The Blessings of Volunteers...

One area of KCM that we don't talk much about is our Crisis Center.  Our Crisis Center is a safe place where survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault can come to seek refuge, healing and God's love.  We offer crisis counsleing, advocacy through their entire process, support groups for adults and children and love and support through their healing.  Our Crisis Center Director is Lisa Sanchez and she is supported by an incredible staff of 5 advocates and educational trainers.  God daily uses these 6 individuals to bring Hope, Joy and Love to those who need it most...the survivors, but the Crisis Center could not deliver Jesus to these people without their volunteers and today we are highlighting 3 of the most wonderful, generous and loving people you could know.

The first is one of  the sweetest ladies who comes to volunteer. Her name is Ms Janet Musgrove. She Blesses us once a week, for a couple of hours, and is always ready to work, and when I say work I mean putting folders together, shredding papers or answering the phone. Stuff that would not necessarily be considered the "fun" jobs.  She even at times will share a "funny" that will help us get through the day.

Thank you Ms Janet for always putting a smile on our faces!!

We also have two other volunteers in our Crisis Center that help out on our hotlines, Dawn Hampton and Anita Mancini. These ladies both started volunteering in 2005 and have been faithful ever since to volunteer atleast 1 week out of the month each night if not 2 weeks.   Let me explain a little more about this much needed help.  During non-business hours the calls that come into our 2 crisis lines are transferred to a hotline call center which in turn forwards the call to the individual "on call".  Depending on the situation the on-call person may have to go to the hospital or police station to assist the victim.  These ladies take a week or more each month to put their lives on hold to be avaialble to help people in crisis...without these ladies our staff would not get the much needed breaks they offer at times. THANK YOU BOTH...YOU ARE AMAZING AND MUCH APPRECIATED!!
 
If you know someone who is currently living in Domestic Violence (chances are you do, even if you don't know about it) and would like more information please call our Crisis Center Domestic Abuse Number at 281-391-4504...if you find yourself in an emergency situation please call our Domestic Violence Help Line at 281-391-4357.
 
If you, your friend, daughter, son, loved one...anyone in your life has been the victim of sexual abuse, rape or incest please know there is help.  Please call our Crisis Center Sexual Assault Number at 281-391-5262.  If you find yourself in an emergency situation please call our Sexual Abuse Center Hotline at 281-693-7273.
 
If you would like more information on volunteering please contact Michelle at 281-346-8041.

A KCM Volunteer is...

We live in a world that is fast-paced, with instant satisfaction of exactly what we want...we want a grand lifestyle in a drive-thru window.  Don't worry I am not going to try to reason why this is a necessary way of life or why it is not...but I do want to try to give us all something to think about. 

What would happen if we all slowed down for a minute to help someone else?

That is what the Volunteers at KCM do each time they give of their time. 

For the next few weeks I want to take the opportunity to shine the light on some of our Volunteers, without their dedication & suuport KCM would not be where we are today.  

Today I want to focus on 2 volunteers that make a difference in KCM...over the next few weeks I will introduce you to volunteers in each area of KCM so check back often to see who is mentioned...it might be someone you know...or even YOU!!

We have one volunteer, whom I will call Janet Boeve (by the way that is her real name), who gives of herself tirelessly to KCM.  Two days (at minimum) she works in our Administration Office, one day is up front helping our receptionist and the other is in Social Services doing anything they need help with.  She is also an active KCM Board Member, as well as a regular store volunteer.  She is also CRAZY active in her church and cooks large meals to host dinner at her house for the leaders of her church and others in her community, and the most important role she has is being an Amazing MOM.  Just hearing about a week in her world makes me tired, but also so Blessed to be able to work with such a Wonderful Women.  Thank you Janet for all you do!!

We have another volunteer who likes to stay in the shadows. Let's call him Mike Buehner.  Mike has been volunteering in KCM for quite some time, but he really began to stand-out when we started the new store project.  Mike has given more hours than any one person should (who is not being paid, that is) to the store.  It is not uncommon to see Mike working in the store after work in the evenings or most Saturday's.  As we were getting the store open he would take personal time from work to help with any detail needed, from pulling cable in the ceiling to sweeping.  He would meet each week with the New Store Committee early in the morinng (ok like 7:00 AM or so...but that's early to me) and work on anything he was asked to do.  He is also now helping KCM with some technological upgrades.  He continues to donate his own time, money and resources to make the New Super Store and KCM all it can be.  It is his dedication that is an inspiration to me and so many others!!  Thank you Mike for being YOU!!

To volunteer you don't have to give 10+ hours a week, or even 1 hour a week, volunteering is giving when you can, how you can.  Over the next weeks you will be shown different volunteer opportunities through real people who do the jobs themselves.  Volunteering at KCM gives you an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ, that maybe you wouldn't have other wise. 

If you would like more information on volunteering please conatct Michelle Johns at:

michelle.johns@ktcm.org or 281-346-8041