"Charity is a virtue of the heart, and not of the hands"....Joseph Addison

 

 

Here at Reconnecting Families, we fortunate enough to have an amazingly supportive community.  Cobb County is a great place to live and work and offers many great volunteers who come to RF with the willingness and desire to help.  Kathy Sisk and Jane Detzel are no exceptions.  These are 2 ladies who have joined the RF Friends of the Board and volunteer to babysit every Thursday night at Celebrating Families.  It is amazing to see these women grow and nurture relationships with the families of the FDTC.

 

 

 

Recently, a small boy made a gift (pictured above) for Kathy and Jane.  His tiny hands were so proud to share this ornament as a token of his thanks and affection.  Jane and Kathy have graciously offered to share their experiences in their own words: 

 

 

From Kathy...

 

These two young boys connected with Jane and I the moment we met, 8 wks ago. As we introduced ourselves, I knew right off the bat that I would not be able to remember their names (jane will have to tell you their names).  I asked if I could call them "J" (for the older boy) and "JJ" for the younger.  They agreed I could do that (later I found out that I am the ONLY one who can call them J and JJ).  These boys were so polite and well mannered.  Each Thursday at the dinner they were the first ones to greet us with hugh smiles and hugs.  We let their mother know much we thought of her sons, we felt that was very important (actually, I tell ANY mother if I encounter a well-behaved and well-mannered child).  On the next to the last week Jane and I gave the boys each a Dr. Suess book.  I gave J "Oh, The Places You'll Go" and Jane gave JJ "Oh, The Thinks You Can Think".  The mother said we knew the boys well, because each book fit their personalities.  That made me feel wonderful.  So, on the last dinner, JJ gave me the snowflake/artwork.  He asked that I share it with Miss Jane, we could take turns keeping it.  I tell you, I was about to cry.  I truly pray that these young men and their mother will continue on the road to recovery.  I am sure they will remember the good people who tried to help them in this difficult period of their lives.  Thanks for letting me share this story and for letting me make a difference in a young person's life.  Looking forward to continuing with Reconnecting Families.   

 

 

From Jane...

 

One of the dearest little boys @ Reconnecting Families made a snowflake out of tongue depressors,  various shapes of macaroni, lots of glue & plenty of pride & love,  for Kathy & me.  We have a mutual admiration concerning this mannerly & delightful youngster & his older brother.  When he handed Kathy & I this beautiful creation he was beaming with huge dimples showing & happy, big, bright eyes full of love.  Throughout the program Kathy & I have given these brothers books, St. Patrick's Day socks, made sure they got extra cookies & lots of hugs.  When Jahmorie gave us this gift he made - to share - we knew it would be treasured.  Kathy & I will take turns sharing the snowflake by displaying it in a place of honor in our homes.  It will forever remind us of great memories we have of this darling little boy.

 

THANKS JANE AND KATHY FOR ALL YOU DO!



 

 

 

Thanks Again to Our Friends at the Junior League!

Thank so much to the Junior League of Cobb Marietta!

A special thanks goes out to a few ladies from our friend and community partners at the Junior League of Cobb Marietta.  These busy ladies took the the time away from their families and schedules to come to the courthouse and office of Reconnecting Families to help organize the closet.  I think these ladies will agree that the clothes closet is a huge and special undertaking that we are proud to offer through Reconnecting Families.  We always need volunteers to come and sort clothes!

Thanks to the ladies of JLCM and come back to see us again soon!

For more information on our clothes closet click HERE!

Easter is Almost Here!

 

Easter is Here and Reconnecting Families is Bringing Families Together...

Sunday March 24, 2013 marked the annual Marietta First Baptist Church's Easter Egg Hunt. First Baptist has become a great friend and sponsor of the Reconnecting Families' family. This church truly steps up to the plate when food or activities are needed for the families undergoing drug court. The major event sponsored by this wonderful church is the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, but First Baptist is also helpful with donating their time, facilities and congregation.

This past Sunday, despite the looming fears of rain or even snow (!), the families participating in the Family Dependancy Treatment Court program celebrated Easter alongside Judge Juanita Stedman, Board members of Reconnecting Families, and drug court employees. Easter is a holiday about healing and new life, and this day truly personifies the happiness of new lives that are filled with sobriety.  It was no surprise when, despite the gloomy forecast, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and shined down on this event!

Pictures of the great day are soon to follow so check back in to see those adorable faces!

Thanks to the kind folks of Marietta First Baptist Church!

Our Dear Little Worker Bees.....

Our donated clothes closet is one of the most valuable services offered by Reconnecting Families.  Through community outreach and donations, RF maintains a closet system where we accept donated clothes and household goods for our families and especially the children associated with the Family Dependancy Court and Juvenile Drug Court.  Clothes and donated items pour into this closet on a daily basis and RF is always in need of some able bodied hands to help our volunteers get the clothes organized, cleaned out and ready for our families to "shop".

Gail Brinkman

The clothes closet program has been lovingly lead by our very dear friend and volunteer Gail Brinkman for the last 5 years.  Gail tirelessly works in the closet to ensure each family has exactly what is needed and what is helpful.  What woudl we do without Gail??

Thanks Gail!

Also, this semester RF has had the fortune of being assisted in the closet by intern Monica Gutierrez.  Monica is active in her own church donation programs and has been assisting RF to ensure the closet runs smoothly.

If you would like to get involved and help these ladies by volunteering in our clothes closet, please email reconnecting.families@cobbcounty.org.
You can volunteer regularly or only one time, we need your help!

Monica Gutierrez

JLCM Helps RF with Baskets!

Junior League of Cobb Marietta helps out again!

Treatment Baskets are a big part of what Reconnecting Families does to make our FDTC participants successful in their new sober lives.  As a participant enters residential treatment, they are required to bring with them 2 weeks worth of food and personal hygiene items.  This may seem small, but for our participants who have been left with nothing due to a life of drug abuse, this is a huge expense.  RF provides a basket with all the necessary items to increase their chances of successful drug abuse treatment.

Our good friends, the Junior League of Cobb Marietta, donated and organized 17 treatment baskets for our FDTC families.

Thanks so much to the JLCM for all your hard work and dedication!!

Reconnecting Families, Inc Celebrates 5 Years of Bringing Families Together....

 

 

If you might like to join us in celebrating, please rsvp to reconnecting.families@cobbcounty.org.

 

Tickets are $100 per person and going fast!

 



Wondering what to do with those old pots and pans?

RF Needs List

Do you look around the house some days and wonder what to do with the old clothes, household items etc...?  Or perhaps your Sunday school, Bible study, professional organization or civic group is looking for a charity to partner and grow a partnership?

Consider RF for your organization.  Reconnecting Families is always on the look out for toiletries, used household items, clothes, children's toys and wares.  Cobb County is an amazing community whose support and kindness makes RF such a success!

What does RF need?  The need is plenty, but here are a few items we suggest:

Needs List

**NON AEROSOL PLEASE!!!!!!

New Kitchen items:

• Bibs

• Child sippy cups

• Cleaning items: sponges, cleaners, paper towels, brooms, dust mops, laundry detergent, light bulbs, dishwashing liquid

• Dishes, bowls, glasses, utensils and cutlery

• Dish towels

• Measuring cups

• Pot holders

• gently used Pots and pans

• Small appliances

• Storage containers

New Bath Items:

• Bathroom tissue

• Personal toiletries: shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream/shaving razors and toothpaste

• Towels, wash cloths and bath set

New Bed Linens:

• Blankets: twin sized and full sized, comforters

• Pillows

• Sheet Sets: crib, twin, full and queen

New Miscellaneous Items:

• Batteries: all sizes

• Car Seats

• Children's Books and DVDs

• Crib-Baby Bed

• Diapers, Pull-Ups

• Gift and Gas Cards: Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, CVS, et al.

• High Chairs

• Microwave Ovens

• Toys, Board Games, cards and puzzles