Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jun 21

Monday, June 20, 2011

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“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest to you.”Mother Teresa

The first day of the summer program…..by all accounts was a success. We had three work crews out, spread across the county. Two groups made the long trek to Mullens, one for soccer camp and one to work at the Itmann Food Bank. The Mullens Soccer Camp, in its eighth year, is once again being led by Zach. The first day turnout was tremendous for both the morning and afternoon sessions, and the weather was nice a cool. A great first day was had by all the volunteers.

The group at the Itmann Food Bank helped to unpack, sort and organize over 50 bags of clothes and other household items brought down by a couple of PVs from Washington DC over the weekend. By all accounts the amount of work done in just one day was amazing and very appreciated.

The third group headed out to the first home repair site of the summer. The site, about 20 minutes from the school was a house that was damaged by floods last year. Volunteers took on a number of tasks including; repairing a floor, fixing plumbing, repairing a roof and building a small ramp. A lot of work got done, but the highlight of the day was by far the food that was prepared for the volunteers by the home owner. They were greeted in the morning with homemade biscuits and gravy and homemade blackberry jam and then in the afternoon they were given homemade soup. Needless to say when the volunteers shared about their day during reflection, everyone wanted to go to that site.

It was taco night for the first night of dinner. Not only did we eat delicious tacos, but had homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Yummy!

Reflection centered around the scripture passage about the first being last and the last being inspired by the caboose that sits out in front of the school. After a beautiful reflection, we were each asked to share our new and goods from the day.

All in all the first work day of the summer program went extremely smooth. We hope this is a sign of things to come.

Jun 21

Monday, June 20, 2011

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“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest to you.”Mother Teresa

The first day of the summer program…..by all accounts was a success. We had three work crews out, spread across the county. Two groups made the long trek to Mullens, one for soccer camp and one to work at the Itmann Food Bank. The Mullens Soccer Camp, in its eighth year, is once again being led by Zach. The first day turnout was tremendous for both the morning and afternoon sessions, and the weather was nice a cool. A great first day was had by all the volunteers.

The group at the Itmann Food Bank helped to unpack, sort and organize over 50 bags of clothes and other household items brought down by a couple of PVs from Washington DC over the weekend. By all accounts the amount of work done in just one day was amazing and very appreciated.

The third group headed out to the first home repair site of the summer. The site, about 20 minutes from the school was a house that was damaged by floods last year. Volunteers took on a number of tasks including; repairing a floor, fixing plumbing, repairing a roof and building a small ramp. A lot of work got done, but the highlight of the day was by far the food that was prepared for the volunteers by the home owner. They were greeted in the morning with homemade biscuits and gravy and homemade blackberry jam and then in the afternoon they were given homemade soup. Needless to say when the volunteers shared about their day during reflection, everyone wanted to go to that site.

It was taco night for the first night of dinner. Not only did we eat delicious tacos, but had homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Yummy!

Reflection centered around the scripture passage about the first being last and the last being inspired by the caboose that sits out in front of the school. After a beautiful reflection, we were each asked to share our new and goods from the day.

All in all the first work day of the summer program went extremely smooth. We hope this is a sign of things to come.

Jun 20

Summer Program Has Begun!!!

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This weekend we kicked off what we hope will be another exciting summer. We are in a new school in Wyoming County, Huff Consolidated in Hanover, in a new part of the county. We are still ironing out some of the kinks like how to direct incoming volunteers to a specific door upon arrival (there has to be at least 7 doors into the school!) but so far our new home seems to be suiting us well. Volunteers will certainly get their exercise since the school is rather sprawling. But with all the PVs now arrived for the week, it already feels like home.

We spent yesterday, Community Day, first taking the long drive to Mass in Pineville and then playing some fun community get to know you games. After a little break we gathered with our newest PVs for an orientation to the area and the program. The whole group then feasted on a wonderful meal of burgers, veggie burgers and all the fixings. After dinner the whole group gathered once again for a reorientation.  We closed the evening with our traditional Commissioning Service, connecting us all as we begin our service.

I will be posting each day, with pictures on Saturdays, so everyone at home can follow along each week. We are experiencing some technical difficulties with our computers so some of the posts might be a little late, but just hold tight and it will be updated.

Jun 20

Summer Program Has Begun!!!

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This weekend we kicked off what we hope will be another exciting summer. We are in a new school in Wyoming County, Huff Consolidated in Hanover, in a new part of the county. We are still ironing out some of the kinks like how to direct incoming volunteers to a specific door upon arrival (there has to be at least 7 doors into the school!) but so far our new home seems to be suiting us well. Volunteers will certainly get their exercise since the school is rather sprawling. But with all the PVs now arrived for the week, it already feels like home.

We spent yesterday, Community Day, first taking the long drive to Mass in Pineville and then playing some fun community get to know you games. After a little break we gathered with our newest PVs for an orientation to the area and the program. The whole group then feasted on a wonderful meal of burgers, veggie burgers and all the fixings. After dinner the whole group gathered once again for a reorientation.  We closed the evening with our traditional Commissioning Service, connecting us all as we begin our service.

I will be posting each day, with pictures on Saturdays, so everyone at home can follow along each week. We are experiencing some technical difficulties with our computers so some of the posts might be a little late, but just hold tight and it will be updated.

Jun 20

Summer Program Has Begun!!!

Posted on by

This weekend we kicked off what we hope will be another exciting summer. We are in a new school in Wyoming County, Huff Consolidated in Hanover, in a new part of the county. We are still ironing out some of the kinks like how to direct incoming volunteers to a specific door upon arrival (there has to be at least 7 doors into the school!) but so far our new home seems to be suiting us well. Volunteers will certainly get their exercise since the school is rather sprawling. But with all the PVs now arrived for the week, it already feels like home.

We spent yesterday, Community Day, first taking the long drive to Mass in Pineville and then playing some fun community get to know you games. After a little break we gathered with our newest PVs for an orientation to the area and the program. The whole group then feasted on a wonderful meal of burgers, veggie burgers and all the fixings. After dinner the whole group gathered once again for a reorientation.  We closed the evening with our traditional Commissioning Service, connecting us all as we begin our service.

I will be posting each day, with pictures on Saturdays, so everyone at home can follow along each week. We are experiencing some technical difficulties with our computers so some of the posts might be a little late, but just hold tight and it will be updated.

Jun 07

June Volunteer Reflection

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In our June PV Newsletter we included a reflection written by one our volunteers and board member, Joanne Camas.  In case you miss it, here is her reflection on her experiences as a PV.

“IT’S BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS”
Watching the TV news, it’s easy to curse the darkness. We see the worst in people, magnified, and the sensational trumps the hidden heartfelt stories of personal kindness.

For me, working with the PVs is a way to light candles. We let in a little hope, a little kindness, a little dignity where it’s been absent. In return, we receive light back: Sometimes that makes us feel happy that we’ve helped, but other times the light shines on the parts of us that tend to judge or label. And there’s a place for both kinds of light.

I read a powerful quote today about the force of poverty, written by someone who has lived it:

“Poverty breeds stress. Stress destroys one’s body, and sickness is expensive. More expenses, more doctor bills, more poverty. Poverty sucks, but what it sucks is the very life out of one’s soul. Poverty steals our expectations. Poverty pushes us to desperation.”

—Gayle B. Tate

Each summer we offer hope and a sign that people do care. We patch walls and replace roofs, but we listen too. I find these conversations often stay with me throughout the year. When I get frustrated with the challenges of life, I remember strangers who quickly became friends, opening up to me in their homes and sharing the sadness and struggles they’ve faced.

Our sons have grown up as PVs, and for me that’s been the best part of the experience. They look at the world differently, and they’ve seen that we can change the world, even if it’s by lighting one candle at a time.

Jun 07

June Volunteer Reflection

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In our June PV Newsletter we included a reflection written by one our volunteers and board member, Joanne Camas.  In case you miss it, here is her reflection on her experiences as a PV.

“IT’S BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS”
Watching the TV news, it’s easy to curse the darkness. We see the worst in people, magnified, and the sensational trumps the hidden heartfelt stories of personal kindness.

For me, working with the PVs is a way to light candles. We let in a little hope, a little kindness, a little dignity where it’s been absent. In return, we receive light back: Sometimes that makes us feel happy that we’ve helped, but other times the light shines on the parts of us that tend to judge or label. And there’s a place for both kinds of light.

I read a powerful quote today about the force of poverty, written by someone who has lived it:

“Poverty breeds stress. Stress destroys one’s body, and sickness is expensive. More expenses, more doctor bills, more poverty. Poverty sucks, but what it sucks is the very life out of one’s soul. Poverty steals our expectations. Poverty pushes us to desperation.”

—Gayle B. Tate

Each summer we offer hope and a sign that people do care. We patch walls and replace roofs, but we listen too. I find these conversations often stay with me throughout the year. When I get frustrated with the challenges of life, I remember strangers who quickly became friends, opening up to me in their homes and sharing the sadness and struggles they’ve faced.

Our sons have grown up as PVs, and for me that’s been the best part of the experience. They look at the world differently, and they’ve seen that we can change the world, even if it’s by lighting one candle at a time.

Jun 07

June Volunteer Reflection

Posted on by

In our June PV Newsletter we included a reflection written by one our volunteers and board member, Joanne Camas.  In case you miss it, here is her reflection on her experiences as a PV.

“IT’S BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS”
Watching the TV news, it’s easy to curse the darkness. We see the worst in people, magnified, and the sensational trumps the hidden heartfelt stories of personal kindness.
For me, working with the PVs is a way to light candles. We let in a little hope, a little kindness, a little dignity where it’s been absent. In return, we receive light back: Sometimes that makes us feel happy that we’ve helped, but other times the light shines on the parts of us that tend to judge or label. And there’s a place for both kinds of light.
I read a powerful quote today about the force of poverty, written by someone who has lived it:
“Poverty breeds stress. Stress destroys one’s body, and sickness is expensive. More expenses, more doctor bills, more poverty. Poverty sucks, but what it sucks is the very life out of one’s soul. Poverty steals our expectations. Poverty pushes us to desperation.”
—Gayle B. Tate
Each summer we offer hope and a sign that people do care. We patch walls and replace roofs, but we listen too. I find these conversations often stay with me throughout the year. When I get frustrated with the challenges of life, I remember strangers who quickly became friends, opening up to me in their homes and sharing the sadness and struggles they’ve faced.
Our sons have grown up as PVs, and for me that’s been the best part of the experience. They look at the world differently, and they’ve seen that we can change the world, even if it’s by lighting one candle at a time.