Meredith Schweitzers CIS Powerpoint

1. Volunteer Evening and Dinner For The Border Family Upon volunteering and hosting a homeless/low income community dinner at First Christian Church in Covington KY I discovered a family that could use the extra help and someone to provide them with a Thanksgiving meal. As I approached them to ask them if my friends and I could cook their Thanksgiving meal and record the process via camera they agreed and were very grateful. This is their story…..

2. The Border Family’s Story The family consists of Robbyn a single mother of two children, Connor and Zoey. Connor is 8 and Zoey is 10, and their father walked out on them a year and a half ago and they have not seen him since. It is a blessing that he left considering he was a drug addict and an abuser towards his family. Robyn works midnights for minimum wage and can only get approximately 25-30 hours per week because she is attending nursing school. When her husband left her and the children, he left her with a 2000.00 outstanding electric bill, 4 months of back paid rent totaling 3000.00 and a stack of marital debt that he hadn’t paid. She had her electric turned off for 3 months and continued to live in the house because she had no where else to go. She would buy baby wipes at the dollar store for her and the kids to bath with because they had no electric to heat the water. Although she is low income she still has to use 200 dollars per month to pay for the balance on her schooling because they made her file her financial aid using her husbands income even though he is not in the picture anymore. Therefore she is able to purchase the bare minimum of their needs, such as toiletries, and food but still will not have enough for Christmas to buy the children presents. Unfortunately this is not an uncommon situation but does hurt everyone involved, but the Border families story is heart wrenching.

3. Border Family Past PhotosThese are a few of the pictures that they were allowed to have posted in their home, the father was very strict and didn’t like to see many pictures in the home because frames cost money he didn’t want to spend.

4. Upon entering the Border Family Home, we thought it would be a nice gesture to purchase a Christmas tree and take all donated ornaments to give to their family. Spending the evening with this family was a great experience but watching the children put up a Christmas tree was priceless. Their father never would purchase any Christmas decorations or a tree because he said it was a waste of money, therefore this was their first tree in their own home. It was a life altering experience watching the children get so excited to decorate.

5. Thanksgiving Meal Costs Roast- $15.99 Mashed Potatoes- $5.99 Green Beans- $3.99 Macaroni and Cheese-$9.99 Carrots and Peas- $2.99 Rolls- $4.99 Desserts- $8.99 Seeing the Border family enjoy their meal= Priceless

6. Food Preparation and Volunteers Margie Ashley

7. They Loved The Food!

8. CONNOR- AGE 8 Connor was the most interested in why I was engaging in helping their family for the holidays. My reply was “because you’re a good kid.” He proceeded to tell me that he wanted a lot for Christmas this year but because daddy left he was not going to get what he wanted this year. He is well aware that his mother does what she can for him but cannot buy extras.

9. ZOEY- AGE 10 Zoey was very quiet but I finally got her to smile for a picture. She told me she enjoys sports, but doesn’t play them because they don’t have the money. She said her favorites were volleyball, basketball and softball. She is attached at the hip with her mother and didn’t hardly move away from her for the entire evening. She is a very bright young girl but has a severe speech problem that they cannot afford to correct. Although she knows her family is in a bad position she believes that it will get better some day.

10. ROBBYN- AGE 30 This is one amazing woman and has underwent some of the most stressful situations that a person can tolerate and been a saint. She has made the move to go to nursing school but realizes that it will not be an easy road ahead, yet she knows that the outcome will be worth it. It was so intriguing to see her dedication for school and work to support her children and her family. I felt very moved when talking to her because no matter what question was asked she always had a smile on her face.

11. Connor Says…….. Connor wanted everyone to know that his family will be “A OK.” He wanted me to post this picture to show off his SpongeBob shirt as well!

12. I couldn’t imagine living in fear everyday that your water and electric wont work the next day because the father you thought would always be there walked out to find new options in life. The Border family is an amazingly strong family that will survive no matter what because they have the will to survive. Spending the evening with them and being able to help out was extremely moving and we have all made a few new friends through this experience. We enjoyed ourselves so much that Margie, Ashley, myself and a few other church friends of mine are putting our money together this year for Robbyn to supply her children with decent Christmas gifts. If you don’t volunteer or do anything to help out for no profit that is fine, but if you have a hot shower and a hot meal every day and people who love you, I believe you need to count your blessings.