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Loosening The Shackles Of Poverty
Virginia Beach, Virginia -- It's a bumpy ride into Trailer City. The narrow community road is riddled with potholes. Trailer homes in various conditions align the pathway up to Reaching Our Community's headquarters. It's a Friday morning in May and more than ten women living in low-income households eagerly sit at a table inside the classroom-made trailer waiting for the weekly life skills lesson.
Mother's Day gifts marked each place setting. Happy chatter quieted as Melanie, volunteer Project WIN coordinator, began the morning's full 1-hour schedule with an object lesson. Referring to Psalm 91 and donated Ty Toy goats sitting on the table. "We can be as stubborn as this goat sometimes, but we need to let down our guard and let God in," shared the 24-year-old Regent University business and divinity graduate student.
Representatives of the Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters' Child Life Program then addressed the participants. They discussed how to care for their children's asthma attacks and know how to identify a real episode from a false one. Having been in and out of emergency rooms with her older asthmatic son, Kim was thankful for the discussion time so additional questions could be asked. As a single mother of two and faithful attendee, Kim has made determined steps toward providing for her children. In the last year, she was able to move out of Trailer City, acquire a car, finish a GED and now plans on attending college this coming fall. She comments, "These classes make me feel like somebody cares and that what I do is important."
Encouraging low-income familes in leading healthy lifestyles, this Reaching Our Communities 6-month Project WIN program has been supported by Operation Blessing and Revival Soy. Topics discussed have included domestic violence, proper nutrition and exercise. As an added benefit, free lunch and a bag of groceries are given to the students at the conclusion of each class. In the weeks to come Project WIN classes will cover anger management and keeping a household budget. "These classes build a spirit of community," Melanie expresses. "I have already seen a growing maturity. The future of these lady's children depend on their parent's development. Every life has an amazing purpose."
In addition to facilitating the Project WIN program, Reaching Our Communities participates in Operation Blessing's Back-To-School, Bless-A-Child and Holiday programs. Join with us in reaching our communities around the world in loosening the shackles of poverty. Give a gift today!
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