Transitional House

OFFKM offers housing for probationers, parolees

UPDATE:  Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries has moved on from the transitional housing services.  For information on other area resources, visit https://tinyurl.com/OFFKM2018ResourcesList.

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VANDALIA — Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries is turning a new leaf, meeting a great need in the community, by offering low-cost, quality housing for men who are on probationary or parolee status.

     Its new program is the OFFKM-P2 Phase II Transitional Housing Program.

     OFFKM will be using its Transitional Housing to house future tenants who will be personally interview and agree to a set of house rules before moving into the facility. 

     The new tenants must be ‘working, motivated men’ referred by the Department of Corrections or the Cass County Housing Assessment and Resource Agency (HARA).

     The OFFKM Transitional House most recently offered free housing to single women and women with children who were homeless or at risk of being homeless; those women subscribed to an OFFKM program to help them find or maintain employment, manage their money and establish savings to enable them to move into their own housing and gain other significant life skills.

     Rent for the new housing will be $100 per week.

     For more information, contact OFFKM at 269.476.1257.

~ Click here to download a copy of the OFFKM-P2 Transitional Housing Handbook. ~

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Advocating for Excellence in K-12 Education, Family Fun, News

Visit Wax Museums on Underground Railroad, Kentucky slave raid

This you cannot miss:  Wax Museums about the Underground Railroad in Cass County and about an 1847 Kentucky slave raid, coming in early June 2018.

     The Wax Museums will be held June 6 and June 13 at the Bonine House, on M-60 and Penn Road, in Vandalia,  The Bonine House is thought to have been a place where those escaping slavery were “sheltered” as they sought freedom, according to the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County.

Not to be missed: Wax Museum exhibits on the 1847 Kentucky slave raid.

     The Wax Museum events are:

          *  June 6, from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.

          *  June 13, 10:30 a.m.t 12 noon

     At both events, historical characters and event ‘come to life.’ 

     At the June 6th event, fourth-graders from Mrs. Riggins and Mrs. Bonine’s classes at Portage’s Lake Center Elementary School will perform.

     Students from Cassopolis High School present the June 13th event, “The 1847 Kentucky Slave Raid.”  The raid occurred in August 1847, when 13 slave catchers from Kentucky came to Cass County to find “investments” they’d heard might be living among the Quakers there.  Slaverunners Wright Modlin and William Holman Jones had been visiting Bourbon County, in Kentucky, returning with enslaved people.

     There will be three performances on the half hour.  Guests are invited to tour The Bonine House while they wait.

     For more information, contact The Bonine House at 269.320.8532; learn more about the Bonine House at https://www.urscc.org/the-bonine-house.html. 

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Calvin 4-H, Michigan 4-H, Rocky Rivers Riders 4-H Horse Show

OFFKM commits to, partners with 4-H clubs

Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries is committed to the development of youth, particularly those within our southwestern Michigan coverage area.

     We have hosted six-week long, full-day summer enrichment programs for schoolchildren, organized after-school tutorials and continue to provide back-to-nature experiences for youth groups and others.  

     In the past few months, we have started supporting some other area agencies that work with youth, namely two local 4-H clubs:   Calvin 4-H and Rocky River Rider 4-H clubs. 

     One of the groups was down to one youth, but with OFFKM support and outreach, the club is now at a healthy, robust number of youth.

     Interested in all that either of these 4-H clubs has to offer?  (Membership and participation are free!)  Call 269.476.1257 or email [email protected].

~ Like and Subscribe to OFFKM’s YouTube channel! ~

Employment

OFFKM’s new Transportation policy

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Please note: OFFKM will transport individuals to first, second and third shifts at NSG, on West Chicago Road in Niles, Mich., for a fee of $5 per day.

     Also, those desiring to work elsewhere in Niles, Dowagiac or Elkhart, Ind., may also be able to be helped.

     Interested?

     Check out the flier below, and call OFFKM at 269.476.1257!

OFFKM Transportation flier (updated, March 2018)

~ Like and Subscribe to OFFKM’s YouTube channel! ~

4-H programming, Calvin 4-H, Family Fun

4-H youth spend sweet afternoon decorating cupcakes

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VANDALIA ~ Some ‘sweet’ fun was on the agenda for the Calvin 4-H youth gathered for their monthly meeting in early March 2018: They got to experiment with sprinkles and frosting as they decorated cupcakes.

This is just one of the activities the youth do each month that they meet, part of their various “Hands-On” activities.   The  youngsters are expected  to have fun with Legos in April and create sand art in June.

New youth are

Calvin 4-H youth decorate cupcakes, just one of several hands-on activities the group has planned for 2018.

always invited to these meetings.  An RSVP (a ‘let-us-know-you’re-coming’) is appreciated, but not required.  There is no cost to youth or their families for them to attend.

Call 269.476.1257 for more information.

Some of the upcoming activities are:

For information on other family-oriented and kid-friendly local events and throughout Southwest Michigan, visit OFFKM’s Events page.

 

Gardening / Ministry of Gardening, Health & Wellness, Uncategorized

OFFKM prez, 4-H youth plant, harvest garden

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We’re at the end of March right now, with rainy and overcast weather, but we know spring will truly emerge . . . soon!

     We’re reminded of the ‘ministry of gardening,’ as practiced by Bro. Curtis May, president of Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries.

Bro. Curtis May, president of Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries, shared his passion for gardening with 4-H youth who planted and harvested vegetables and gave away the food.

     Working with a group of 4-H youth, Bro. May and they planted and cared for vegetables they grew in his garden last year: beautiful, strong healthy kale and other greens, cabbage, tomatoes and eggplant, okra and various other peppers.

     The harvested garden  vegetables were donated to seniors, a private school in Cassopolis and a bi-weekly food bank.

https://www.facebook.com/187994754676238/videos/1108202552655449/

~ To watch a video of some of the vegetables grown and harvested, click here! ~

Health & Wellness

Free dental services offered at Cassopolis Wellness event

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CASSOPOLIS ~ Need your teeth cleaned or cavities filled or maybe even one of those pearls extracted . . . but short on cash or dental insurance?

Free dental services will be offered for free at an April 8, 2018, Dental and Wellness event at Camp Wagner in Cassopolis, Mich.

     Next month, in April 2018, at Camp Wagner in Cassopolis, guests can have some dental work done . . . for free!

     These services are provided free at the “Community Health and Dental Fair” at Camp Wagner, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 8, 2018.  This is day of wellness and health for both adults and children.

     One service will be provided per person.

     Guests are encouraged to arrive early; Camp Wagner is located at 19088 Brownsville St.

     For more information, call Camp Wagner at 269.476.2550.

Community Health and Dental Fair, on April 8, 2018, at Camp Wagner in Cassopolis, Mich.

~  Find other area family-oriented and kid-friendly events by clicking here! ~

Family Fun, Fellowships and Retreats, Health & Wellness

Now is time to reserve OFFKM retreat sites

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You’ve thought long and hard about the need to take your spouse, family, church, ministry or group away for a retreat, and now is the time to move on that inspiration: Make time and find a place for your church, ministry or group retreat.

     Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries is now taking reservations for a day or overnight retreat at one of its beautiful, relaxing retreat spots in Southwest Michigan.

     OFFKM maintains a lakeside spot with a full, cement basketball court, kayaks and pontoons for exploring the beautiful lake and various games for backyard fellowship.

     Or, consider making it more rustic, and head into the “great outback” that is Camp B!

     Call for details today!

Entrance to Camp B
Sleeping tents at Camp B

~ Find other local family-oriented and kid-friendly events by clicking here! ~

Family Fun, Youth Outreach

Calvin Center SDA Church hosts free Skate Date

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NILES ~ Children and college students are invited to enjoy an afternoon of skating ~ FREE! ~ compliments of the Calvin Center SDA Church of Cassopolis.

     The free Skate Date is 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 22, 2018, at Skate-O-Rama in Niles.  Adults pay $2.

     This event is part of the church’s Health and Temperance work.

     For more information, call Debbie Jackson @ 269.718.8704.

2018-04-22_HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE SKATING EVENT

~ Read how OFFKM helped this young woman after the death of  her guardian grandmother. ~

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~ Find other family- and kid-friendly events! ~