hiring these two people will mean we do not have to find volunteers to work with the youth every afternoon. We will still be looking for people to provide snacks occasionally, share their careers or skills, and serve as mentors to the youth.
We are still waiting to hear about grant funding for the program and we are still applying for community grants to fund this entire program. We have applied for a Metro United Way BLOCS grant of $10,000, an ASAP grant of $3,000 and a Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence grant of $50,000. We will also be asking our members and friends to pledge weekly or monthly to this ministry. As we receive more information about these grants we will keep you informed.
Joni Jenkins, Kathy Matheny, Rick Matheny and I will serve on the community board to oversee this program, hire staff and assist the staff in running the program. If you are interested in serving on this board please let us know.
Thank you for you support of this important ministry that gives the students of Iroquois High School a safe place to go after school during the hours that most young people are at risk of dangerous or disruptive behavior. We are moving towards being the community center in this neighborhood.
Blessings on the journey,