3 min read
In His Likeness: A heart-to-heart message from Phil Altmeyer
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Ephesians 2:10 Friends, I don’t know if your garage or shop looks like mine,...
A couple months ago, a staff member at the Crisis Shelter wrote a blog on what it’s like living at a homeless shelter as a kid. In response to that post, someone presented us with the question: “What’s being done at UGM to help kids at our shelters?” That’s a great question.
As the Children’s Coordinator for Women’s Recovery at Anna Ogden Hall, Lori Bradley has worked with hundreds of kids and has created a system for helping the children at Anna Ogden Hall by reaching their moms. Not all our shelters for women and children use the same methods, but UGM believes the best way to care for kids is to help their moms and teach them how to become better parents – which happens at all our shelters. However, UGM does hope to someday provide children a recovery program that allows them to deal with past trauma.
For now, Lori describes some of the programs they currently use at Anna Ogden Hall to help the children who have been through so much.
I think the main thing we offer our kiddos is the hope of Jesus. That can sound somewhat trite, but it is so true. They have a Father that loves them unconditionally at all times. When they come from homes where they have not known that kind of love, it is that hope that is the anchor for their little souls.
One of the ways we show that is by being there consistently. I LOVE my volunteers. I’ve had some volunteers who have been working in the Children’s Department longer than I have. When those kids see those volunteers show up week after week to spend time with them and to love them, it is truly a picture of God’s love, and they need that so much.
Some other things we are doing in the Children’s Department at Anna Ogden Hall:
If you’d like to help care for kids at Anna Ogden Hall or one of our other shelters for women and children, Lori suggests a couple options.
To get started volunteering, click below.
3 min read
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Ephesians 2:10 Friends, I don’t know if your garage or shop looks like mine,...
4 min read
Laughs and tears are shared as Jerry and Stephanie Belden recount years of following Jesus together. They are passionate about supporting Union...
5 min read
Those who enter our Life Recovery program walk the path toward life change, receiving trauma-informed counseling, parenting support, life skills...
The Face of Homelessness Let's play a word association game. I say "homeless." Quick. What picture comes to mind? Did you picture a man? A panhandler
As a regular volunteer at the Crisis Shelter, Ron noticed a pattern in many of the homeless women and children he served: Dad wasn’t in the picture....
Thousands of women and children have found solace at the Crisis Shelter since it opened in January 2007. They come from all walks of life. Some have...