NOVEMBER 3, 2007
Dear Friends,
There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became,
And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.
Walt Whitman
This is the beginning of a poem by the American poet Walt Whitman, called, There Was a Child Went Forth. The poem conveys how possible it is for us to be influenced by that which we encounter whether for the day...a part of the day...for many years or stretching cycles of years.
We at REACH endeavor to present to our families, to our children and to our community things that might stretch into years of positive influence. We do this day by day through a mentoring program that offers a genuine friendship, support, an emotional and spiritual model of life. Through our Sex Ed curriculum, we offer a unique tool used for adolescents to dialogue with peers and adults about issues dealing with sex. Our camping week, the planning of which began on the last day of camp this year, as well as our youth leadership training, special activities and case management are never ending provisions, objects of care, strategically placed for the families we serve.
You know, you who support us, that these "objects looked upon" by our children, by our families, require great resources and enormous sacrifice by our dedicated team. Did you know that our bare-bones budget does not allow for heath care, pays no one much more than minimum wage, requires our finding folks willing to house our interns, and work without sick pay or benefits? This is what our families see: a staff energized by love, motivated by a desire to serve. What they don't see, but what so thoroughly makes our work possible, is your part, those of you who contribute and support this unique ministry.
I can tell you this - when our children "go forth", they are forever affected by the teamwork of staff, volunteers and financial supporters. We are ever affected and changed by your faithfulness to us.
Your Servant,
Susan K. Slonaker