PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

MAY
First Metro-East Youth Project a Success!

For the first time, youth from Interfaith Partnership of Metro East united to serve the community on May 7, 2006. Over 40 youth volunteers, adults and community leaders came together to improve the playground area of Edgemont Elementary in East St. Louis. Volunteers from the Agudas Achim/ Beth Israel Synagogue in Belleville, IL, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Belleville, IL, and Crossroads Christian Disciples of Christ Church in Caseyville, IL, worked side-by-side as they cleared an overgrown fence, painted educational stencils on the asphalt of the playground and beautified the front entrance of the school by mulching and trimming trees. This successful collaboration of youth has been a launching point for future interfaith dialogue with Metro–East youth. Special thanks for Stanford Scott at Adventures in Motivation for coordinating details regarding the project.

For the Fourth Year FBW Supports the Letter Carriers Food Drive
On Saturday, May 13, thirty-six FBW volunteers sorted and packaged food at six area postal stations to support the National Letter Carriers Food Drive to benefit the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Results are below for the stations where our volunteers served.
LOCATION TOTALS - 203,858 This will feed about 140,000 individuals.

AFFTON - 45,344
SOUTH COUNTY - 39,614
CREVE COEUR - 30,211
SOUTHWEST - 30,121
WEATHERS - 13,358
JENNINGS - 13,350
CLAYTON - 12,198
TOWN & COUNTRY - 10,178
U-CITY - 9,484

Thanks to the representatives from the following groups for coming out!
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• First Baptist Church - Crestwood
• Greater Mt. Carmel Baptist Church
• Overland Christian Church
• University United Methodist Church
• World Mission Christian Church
• Webster Groves Christian Church

Interfaith Partnership of St. Charles begins service with Faith Beyond Walls
Launched in 2004, the St. Charles affiliate of Interfaith Partnership has ventured into the area of interfaith service projects through Faith Beyond Walls. On May 20, twelve volunteers, representing six different faith communities came together to beautify the playground of the Kingshighway location of HeadStart in St. Charles. Volunteers worked hard to stain wooden fences and playground equipment to provide a safer environment for the children who use this facility. During lunch volunteers participated in an open interfaith dialogue regarding basic tenets of each faith. Special thanks to Mike Pulley with Youth in Need.

Top of Page

JUNE
Back to School Health Fair in Kinloch Best Yet!
On Saturday, June 17, 2006 from 10am-2pm, IP and FBW sponsored a “Back to School Health Fair” for the residents of Kinloch. This year the health fair featured health screenings for youth provided by the St. Louis Children's Healthy Kids Express Van, the Gateway Preventive Dental Van and the St. Louis City Health Department Lead Unit. Over 15 volunteers came to assist vendors and staff with a variety of tasks. Youth were trained on exercises they could do at home to help increase their physical activity levels by the Emerson YMCA. A dietician from Operation Food Search allowed youth to sample healthy snacks and juices that could be used as a substitute to unhealthy snacks; she also provided them a list of healthy snacks that are good substitutes for unhealthy ones. Other vendors in attendance at the health fair were: Humane Society of MO, Tahitian Noni Juice, Healthcare USA, St. Louis County Police Department, Kids Under Twenty One, Church of Latter Day Saints, Vatterott College, Drug Free Marshalls and the Kinloch Fire Department. In addition to valuable health information, we were able to provide youth with haircuts, backpacks and school supplies to start off the school year. Special thanks to the Pfizer, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and B’nai Amoona for donating a significant amount backpacks and school supplies and volunteering at this event. Approximately 300 people attended this event and over 100 backpacks were distributed.

Second Year of SLICE Serves Four Communities
College Hill, Penrose, Gravois Park Neighborhoods and the City of Kinloch were the recipients of the hard working youth of SLICE this summer from June through August. With 110 youth from St. Louis and around the country participating, the second summer of St. Louis Interfaith Community Explorations (SLICE), was a huge success. The program was designed to bring together interfaith youth for weeklong service camps. Monday of each week began with a Poverty Simulation during which participants role-played the lives of low-income families, including single parents, people with disabilities, and senior citizens on Social Security. The next four days included assignments throughout the St. Louis region volunteering on community improvement projects.

Projects mainly focused on neighborhood beautification as volunteers worked side-by- side with residents to help mulch smaller trees around area parks, prepare an area for after school activities, preserve neighborhood gardens and experience the joy of serving in local communities. Special thanks to all the volunteers and neighborhood partners who made this a successful and meaningful summer of service.

DATES	NEIGHBORHOOD	YOUTH GROUPS
June 12-16	College Hill/Third Ward, and Penrose (north city) Project Sponsors: Third Ward Neighborhood Council and Penrose Self- Reliant Neighborhood Association	Jewish Community Relations Council (Representing 6 congregations), Eliot Unitarian Chapel , and Holy Communion Episcopal Church
June 26-30	Gravois Park and Penrose Project Sponsors: Sustainable Neighborhoods- South City Cluster and Penrose Self- Reliant Neighborhood Association	Chaminade College Prep School, and Islamic Community Center
July 10-14	Kinloch Project Sponsors: City of Kinloch	St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and Country Club Christian Church

Top of Page

JULY
Youth Empowered to Make a Difference due to FBW Mini-Grant
Pilgrim Congregational UCC Church was one of 21 local churches located in the City of St. Louis to receive a Youth Mini Grant. The St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, Faith Beyond Walls & Metropolitan Congregations United received funding from the St. Louis Mental Health Board and the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis to provide Youth Mini Grant opportunities within St. Louis City churches. Church youth groups were awarded up to $500 to create a community service project that is planned and carried out by the youth of each congregation. The goal is to challenge young people to begin to learn and demonstrate project planning and leadership development as well as make an impact and take action in the communities where their congregation is located. Seven youth from Pilgrim planned and worked hard to beautify the area around Pilgrim Church. Tasks included an alley clean-up, planting flowers around light poles, and trash pick up in the area. The youth worked hard in planning and implementing the project, including identifying resident community leaders.

Top of Page

AUGUST
St. Charles IP Assists Habitat for Humanity
The St. Charles affiliate of Interfaith Partnership completed it’s second Faith Beyond Walls project on August 19 with Habitat for Humanity-St. Charles. Twelve volunteers from St. Charles- IP joined other volunteers to install insulation, prep walls for dry wall and other needed tasks to prepare two homes for families in need. Special thanks to Kathryn Hoyt and Deborah Coffee for organizing this project.

FBW Volunteers Continue Commitment to Katrina Evacuees By Assisting with Picnic
A family focused picnic for Katrina evacuees who had settled in the St. Louis area was held on August 20, 2006 at Spanish Lake Park. This picnic was organized by the Long Term Recovery Committee, Cridder Center, St. Patrick’s Center, the United Way, Jewish Federation, Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Along with fun activities and give-aways for the children, information was given to evacuees regarding continued services available for them to adjust to their new life. Almost 50 volunteers came together to create a warm, welcoming environment for those still in need of relief a year after devastating storms in the Gulf Coast. Special thanks to Marilyn Dien.

All Woman Crew Brighten Up Hilltop Child Development Center.
FBW began it’s partnership with Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS) on August 26, 2006 by sprucing up the Hilltop Child Development Center with an all woman crew. Twelve volunteers worked hard together to paint the main hallway and stairway in preparation for inspection. LFCS staff worked along side volunteers to add finishing touches that provide a great learning environment for children in the 63136 area code. Special thanks to Nikki Vines from LFCS.

 

Top of Page

Upcoming FBW Projects
Contact Beth Damsgaard-Rodriguez to register for any of these projects at
(314) 531-4787 or by e-mail