End of Year Appeal
From Stephen Judd, TCMM President
Our resident population is now at 47 children, and we have just accepted two more girls.
We have received 44 children this year which is more placements than in any one year. Two more are already scheduled to come within the next seven days, and one more child has been accepted to arrive before the end of the month.
Since January 1, 2008, the Mansion has been “home” to 75 children of which 44 were new placements, and only 19 were discharged.
We are desperately in need of house parents, and we are rapidly running out of beds. In several of the resident halls, we are actually filled to more than “maximum” capacity.
So, one may ask, “Why accept these children, if you don’t have enough staff or enough room?”
These children have come from some of the worst cases of neglect that we have ever seen. They were absolutely filthy, medically fragile, half-starved, lice infested, teeth rotted, smelled horrible, and were three or four years behind in school – which begs the question, “To which one do you say, ‘No, you can’t come.’?”
Last Thursday, Chad Parker, our Associate Director of TCM Residential Services and Licensed Social Worker, sent me a text message with the following synopsis of his activities for that day:
“We had two scheduled placements that were on campus at 7:30 this morning. Before we could get to them, another lady walked in requesting a meeting regarding an urgent situation with her daughter. We received one email and two phone calls, all needing placements for their children or the children for which they were guardians. All of this was happening while we were working to make room for everyone else.”
It’s exciting and, yes, it’s stressful; but to know that we are able to take these children and care for them, and love them . . . what a blessing!
As you know, this is a faith-based ministry, totally dependent upon the generosity of our partners. While we have seen the Lord provide in miraculous ways throughout the year, I still must ask you to consider helping us one more time before December 31.
In these tough economic times, we are facing new challenges financially, but I know that your end-of-the year donation will help us pay all of our bills and end the year in the black. Your contribution will make a difference in providing for our precious children.
Can I count on your help?
Thank you for prayerfully considering the urgency of this appeal.
Stephen Judd,
President