Public School Connect l Boys & Girls Groups of Lane County- $13,500 + additional gift of $5,168

We are a recently formed non-profit project.  We have been operating for the past year with out-of-pocket funding from involved parents, but have now formed as a non-profit under the umbrella of Helping Hands Ministries.  Our vision is to equip parents with the tools to navigate the challenges of this world and public education while being salt & light for the Gospel. The goal is to support & encourage believer parents to be actively involved on campuses all across Lane County where students are reflecting Jesus, loving their peers, and inviting kids to church. The goal to equip parents with support and resources to disciple their kids through public education while also seeking opportunities to serve a school in supporting their overall climate and culture, by the following:

• Meeting with families 1-1 to help them navigate being a Christian in public schools.
• Meeting with larger groups (events) and facilitating conversations around the vision and mission of the ministry.
• Supporting Kids Clubs as a way for families to connect, support and bless schools and the kids involved in those specific communities (example: kids discipleship groups currently taking place in Gilham, Pleasant Hill, and Thurston communities).
• Students inviting their peers to Kids’ Clubs for their school and grade, and to church.
• Families inviting non-Christian peers to Parent School Connect
• Families inviting their school peers to church.

$3,500 of the funds will primarily be used for Parent School Connect (Parent Support) meeting Expenses, such as facilities rentals, food for the events, and resources for parents (books). Parents and families with kids in public school are the target population.

$10,000 of the funds will be used to support parent-led elementary school boys and girls clubs, such as the ones already created in Gilham, Pleasant Hill and Thurston.  We want to provide T-shirts, curriculum for monthly group gatherings, as well as reimbursements to parent leaders for food and supplies for these monthly gatherings. We estimate annual expenses of $1,000 per club, so $10,000 would support 10 kids’ clubs for a year.   

Our hope is that this project will equip, encourage, and inspire parents with children in public schools. For the kids, our hope is that they will be able to navigate the challenges of school with a sense of community, and an avenue to love and share Jesus with their peers.

Questions? Contact Courtny Saetern: courtlouise@gmail.com