Project City Hope Blog

Delivering Hope

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 08:02:00 GMT

About one hundred volunteers had a unique and extremely uplifting experience a few days before Thanksgiving. And a few hundred families were blessed with a full Thanksgiving meal at the same time.

Project City Hope's Hope for the Holidays program has been up and running since the beginning of fall, and it will continue until Christmas when even more meals will be delivered to needy families. But this one week in particular was an especially memorable week for Hope for the Holidays.

PCH has partnered with Albertson's for this program, but we have also teamed up with another organization that is doing some awesome work: GRIP, or, Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership. In this program, elementary age kids who are at risk of being brought into gangs are encouraged to stay out of gangs and to do well in school. And a part of that encouragement comes through motivators and incentives, such as, earning a Thanksgiving meal for your family.

When these kinds heard that they could earn a complete meal for their family, the tough facades melted away and the kids were more motivated than ever to stay out of trouble and to do well in school. We heard from the GRIP police officers that the difference this time was that the kids weren't just earning something for themselves, but for their entire family.

So, for one day, volunteers and the PCH and the amazing police officers who also participated, spread out in groups across Orange County and hand delivered the meals to the kids and their families. The stories that have come out of this have been so encouraging and fun to hear. One volunteer, Chris, had this to say: "I have been telling everyone about what a cool opportunity that was to serve the Lord and those families. "

In the end, we saw God bless this experience in a huge way, and we pray that the families were left feeling blessed and lifted up even after we left. The impact that this serving opportunity had on everyone involved - the volunteers, the PCH team, the police officers, the families and kids - was definitely a lasting one.

With Thanks and Appreciation

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:38:00 GMT

The leader of Acts of Appreciation, our Military outreach, recently received an e-mail from the Lieutenant Colonel of the USMC Battalion 5, Jeff Jarosz. Jeff was compelled to send his thanks after being one of the recipients of the Military outreach's recent shipment of care boxes to the marines and sailors. The care boxes are filled with things such as socks, snacks, and personal care items. They may sound like simple things to us, but for the men and women serving and fighting for our country right now, those small pleasures make a huge difference.

The Lieutenant Colonel wrote, "What you and all of the others from Act of Appreciation and Saddleback Church have done for us has been above and beyond simple appreciation. We owe you much gratitude."

Lieutenant Colonel Jarosz went on to thank the outreach for their upcoming plan to do another welcome home event for the marines and sailors returning from their deployment. He mentions, "Your generosity with your time and effort is simply amazing. We are blessed by your presence and association."

It's clear that the volunteers who serve with Acts of Appreciation are being used in powerful and significant ways by God.

Paying it Forward

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:27:00 GMT

The Breakfast Together outreach (previously called Motel Ministry) is known to have a lasting impact on the families and individuals who are blessed by the outreach. But recently, a man who at one time had lived at one of the motels that Breakfast Together ministers to, gave back to the outreach that gave to him in a time of need.

This man had been so positively affected by the Breakfast Together outreach that he anonymously donated $100 to another resident of one of the motels whom he knew needed assistance. Because the anonymous donor is no longer living in a motel and is back on track toward his goals, he was able to see things from the other perspective..and what he saw was a man in his previous position whom he knew he could help, even if it was just a small first step.

For this reason and many others, the Breakfast Together outreach plays a significant part in changing and blessing lives. If you'd like to be a part of this amazing and fulfilling outreach or get some more information and read some awesome stories, call 949-609-8333, or go to http://breakfastoutreach.blogspot.com.

What Hope for the Holidays is All About

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:49:00 GMT

Check out this short video in which Saddleback's Community PEACE Pastor, Brian Uyeda, explains what the Albertson's Hope for the Holidays opportunity is all about. This will definitely get you more excited....

http://www.blip.tv/file/4277407

Be on the Lookout

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:46:00 GMT

"This may be the day God gives me a great opportunity to serve someone who needs help from me."

-Bill Grosz

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We've all heard the saying, "Live everyday like it's your last." And for most of us, that quote leads to thinking about what we would do with the last day of our lives. Where would we go? Would we travel somewhere we've never been? What would we buy? Who would we make sure we saw one last time, and what would we say to them? How could we make ourselves the happiest and what desires would we fulfill in a day?

It's interesting (and sometimes sobering) to think about that idea, but there's another question that is far less often considered: How will God ask me to serve someone today? It's not the first thing we take the time to reflect on at the start of the day, but if we believe and remember that serving does not always refer to some grand gesture of sacrifice but that it includes any act of helping someone, then I think we would be much more attuned to where and when God is prompting us to serve.

There is a way, every day, to be a servant, and there is a person that God will put in front of you somewhere and at some time in your day whom you can help, be it with words of encouragement, a listening ear, giving someone a ride, fixing something for them, and on and on. If we begin looking for those moments, pretty soon our natural inclination will be to seek out ways that we can be Jesus' hands and feet.

Hope for the Holidays

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:21:00 GMT

This coming holiday season, countless families across California are going to be reminded of something. They won't be reminded of one tradition in particular that most of us know and hold tightly to every Thanksgiving and Christmas: the holiday food. Instead, these families will remember that this is another year without that traditional experience of those big, warm, comforting meals.

Throughout the year, families in need go without food. In the city of Anaheim alone, 82% are on some food assisted program. But the sting of going without is felt even more intensely during the holiday season. Here's where you come in.

You (along with your family, small group, a friend, etcetera) can help provide a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal this season. You can team-up with Project City Hope as we team-up with Albertson's stores across California to give a meal to disadvantaged families or families with at-risk kids. GRIP, Gang Reduction & Intervention Partnerships, will be working alongside Project City Hope and Albertson's to make sure families will be able to receive the blessing of a holiday meal this year.

There are so many areas where you can help with this opportunity: answering questions and greeting at one of the Albertson's stores; making phone calls in the church office; putting food boxes together; delivering the food boxes, etcetera. If you'd like to play a part in carrying off this significant and incredible project, please call 949-609-8333 or e-mail dawnm@saddleback.com or bonniet@saddleback.com.

This year, we can give a family something that they'll always remember - the year they received a complete holiday meal that will hopefully leave them with a lasting blessing.

Acts of Service and Significance

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:14:00 GMT

This past weekend, Project City Hope's military outreach, Acts of Appreciation, held a dinner for the volunteers that serve with the outreach. It was a way for the ministry leaders to let the volunteers know how valued they are, as well as a way for the Acts of Appreciation team and some of the marines they serve to spend some time together and thank each other.

About 75 members of the ministry attended the dinner, and representatives from� two of the Marine battalions they serve were invited. The Family Readiness Officers from both battalions, the commanding officer's wife, and three marines came to the dinner. The marines came in their full dress uniforms, as well.

During the dinner, there was a Powerpoint presentation that highlighted the past year's events and activities that Acts of Appreciation had put on. The presentation was very appreciated by the volunteers since many of them do behind-the-scenes preparation work and don't actually get to attend the events that take place on the marine base. They were able to finally see the results of their hard work.

Overall, the event was a great time of affirmation and valuing, both for the volunteers and the marines that they serve. It was a way for both groups to thank each other for serving in such different and significant ways.

If� you'd like to show the men and women who serve our country how grateful you are for their dedication and service, the Acts of Appreciation outreach is one great way to do that. You can call 949-609-8333 to get involved.

Getting a Grip on Things

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Here's a shocking fact for us all: The prime targets of gang recruitment are 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders. Children who should still be eating Lucky Charms while watching cartoons on a Saturday morning, not watching violent crimes committed.

Because we want to protect these children who are at risk, PCH has teamed up with GRIP, Gang Resistance Intervention Partnerships. Our goal is to do our part in becoming a supportive role to the principles of schools who participate with GRIP, the District Attorney and Sheriff's department, and the parents of the students at the participating schools.

A few of our PCH coordinators have attended some of the GRIP meetings, bringing breakfast and just trying to get to know those involved. We want to have a presence there in order to show those involved, especially the parents of the at-risk kids, that Saddleback and Project City Hope will do what we can to help the GRIP program and the parents succeed with the goal of preventing young kids from being pulled in the wrong direction. We hope to partner with GRIP so that together, we can be an incredible positive influence.

If this is something your heart beats strongly for and you'd like to know how you might be able to help, let us know! Call 949-609-8333.

Service or Significance. How About Both?

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:16:00 GMT

God's plan for us to bring hope to people comes through, one, telling them about Jesus' grace and salvation, and two, through serving others.

Pastor Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Life, writes about the "assignment" that God has given to us on this earth. I thought I'd let Rick teach us a little bit about that today. So, in Rick's words, here we go..

You are going to give your life for something. What will it be - a career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth? None of these will have lasting significance. Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives. The Bile says, "Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body."As we serve together in God's family, our lives take on eternal importance..God wants to use you to make a difference in His world. He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived.

What, then, will your donation be?

Wisdom Passed Down

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:56:00 GMT

Senior citizens across south Orange County were blessed on August 21^st when about 80 Project City Hope volunteers visited 30 board and care facilities, bringing with them PCH Care Boxes filled with everything from blankets and slippers, to crossword puzzles and cookies.

The volunteers brought with them a little questionnaire called "Wisdom of the Ages" that included fun questions for the seniors to answer such as, Who was the president when you were born? What was school like for you when you were in school? What has been the greatest invention, in your opinion? The residents of these facilities enjoyed answering these questions and telling their stories. The things the residents said even made an impact on a 9 year old boy who volunteered with his grandpa. He was so impacted that later on, he began asking questions about Jesus and that night, he accepted Christ as his savior!

The volunteers who participated in this event were so gratified and had such a great time, that two of the groups are doing the same thing again this weekend, on their own. If blessing senior citizens sounds like something you'd be interested in, you can e-mail Dawn at dawnm@saddleback.com or call 949-609-8333.

Extreme Church Makeover

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:13:00 GMT

More than 70 people were at Fullerton Calvary's serve day last Saturday. Mark, one of the volunteers in charge of the project summed up the experience by saying, "It was quite an amazing day to see the spirit of serving by so many individuals and glorifying God."

The group of volunteers tackled the whole campus of Fullerton Calvary, trimming trees, cleaning and painting the worship hall, restocking shelves in the storage room, cleaning and waxing the floor of the worship hall, and much� more. Mark reported later that about 18 windows were replaced, 5 doors were painted and replaced, an entire kitchen sink was replaced with a huge restaurant-style sink, and two new fans were installed in the bathrooms.

In a follow-up e-mail, one of the staff members had this to say:

Many thanks to Saddleback Church for the wonderful blessings of assistance for our work day this past Saturday. On behalf of Calvary Community Church's Trustee Board, we wish to send an e-mailed hug and heartfelt thanks to all who participated! Wow! We were so blessed to have our campus full of workers. Please pass on our sincerest appreciation to all who joined in!

The group of PCH volunteers who gave of their time, skill and energy, had a lasting impact on the staff and members of Fullerton Calvary Church. People were significantly blessed from both sides that day.

More than Just Paint and Weeds

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:46:00 GMT

As far as total transformations go, Kimberly Gardens in Lake Forest fits the bill. PCH made a visit to the Mobile Home Estates recently in order to do a home and yard makeover, and to show the residents that Saddleback cares about the people in their surrounding communities.

Four homes in Kimberly Gardens were worked on and painted, two additional yards were cleaned and had huge tree stumps removed, and as a bonus, 15 backpacks of school supplies were brought to any children who were in need of new supplies.

Out of the 40 amazing volunteers who served that day (including children), one was a carpenter who used his skills to literally replace old staircases as well as rebuild one set that was described as "rickety, crazy Dr. Seuss stairs."

There was even a last minute trailer issue (meaning, there was no trailer) that was taken care of when a volunteer stepped up and offered her truck to haul all of the supplies to the site.

It was a time of coming together to serve those who needed and deserved the help, and I'm sure the residents aren't the only ones who will remember the blessings that came from the day.

If you'd like to be a part of something like this in the future, just contact Dawn: dawnm@saddleback.com or 949-609-8304.

A First Time for Everything

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Bishop Manor, an apartment complex in Santa Ana, was far from looking like your average apartment complex last week. Instead, Bishop Manor took on the appearance of a packed community Kids' Zone! It was the first time Project City Hope put on a Vacation Bible School for that specific area, and according to the amazing volunteers (who might have had a better time than the kids had), God definitely gave everyone there an incredible time.

According to Gary Cox who was one of the main leaders of the VBS at Bishop Manor, the volunteer team had no idea of how many children to expect, and to their pleasant surprise, each day saw the numbers increase until they were at 70+ three to twelve year olds by Wednesday! There were also several teenagers who looked on curiously and wanted to attend, but hesitated because of that universal "cool" factor that often gets the best of teenagers. Apparently, though, there were about 3 older boys who sat together off to the side, but were seen coloring pictures of a cross like the rest of the group.

During the week, the kids got to have the traditional VBS experience where they learned bible verses, heard stories from the bible, did crafts, and played games. And for the volunteers, it was an extremely rewarding thing to know that they had a major part in affecting the lives of these kids who had never experienced anything like it, or who had never been around Christian adults whose only goal was to serve and love these kids - kids who may have gone through more struggles than is fair for their few years up to this point.

By the end of the week, everyone had been impacted in some way, and one group leader even had 16 kids in her group accept Christ! For that and so many other reasons, PCH thanks the amazing and willing volunteers who served at Bishop Manor. If you'd like to do the same at the next VBS or in some other area, call 949-609-8333.

Summer Success

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:00:00 GMT

For four weeks this summer, 90 elementary-age kids came to Saddleback's campus to participate in Project City Hope's first ever Summer Skills Camp. And by the response we got from both the parents and the children, it looks like this isn't the last time we'll be seeing Summer Skills Camp.

Because school districts have had to drastically limit summer school opportunities for kids in need of academic help, the PCH team had the idea to offer help to students here on our campus. We rounded up a few (truly amazing) teachers from local elementary schools who taught these students with as much dedication as they teach the students from their schools, and you could see that the students clearly felt taken care of and comfortable.

Not only did the teachers do a phenomenal job, but the volunteers went above and beyond, giving three and a half hours of their day, 3 days a week, to help the teachers with anything they needed, and to make sure the kids had a safe and fun four weeks.

And the kids definitely had fun: On the last day, after surprising the students with a chance to play with big bubble wands outside, more than one child was disappointed that Summer Skills Camp was over, and then asked if we were doing it again in August! Unfortunately, they'll have to wait until next summer. But overall, the first Summer Skills Camp was a huge success and a blessing to the parents and kids. One mom said it well when she e-mailed the staff,

"Thank you for a wonderful first day of Summer Skills Camp! My daughter LOVED it! Thank you for all your hard work. We really appreciate it!"

If you'd like be a volunteer for Summer Skills next year, please e-mail Bonnie at bonniet@saddleback.com.

Breakfast with Project City Hope

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:00:00 GMT

This past Saturday, 200 to 250 people were served a full breakfast of pancakes, bacon, sausage and pastries, while meeting and connecting with volunteers from Project City Hope. The individuals, families, and children being served were residents of Aliso Meadows, a local temporary housing project.

Of the 140 volunteers who helped serve, 12 spoke Spanish, making it possible to minister to the Spanish speaking residents, and a good number were from Saddleback's High School ministry. It's incredibly exciting to think that PCH is bringing in volunteers from all over and all ages, but it's especially exciting to know that young people are wanting to get involved.and wanting to return, as some of the high schoolers mentioned before they left Aliso Meadows.

The high school students manned the grills where they flipped hundreds of pancakes, and other volunteers formed prayer groups and visited the residents while inviting them to join the group for breakfast. The volunteer team even made sure to give attention to the kids who live at Aliso Meadows by playing soccer with them - which promptly led the kids to ask when the group would be back!

The PCH pancake breakfast was an amazing time and huge success, and people were blessed throughout the day and beyond. If you'd like to read more about this event and see more pictures, visit PCH's facebook page: www.facebook.com/ProjectCityHOPE.com. And to get involved yourself, just e-mail dawnm@saddleback.com, or call 949-609-8333.

Tea and Stories

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Antique hats, teacups, and centerpieces made of creatively decorated cupcakes filled the dining area of Vintage Senior Living Center last week. The event was a tea for the ladies at Vintage Senior Living (and any brave men who wanted to join) that was put on by Project City Hope.

There were 30 to 35 residents of the center in attendance, and each of them at one time or another, had one of the 25 volunteers sit with them, get to know their life stories, and enjoy tea and tea sandwiches with the seniors. Dawn Maestas, the PCH coordinator for this event, had a list of questions put together for the volunteers to ask the residents, which led to some interesting and very fun conversations. These were questions such as,

�� "What was the greatest historic event of your lifetime?"

�� "What advice do you have for others to make the best of their lives?"

�� "Who was/is your favorite president and why?"

There were some individuals attending the tea that the volunteer team will definitely remember for various reasons: A woman in her 103^rd year of life, a man who was 91 and still sharp as a tack, and a woman who, in her younger years, was a�Pepsi model during the 1940s.

Everyone, including the volunteers who were there for the purpose of serving the seniors, experienced a very meaningful time together and obviously a fun time considering how� many volunteers jumped at the chance to visit and do the event all over again. And the Directors of Vintage Senior Living were overjoyed and so grateful to have had such a special time given to their residents - Saddleback and PCH volunteers are welcomed back anytime!

And if you'd like to participate in this event or any get involved in any other way with seniors, call 949-609-8333 or contact Dawn at dawnm@saddleback.com.

Providing More than Just Food at the Saddleback Food Pantry

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:48:00 GMT

The Saddleback Food Pantry is an unbelievably vital resource to so many people in our community. Orange County - and specifically the Lake Forest/Mission Viejo/ Rancho Santa Margarita area - is not typically thought of as an area with families struggling to simply have enough food or toiletries or even baby supplies. But, truth be told, the economic downturn has affected people in ways they themselves never would have seen coming.

To see the impact Saddleback's Food Pantry has made in just the short time it's been in existence is incredibly encouraging. Thousands of people have been helped in huge ways and needs have been met in significant ways - and not just physical needs. The message of hope and Jesus' love and provision is communicated each time someone comes to the Food Pantry thinking they'll just get a bag of groceries and then be on their way.

Instead, the amazing volunteers at the Food Pantry show just how much the Christian community cares for each individual that comes to receive help. With Jesus' example of gentleness and grace, the volunteers make sure each person leaves knowing how much they and more importantly, how much Jesus loves them and is looking out for them.

Any one of us can help the families and individuals who visit the Food Pantry in a number of simple ways. If you'd like to play a part in providing someone with hope, please let us know! You can either call 949-609-8333 or 949-609-8756, OR, you can e-mail ranam@saddleback.com.

It could be your neighbor that you end up helping.

"Aloha!" Love, PCH

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 05:20:00 GMT

The scene in the dining area at Vintage Senior Living Center on June 25^th looked different than it does on a typical day. The Hawaiian leis around the residents' necks and the umbrellas in their glasses of juice were brought by a Saddleback small group whose members use hula dancing as a witnessing tool and as a way to simply bring joy to people.

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Dawn Maestas, a Project City Hope city coordinator, organized the event and said it was amazing to see how much fun the residents were having and how many extra chairs they had to bring in for all the additional seniors who wanted to join in on the fun. The small group taught the seniors how to hula, and a few members of the group even brought their kids who hula danced to "Jesus Loves You". Along with hula dancing to songs, the group even used scripture in their hula dancing, showcasing a beautiful and creative form of sharing the gospel.

The small group was so impacted that they committed to visiting Vintage Senior Living Center once a month. And that will no doubt be a welcome treat every month for the residents of Vintage.

To check out some great photos of the event, just go to www.facebook.com/ProjectCityHOPE.com.

Camp Pendleton Baby Shower

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Through Project City Hope, Saddleback San Clemente put on their first baby shower for expectant moms at Camp Pendleton, and the people who participated saw relationships and true community begin to be built.

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As He usually is, God was there in the details of the event. For instance, the group was given a room with a capacity of 59..and there were 59 people exactly at the baby shower! The new moms and moms-to-be felt so celebrated and affirmed. Each of the 17 moms received a diaper bag filled with baby basics, they played games to get to know each other, and in the end, the volunteers were able to build lasting relationships with these moms.

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Julie Zambrano, who was heading up this event, says it was a huge success, and she already has only 5 weeks to get ready for the next baby shower Project City Hope and Saddleback San Clemente will be putting on at Camp Pendleton!

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If you'd like to be a part of an event like this, just fill out the form to the right, or call 949-609-8333 or contact James (jamesv@saddleback.com), and we'll get you involved!

God Loves the Details

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:59:00 GMT

"God showed up that day." That's the overwhelming feeling of the Serve Day that just took place at Aliso Meadows, a low income housing area with about 400 units, in Laguna Niguel. Every detail fell into place and the residents of Aliso Meadows were blessed in a major way,� making the Serve Day a huge success.

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Dawn Maestas, a Project Hope City Coordinator who planned the Serve Day, asked for volunteer help from Saddleback's small group hosts, attendees of Fuel (one of Saddleback's venues), Saddleback high school small groups, and attendees of Crave, Saddleback's college ministry. Volunteers from each of these groups showed up and helped plant 900 new plants and shrubs for the Aliso Meadows community. Not only did the volunteers do the work, but the residents themselves began to help and work alongside the team that was there to help them! And after they were done, it didn't look like the same place.

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Dawn said that God showed himself in many ways: She prayed for 80 volunteers, and there were 80.plus Dawn! The volunteers were served lunch, and there was just enough food for everyone. The volunteers all brought their own tools and gardening supplies, which meant the home owners association didn't have to pay a dime in supplying the group with tools. Needless to say, the association was very happy and took notice of Saddleback's generosity.

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By the time the work was complete, the residents and volunteers were having a great time together, as evidenced by the 6 kids who were enjoying hanging off of one of the volunteers! One of the kids even asked a volunteer, "Will you and your church be back?" The volunteer was happy to say that yes, they would be back. Having a serving presence at a place like Aliso Meadows which is right in our own backyard, is what PCH is aiming for.