THE SISTER-SISTERHOOD in support of Watoto Child Care Ministries (Uganda) and The Samaritan Inn of Collin County
The Sister-Sisterhood is an initiative to bring together the women North Texas in order to partner strategically with Watoto Child Care Ministries – specifically “The Bulrushes” – Watoto’s home for babies, and The Samaritan Inn, the only homeless shelter in Collin County.
This will be accomplished by like-minded women graciously:
Giving of their Time,
Sharing their Treasure,
and Providing their Talents
Together, we are committed to the value, worth and future of these men, women, and children, and to fundraising endeavors that make this a reality. It is our honor to assist in the growth of the future leaders of not only our community, state and nation, but internationally as well.
As a sisterhood, our passion and hope is to inspire, mobilize and cheer women to think and dream beyond their own families, and to the “mission field” of their local community and beyond. As an emerging movement, our desire and commitment is to grow in stature, so that we can be a blessing wherever need arises.
The HIV/AIDS crisis has devastated Africa, leaving millions of children orphaned and without support. Current projected statistics tell us that by the year 2010 there will be 50 million orphans in this continent alone.
Watoto Child Care Ministries was created to provide magnificent child care villages as a solution to this overwhelming need. Currently over 1,500 children are being raised and cared for in these beautiful villages. They are in the process of building a “child” village in GULU to specifically target rescued and escaped child soldiers.
Baby Watoto – “The Bulrushes” – was opened early in 2007, to give loving care to abandoned and rejected babies. Many of these babies need intense care and medical attention. Many of these babies have experienced neglect, abuse and even severe emotional trauma.Tiny preemies to toddlers, found on rubbish heaps,
in trashcans or abandoned in hospitals and police stations, are brought to their new home where they find acceptance and unconditional love.
The Bulrushes is currently caring for 88 babies and toddlers, 5 of whom are HIV positive. Another 16 babies recently graduated to Watoto’s children’s villages. There are 43 nannies currently employed to provide care, 24/7 for the babies with the help of support staff and servant leaders.
Raising the next generation of Ugandan leaders is their number one focus. It is their mission, purpose and passion. They place these parentless children in families where love, spiritual discipleship, care and nurture, and the meeting of their physical needs takes place. If these children are equipped with essential moral values and life skills they truly can live lives of significance and become change agents for the country of Uganda.
It takes many people to make a difference…. and they are making a difference. With Sister-Sisterhood’s assistance, they will be able to ensure premium care for some of the most precious and vulnerable children in Uganda.
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. ~Dr. Seuss
The Samaritan Inn
In Collin County, one of the most prosperous and well educated counties in the nation, over 200 people sleep on the streets every night.
The Samaritan Inn is the only homeless shelter in Collin County. Their mission is to provide transitional refuge for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, who desire self-sufficiency; and to provide temporary emergency shelter to families and individuals in crisis.
Their Mission:
To be a comprehensive homeless program that helps willing people gain dignity and independence.
Their Goal:
To help people regain their independence.
The Outcome:
Over 70% of the residents had an income and housing when they left The Samaritan Inn last year.
The Samaritan Inn provides, at no cost, a secure and clean place to live. Their building has separate living areas for men, women, and families.
The Samaritan Inn refers to their work in the community as a “Hand-Up”, not a “Hand-Out”.
They serve three well-balanced meals daily and provide personal hygiene products. Experienced case managers assess each resident and their needs to develop an individual program plan with a goal of independence. Referrals are made for support programs in the areas of legal and financial counseling, and mental and physical health services. The adults must be “work-ready”. This means they must actively search and maintain full-time employment.
They also offer classes in a variety of life skills- such as parenting (mandatory participation), budgeting, and job training. Individual program plans are reviewed regularly to insure that all of the necessary steps are being taken along the way to reach independence in the future.
Residents who “graduate” from the Samaritan Inn receive all the necessary items to set up their own households- from furniture and bedding to lamps, linens and cleaning supplies. On going support is also provided, for as long as necessary, to insure long term, permanent independence.
Sister-Sisterhood is particularly excited about Samaritan Inn’s Gateway Apartments. They will serve as transitional living for up to 18 months for graduating residents of the shelter who are employed. They will be asked to pay 25% of their salaries as rent. These beautifully designed and built apartments will provide the next step towards successful independence by easing them back into complete self-sufficiency.
They are in need of people and organizations to “adopt” apartments and supply everything that will be needed to create a warm home. We have the wonderful opportunity provide all the furniture, linens, kitchen supplies, lamps, rugs, phones, cleaning supplies, all items needed to make a home. When the residents leave, they experience the joy of taking everything we’ve supplied with them, to create their own homes independent of outside assistance.
Please visit their web-site at www.thesamaritaninn.org, and find out more about how we can effectively serve.
Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them... he cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?" God said, "I did do something. I made you." ~Author Unknown
