Learn more about the ILYA Student Care Package Project on Sunday August 21
Do you remember when you were in college or in the military, how great it was to receive a surprise package of goodies from home? The Independent Living for Young Adults (ILYA) Student Care Package Project is exactly about that – sending packages to young adults who have aged out of foster care and are enrolled in post-secondary education or in the military.

Thankfully, federal and state governments now help these youth with their tuition and room and board fees; however, the students need extra support and motivation to keep them pursuing their education.
ILYA is now recruiting volunteers for the project for the coming school year. We have a number of satisfied volunteers who are returning, but still need more to help us serve a growing number of students. Social workers will soon be sending us the names of students who are planning to attend or return to the various colleges, universities, technical schools or military and wish to receive care packages during the coming year.

To learn more about volunteering, join us for a short presentation in the sanctuary on Sunday, August 21, directly following the service at 11:45 a.m. We will briefly share a project overview, answer your questions and have volunteer applications available. If you cannot attend in person, you will have the option to join via Zoom. Watch for the link in the church’s remote livestream email which will be sent on Saturday. If you are not already signed up to receive the weekly service links, please click here.

Also, for those who wish to jump right in and join last year’s volunteers, we will be scheduling an Orientation Session in September to provide more details. Please stay tuned.

It’s even more fun to support the project with a friend! Volunteers working with a friend have enjoyed sharing both the satisfaction and costs associated with giving the care packages.

Email Student Care Package Project Co-leaders Pauline Koch at pauline.d.koch@gmail.com or Charlotte Grabau at charlotteg.r@comcast.net to let them know you will attend or to ask questions.

DON’T FORGET!
Remember, the beautiful Hand-to-Hand bowls will also be on display at the ILYA table in the Parish Hall and available for purchase following worship on August 21. Hand to Hand is a new initiative created by members Tom and Sue Hodges that turns Tom’s love of woodworking and craftsmanship into beautiful bowls. Prices range from $10 to $150 and sales directly support ILYA. Hand to Hand is rapidly growing and gaining partners, so come on out to see what all the wonderful hype is about. For photos and last week’s Enews article on Hand to Hand, click here.

We look forward to seeing many of you on August 21st following the service!