Service Opportunity

Are you looking for a way to serve others alongside your children this summer?  Here are some ideas of how to get involved through Indian Creek Community Church:

Countryside Elementary School Partnership

Over 60% of the students at Countryside Elementary live in poverty. In fact, there are 223 children (80%) who receive free or reduced priced meals. In order to qualify for these free meals, a family's situation must be significantly lower than the poverty level. There are actually 40 families who are without a place to call home! Through our partnership, we are able to support these 223 children through several programs throughout the year and help these children look past heir current situation, allowing them to set goals and dream toward their future.

Harvesters Kids Cafe: July 2 - August 10 (M,W,F)

Through this initiative, Indian Creek is partnering with Harvesters to provide free lunches to children ages 1-18. Harvesters will provide the food, we provide the hands to serve it! We are needing volunteers who are available to serve from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Feel free to bring your kids along, as this will be a great learning environment where they will be able to interact with kids their age and build new relationships! For more information on these opportunities and to get involved, please email Jason Reiswig  or call 913.829.0712.

Backpack Program: July 22-29 

Provide the essential school supplies to children as they begin a new year of learning and growth. This year, we will be having a dinner for the families participating in the program. For more information on these opportunities and to get involved, please email Jason Reiswig  or call 913.829.0712.

YouthFriends
Through a program called YouthFriends, there is an opportunity for volunteers to be paired up directly with an underpriveleged child. Through scheduled meeting times, a mentor is able to choose from a wide range of in-school activities which include having lunch with a student, tutoring, reading to a student, participating in game nights, or simply being a friend who listens. We also partner directly with Countryside Elementary through the Life Enrichment program (see below).  For more information on these opportunities and to get involved, please email Jason Reiswig  or call 913.829.0712.

Life Enrichment Program

The Life Enrichment Program brings children from Countryside Elementary to Indian Creek after school into an environment where children can be mentored in reading fluency, goal setting, character development, faith, and exposure to the arts. The art classes we offer include Dance-Hip Hop, Tae Kwon Do, Acting, Cartoon Drawing, Musical Theatre, and Combat Acting. For more information, please email Terry Geenens or call 913.254.4431. 

Food Pantry

Through our Food Pantry, we provide basic food and home needs for hundreds in the Olathe community. In 2011, over 1000 people came through our doors and 16,000 meals were supplied. However, with our increasing impact within our community, requests for food, personal hygiene items, and cleaning products are on the rise. When you hit the grocery store consider the food pantry and provide a meal for a hungry neighbor. For more information on how to get involved, contactHeather Mertens, the Food Pantry Coordinator, or call 913.829.0712.

 Even the smallest children can get involved in these activities.  Take them shopping to pick out the food or a backpack for other children.  If they are a little older, bring them along to the Harvester's Kids Cafe and have them help serve other kids in need.  Just do what you can and what fits with your family's current circumstances.  When children serve alongside their parents starting at a young age,  they are more likely to continue to do so in the future.  They are never to young to start.