Cooking Matters!
The SCM after school program guys are enjoying the “all boys cooking class” as they learn how to prepare and cook new and different healthy meals with Chef Susan from Cooking Matters!
Holiday Ministry
During the holidays, we were able to assist and serve 25 families and 80 children with gifts that came in all shapes and sizes. We were able to give gifts to children who come from very low income based families, and from families of mothers and grandmothers who are suffering from terminal illnesses. We had children that wanted toys, and that needed coats and hats for the winter, as well as food to eat.
We were able to assist some families by paying their gas or electric bill to heat their homes. We even had a mother to request books for her 3 children because they are reading way below their grade level. We work one on one with these twin 7 year old boys, and they are making progress. Mom wanted to have books at home so that she could help them also.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Dinner at SCM
Emanuel and Justina spent a lot time around Thanksgiving doing house visits. They delivered turkeys and Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. We are reminded of how much it means to people when you take time to just “ listen” to them.
A big thanks to Jesse and Rachel Fishman, along with their City Group Renovation team for providing hearty Thanksgiving baskets for some of our SCM families!
We also thank those that assisted our staff in feeding the after school program kids at our annual Thanksgiving Dinner.
Justina delivering Thanksgiving basket to a parent and his kids. (Emanuel is behind the camera.)
Congratulations!
Emanuel & Justina's son, James, was promoted to Detective!
City Hall Pinning Service - (left to right) Emanuel, James, Caption Tuner from Atlanta Police Department, and proud mom,
Sex Trafficking Conference
SCM’s staff attended a very important Sex Trafficking conference at Perimeter Church. Sally Doster, long time volunteer, supporter, and friend of SCM, is introducing one of the speakers. These are a few things that our team learned from the conference:
- Sex trafficking is growing by leaps and bounds in Atlanta, and other cities.
- It's common for a runaway to be approached within two days of leaving their homes.
- Many of the buyers of these young girls are men who hold middle to high class paying jobs, and who live in the suburbs.
- The Internet is the main facilitator of child trafficking.
- The Super Bowl is one of the highest trafficking events.
- We learned key points of how to identify a girl that is being trafficked.
- If you ever suspect a young girl of being trafficked, call your local police department. Do not intervene.
We at SCM have worked with some girls who have received money for sexual services. We have facilitated classes to teach self worth and to build self esteem, and have created a safe place for girls to come and express what they're going through and how to escape dangerous and unsafe situations with the boys and men.
After this conference, we are even more motivated to be aware and make ourselves available to help in any way that we can.
