On October 31, 2009, a group of 70 people from River Pointe’s Connect event served in North Richmond for an entire day. Lives where touched both from those who served and those that received help this day.
Here’s a small sample of what was done on this day.

I have been trying to learn more about poverty over the last few weeks. The book I am currently reading on the subject is “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” by Dr. Ruby Payne. Here are a few things I have learned so far.

Typically poverty is thought of in terms of financial resources only. While financial resources are obviously important, the ability to leave poverty is more dependent on other resources than it is upon financial resources. The other resources that play an enormous role are:

1. Spiritual Resources. The belief that help can be obtained from God. That there is a purpose for living, and that worth and love are gifts from God. It’s the belief that you are not helpless or worthless.

2. Emotional Resources. These provide the stamina to withstand difficult and uncomfortable emotional situations and feelings.

3. Mental Resources. This is about being able to process information and use it in daily living. If an individual can read, write, and compute they have a huge advantage!

4. Physical Resources. Simply having a body that works, is capable and mobile.

5. Support Systems as Resources. Having someone to go to when help is needed that is available and helpful.

6. Role Model Relationships. Having nurturing and appropriate role models to guide and direct.

7. Knowledge of Hidden Rules. Dr. Payne talks a lot about this in her book, as crucial to whatever class in which an individual wishes to live. She sited as an example three hidden rules in poverty: the noise level is high, the most important information is non-verbal, and one of the main values of an individual to the group is an ability to entertain.

To move out of poverty one needs resources in each of these seven areas. I am encouraged that we are addressing the majority of these resources listed above in the Friends of North Richmond initiative!

Are you or your family looking for a way to bless someone in need this Christmas season? Families who have very little come each day through the doors of Helping Hands in North Richmond looking for assistance in food, utility bills, clothing or other basic needs they hope to have met.

If you would like to adopt a family to bless this year, please contact Melanie Murphy at 713.417.8028. Please do not contact Helping Hands. You will choose a family that best meets your ability to sponsor. Once you have your family contact information, you will be responsible for contacting them, finding out what their needs might be and following through to the day you deliver their gifts.

Families not adopted by November 23 will be returned to Helping Hands. Once again, please contact Melanie Murphy at 713.417.8028 or at Melanie Murphy for more detailed information on adopting a family.

I’ve been reading the book A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Dr. Ruby Payne. It’s a great resource for us in Friends of North Richmond.

Dr. Payne has found that an education is the key to getting out of , and staying out of, generational poverty. She says that individuals leave poverty for one of four reasons:

1. A goal or vision of something they want to be or have
2. A situation that is so painful that anything would be better
3. Because someone “sponsors” them, i.e. a mentor or role model who shows them a different way or convinces them to live differently
4. A specific talent or ability that provides an opportunity for them.

As I read this I get excited about our mentoring program that will launch next year. Our partnership with educators in North Richmond is key, and I can’t wait to hear the stories that will emerge in the coming days. This really underlines for me the importance of Friends of North Richmond being a long-term commitment.

Specific careers are still needed to be represented for the Career Day. If you are serving in the military, or you are a doctor, surgeon, pilot, artist or photographer or even know one who could help; we need you! Contact the Career team at 832.223.2100 to share your career on Nov. 23rd with 4th and 5th graders from the North Richmond Elementary Schools. This event will be held at River Pointe.

Here are some pictures from the projects that we did on October 31, 2009. It doesn’t show every single job completed that day, but these are highlights of the basic overview.

Before

After

Interested in sharing what you do for a living with 4th and 5th graders from Pink and Juan Seguin Elementary Schools?
We could use more presenters for the 250 students who will be coming to River Pointe’s campus on November, 23rd! Volunteers will be asked to share about your career in three back-to-back 20 minute segments.

Please contact the Career Team at 281-223-2100 for more info and to volunteer.

Did you know that Helping Hands is always in need of diapers? If you would like to donate a package or more please feel free to take them to the Helping Hands building at 902 Collins Road.

From November 8-15th you can drop them in any of the boxes in the childrens areas at River Pointe.

Thanks so much for your support.

This past Saturday we had 70 volunteers show up and volunteer in Construction for 6 hours; that’s close to $10,000 worth of donated labor! The group painted three houses, and did home repair at two houses. The home repair jobs where huge! At one location we pulled out an old tub and toilet and replaced them with handicap accessible ones. At another location we replaced a shower and toilet, broken windows, added a new door with a deadbolt and put in a kitchen where previously there wasn’t one. We will post before and after pictures soon!

It was a great day! We are so grateful for the volunteer labor and for those who went back the next day to wrap things up. It meant so much for the people we were fortunate enough to help and we are excited about the new friendships that where formed!

Here’s one video from the day, it was shot on a phone but it captures the heart of the day!

This video shows the teams hard at work (no Audio)