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SEEING POTENTIAL, NOT POVERTY
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We are thankful for your commitment to Kootenai County as we work together to promote the human flourishing of our neighbors. Here's a peak into what we've been up to:
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Rides For A Reason - 1st Auto Maintenance & Repair Class
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Last month, we talked about how w
e want to empower the people who buy a car from RIDES to handle the challenges of car ownership for a LIFETIME so that their transportation needs can be met in an enduring and sustainable way
.
Toward
this end, those using the RIDES program take an auto maintenance class and a
budgeting
class.
This month, the basic car repair workshop (Car Care 101) offered through
Lake City Auto
launched. The first class met on June 7th and was attended by three moms who have received auto repair assistance and wanted to help us "Test Drive" this new training class!
Real Life CDA
provided childcare for the mothers' children, and the feedback was all positive.
One mom stated that she really appreciated being able to learn more about her specific car, and she found it valuable to learn good questions to ask when looking for a trustworthy mechanic.
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In addition to the vehicle maintenance class, those buying cars through RIDES also attend a budgeting course through Mountain West Bank
. Last month, we introduced you to Abigail and highlighted her accomplishment of purchasing a car through RIDES, and we mentioned that she was taking the budget education class. Since then, not only has Abigail completed the budgeting course, but through the training, she saved almost $100 in the 3 weeks she attended the class, and is on track to save 20% of her income each month.
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These women are the first of many buying vehicles through RIDES to be equipped with tools for success that will last a lifetime!
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Live
s
Changed: Kari Phipps
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"I entered the doors of Union Gospel Mission
seven years ago: broken, lost, and hopeless! This week I re-entered the same doors, only this time, whole, confident and filled with the love of Jesus! I am ready to serve these women and show the same hope that was shown to me!"
This time around, Kari entered Union Gospel Mission (UGM) as a full-time employee.
Kari is a quiet, fiercely determined single mom of three children who fell into addiction and alcoholism. In 2013, she got sober but she was not in recovery: she still had a void in her life that she filled with partying, leading her into drug addiction, toxic relationships, and homelessness.
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It was in 2017 that she decided to turn to UGM's recovery program for women. In this program, she gave her life to the Lord and was surrounded with the support structure and accountability she needed to rebuild her life. In other words, she received critically needed "Development" resources.
Kari spent the last 5 years working in the health industry while simultaneously volunteering as a Resident Assistant at UGM, helping to support the women there.
During this time of transition into independence, Kari worked full-time and even sold plasma to meet the cost-of-living expenses for her family. When she could not make ends meet, Charity Reimagined walked alongside her and provided much needed supportive assistance through Christmas for All (Year) grocery and gas gift cards to keep her going. These little ways of saying "yes" helped Kari face and overcome the barriers that arose in her path to rewrite her story.
Today,
Kari is living independent of assistance and she is thriving because she was
willing
to do the hard work AND the supportive services she needed were wrapped around her
.
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DOING BENEVOLENCE BETTER
(with dignity)
Reimagining charity is about digging into how we help the needy:
Not just loving with our hearts and hands but loving with our minds, too.
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So often we hear the phrase, "anything helps."
But as Kari's story illustrates, there are underlying needs that those seeking assistance vitally need addressed to truly flourish
.
When Kari achieved sobriety in 2013, she had deep wounds that continued to fester, leading to further brokenness of relationships, addiction, and homelessness. It was during her recovery at UGM that her deepest wounds were healed, transforming her life in a way that has ENDURED.
In this article
, True Charity
talks about the "discernment required to effectively minister to those in need." Author Jeremie Bridges uses the interaction between Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well found in John 4 to illustrate the woman's "perceived need [for water] was not her greatest need. She was in need of something greater. In fact, she was in need of Someone greater...."
The story about the Samaritan woman illustrates that poverty is complex. Poverty of relationships and spirit is often the greatest poverty. People come
from every walk of life with unique experiences and perspectives. When we meet with people who are seeking help and assistance, we have to approach our conversations with the mindset that we cannot "fix" their problems.
We must strive to engage with the people we are serving and listen to their stories. What are their hopes and aspirations? And how do we best help them
discover
the full lives God intends for them? The grocery cards given to Kari supported her as she journeyed to discover her God-given talents.
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REFERRING PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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Union Gospel Mission
was founded in 1951 by a group of Christian businesspeople. UGM exists to provide food, shelter, and individualized pathways out of homelessness to men, women, and children in need across Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Their services include comprehensive addiction and trauma recovery, legal and financial services, jobs and job-training, one-on-one counseling, and much more.
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Referring Partners are the boots on the ground, our community's Unsung Heroes, serving the poor who refer their clients to Charity Reimagined for specific assistance tailored to our work.
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BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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Lake City Auto
has been providing automotive service excellence to our community for the past 25 years by maintaining the highest level of training to their employees, providing ethical, quality automotive repairs and service and developing long lasting relationships with our customers. They offer complimentary loaner vehicles and a 5 year/50k mile warranty on nearly all repairs at 3 convenient locations throughout North Idaho!
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Business Partners offer their services at a discount in order to meet the needs of those rising out of hardship. They give clients the dignity of interacting in the business world for their needs, not just receiving handouts. The role played by these partners cannot be overstated!
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Donor's Corner: Why We Give
"Being a part of Charity Reimagined and watching the many different ways in which those in need are being helped is something wonderful and inspiring to observe. I am especially impressed with the working solutions for difficult problems that Charity Reimagined implements. I want to support those attempting to find permanent solutions rather than temporary relief.
Many people would like to help those who need a hand up but don’t know how to give that help. Charity Reimagined does, and I am pleased to support this resourceful group."
-Barbara Hudson
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If you're new or would like to learn more, we'd love to grab coffee with you and get connected. Your partnership makes effective charity in Kootenai County possible.
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OUR VISION
No matter how big or small, no single church, charity, or “helping” organization can meet all needs. But, by all of us working together through communication and collaboration to identify categories of care and responding appropriately, pride can replace shame, hope can replace despair, and lives can be changed.
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