Past Project: R.A.K.E.'s
Letters from agencies who have made referrals
I take pleasure in writing this letter, pertaining to a group of young Christians from the Ground Zero Youth Ministry. Their Christian community outreach program, Project: R.A.K.E., has made life safer, warmer, and more pleasant for the lonely, isolated, handicapped, homebound seniors in the adapt-a-friend program, which is a part of the Oxford Neighborhood Services Center. Out ultimate desire is to keep seniors in their own homes, but with economy the way it is, cut backs in government programs, high cost living, taxation, prescription drugs, insurance, and rising cost in food and utilities, it is getting harder. The seniors of low income cannot pay for electricians, plumbers and carpenters. Project: R.A.K.E. has come to the rescue on several occasions! They put a new roof on a widow’s house and repaired a small shed. They built a ramp for a handicapped shut in and replaced a damaged floor in a widow’s trailer. They even took care of some needed electrical upgrades to a local senior could do her own laundry again. During the last snow storm, an isolated widow’s pipes were thawed out, a faulty washer was fixed and bottles of water were delivered until people were unfrozen. Certain areas of this widow’s home were painted, and so much more was done! In a gentlemen’s home, doors and windows were repaired and winterized making the home warmer and safer. Blessings are theirs from above, for the wonderful giving of their time and talent to aid our friends. Our seniors are so thankful. They have been calling so overjoyed. The fact that someone cares means so much to our sometimes lonely isolated low income seniors.May God bless you all as you bring so much peace and joy to these seniors. In helping others you are teaching your youth to be upstanding citizens. On behalf of all the many people you’ve helped and will continue to do so, I thank you all.
In Christian love, most sincerely,
Juanita Lewes,
Coordinator of the Adapt-A-Friend Program
Chester County Disability Services / Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County and I myself, would like to thank Mike, Drew & all the volunteers for the services R.A.K.E. performed on their most recent workday (October 25th 2003).
Our thanks go out to you and your crew for the work they did for Louise and Vickie. I was out to visit them yesterday and was really impressed! Vicki looks like a new person because she is able to sit up and look out her front door and see what is going on outside! She did not seem near as sickly, had a lot more pep and showed interest in the falling leaves and scenery outside. She really is enjoying the extra room she now has and the mobility she acquired. The ramps are super--it wasn't much of a step to get from outside in to the room, but it was enough that she couldn't navigate it by herself. Now she can and she is able to be much more independent! In fact, right now, Louise is in the hospital with pneumonia, and Vicki is able to stay alone in the house, because it is now accessible to her to get out and in if she has to. It has made such a difference for them. Thank you so much for the quick response, follow-up and carpentry work! RAKE is surely an act of kindness, and such a help to these people.
We want to thank you for all the assistance you offer to the people of Chester County. Please let your volunteers know how much we appreciate their efforts. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Linda Redding
Director of Agency Services
Chester County Disability Services
Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County
A United Way Agency
On behalf of the homeowners of Buena Vista, I’m writing to sincerely thank a local church volunteer group known as Project: R.A.K.E. for the excellent work they did on the Buena Vista playground on their July 2 volunteer workday. Project: R.A.K.E. involves young people in free volunteer home repair services to in-need families who live in the area. As the community development organization that is located in Buena Vista, we were impressed by the great turnout of 32 junior high aged workers, helped by 12 high school aged workers plus the adult supervision and coordination. Buena Vista consists of 24 low income, mostly Hispanic families who were thrilled with the six new benches built where moms can now watch their children play. The new plantings, playground mulch and garden mulch along with all of the hard work weeding the large landscape beds really brought this playground back to life. Project: R.A.K.E. workers even serviced the playground equipment.
We were especially impressed with how well the workday was organized, thanks to Project: R.A.K.E. Director, Rev. Mike Atkins, and Site Coordinator, Drew Cope. I realize that the donated materials that Project R.A.K.E. obtained from community minded suppliers like Mr. Mulch and Lowe’s Home Improvement of Wilmington, DE and in Bear, DE were worth hundreds of dollars. The value of the labor to perform this much work was worth even more. Although the temperature was hot that day, we were amazed at how much the hard working volunteers of Project R.A.K.E. got accomplished. We commend Project: R.A.K.E. for this labor of love. This work project was a great witness for their organization, their church and their faith.
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Howard Porter Executive Director Alliance for Better Housing |
Guilermo Rivera Housing Counselor Buena Vista Homeowners Association |
The Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere (RAKE) program is making a huge difference in the community. In these days of budget cuts and program challenges, Project: R.A.K.E. is out there doing the work of the Lord and having fun doing it. The spirit shared by your teens is contagious.
Thanks so much for the special projects you also have done inside the Neighborhood Services Center building. We love having our new shelving in the clothing room- really makes the space look more organized and shaped up. Our Adopt-A-Friend coordinator, Juanita Lewis, hears exciting feedback from your work at the homes of community people. The work that was done here at NSC in the clothing room was tremendous. What a difference it makes! So many people have been pleased by Project: R.A.K.E.! Might I add, as well from the perspective of an administrator seeking funds for our programs and reporting on the use of funds granted, it is extremely helpful for me to be able to share what can be done by volunteers in our caring community.
Thanks so much, RAKE.
Warmly,
Connie Winchester
Director of Oxford Neighborhood Services Center