Pictured at right is Mary Dawn Edwards, a member of EECM Member Congregation Tree of Life.
As we sweat our way through August and marvel that September is already looming on the horizon, young people across the country are packing their belongings in preparation for imminent departures to college. This fall, 14 young people from within EECM’s Children & Youth programs will begin their journey through the halls of higher learning. I assume that all parents are proud when their offspring embark on a college education, but for these 14 men and women, the moment is even more special – most of them will be the first members of their families to go to college.
I have clear recollections of driving my parents absolutely batty as I packed and repacked and sorted and agonized over what to bring with me to college. In the end, I opted to bring Absolutely Everything, including but not limited to: roller blades I never used, a purple lava lamp, and several cases of ramen noodles which I never ate because, let’s face
it, ramen noodles are gross.
Thanks to the generosity of several of our Member Congregations, our college-bound young people will also begin their journeys well-equipped. Each fall, our congregations hold Off to College drives to collect the necessary trappings of dormitory life. Each student is then presented with his/her own Off to College Kit. Packed into a laundry basket or storage tub they find vital gear like sheets, towels, clothing hangers, laundry detergent, school supplies, shower shoes and microwave popcorn.
Many of these young men and women have been involved with East End Cooperative Ministry since elementary school. We have watched them grow and learn and mature into confident adults and we share in their families’ joy as they take this next step.
Good luck, grads! Make new friends, have grand adventures and revel in your college experience. But, if at all possible, avoid ramen noodles.
I have clear recollections of driving my parents absolutely batty as I packed and repacked and sorted and agonized over what to bring with me to college. In the end, I opted to bring Absolutely Everything, including but not limited to: roller blades I never used, a purple lava lamp, and several cases of ramen noodles which I never ate because, let’s face
it, ramen noodles are gross.Thanks to the generosity of several of our Member Congregations, our college-bound young people will also begin their journeys well-equipped. Each fall, our congregations hold Off to College drives to collect the necessary trappings of dormitory life. Each student is then presented with his/her own Off to College Kit. Packed into a laundry basket or storage tub they find vital gear like sheets, towels, clothing hangers, laundry detergent, school supplies, shower shoes and microwave popcorn.
Many of these young men and women have been involved with East End Cooperative Ministry since elementary school. We have watched them grow and learn and mature into confident adults and we share in their families’ joy as they take this next step.
Good luck, grads! Make new friends, have grand adventures and revel in your college experience. But, if at all possible, avoid ramen noodles.
0 comments:
Post a Comment