Message from Kay
An update on Lilburn Cooperative Ministry
LILBURN, GA, January 2009 — What a wonderful Christmas at the ministry. Donations of toys, funds, gift cards and food were enough to provide for all the families that came to us for help! Thank you to everyone who donated; you are really making a difference in this difficult economy!
Some of the highlights of our Christmas included:
- The Beta Clubs at Brookwood and Parkview high schools who collected funds and provided thousands of dollars worth of gift cards.
- Santa Claus once again raised funds for the ministry and provided more gift cards. It makes such a difference to us! This year we had enough grocery store gift cards and enough gift cards for the many families with teenage children.
- Donations were generous enough that for the two weeks before Christmas we were able to assist all the families who needed help with their bills.
In 2008, we saw big changes in the number of families applying for help — there are just so many now. We do not expect this to improve in early 2009. However, thanks to our supporters, we are starting 2009 with food and funds and know that those same supporters will continue to help their neighbors.
Our store, Lily’s Cloak, continues to provide good funding for the ministry. If you have not been thrift store shopping at our store, you really should try it. Our prices are lower than any other thrift store, just $1.00 for adults clothing and $.50 for children’s clothing. The store is also a blessing to the families we are helping as they are able to select free clothing for their families.
In 2008, we started a single parent support group. This was in response to the fact that many of the families we help have only one adult supporting the children, not always the mother. We have had a wonderful response to the classes and approximately 12 parents attend on a regular basis. In fact, the class has outgrown the building and ountain Park United Methodist Church has kindly offered to let us use facilities at the church in 2009. Classes are on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Contact us for information if you would like to attend.
Finally, as you pass the Lilburn Co-op ministry building you’ll notice that we now have a wonderful new sign to let people know that this is “Lilburn Cooperative Ministry.” Many people still think our building is just a thrift store, but it is a ministry partially supported by a thrift store.
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News & Announcements
Annual Volunteer Dinner
February 23, 1010
The Lilburn Cooperative Ministry will hold its annual volunteer dinner at Smoke Rise Baptist Church (5901 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, GA, 30087) at 6:30 pm, Tuesday February 23, 2010. If you are a Lilburn Co-Op volunteer and would like to attend, please call 770-931-8333 after 5 pm and leave a message, or . All volunteers, together with a spouse or friend, are invited.
Free Tax Preparation Assistance
The AARP will be at the Lilburn Cooperative Ministry on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of the tax season. The AARP Tax-Aide program offers free tax services to those with low to moderate income — not just seniors. Call 770-931-8333 for an appointment.
When One Need is Met, We Seem to Find Another
We are very dependent on our computer server which was donated in 2003. It was not new at the time and now is struggling to keep going and is causing a lot of problems. We are starting a fund to purchase a new server. If you can help with a small donation, you can make a big difference. Our goal is $3,000.
We have a new roof on the ministry!
Special thanks to: The contractor, who arranged a much lower price for us and paid for the roof points himself; the individual from Mount Carmel Church who donated $7,500; The Frances Hollis Brain Foundation who gave us a grant of $5,000; The Lilburn Business Association; and, every individual who donated to help with this project. All Roof Solutions did a wonderful job, and just before the terrible rains.
