The Agape Villages carnival was held at the Principled Academy School in San Leandro on September 22nd. We had a well-rounded group of folks and kids attend who were representative of the community. Carnival rides were provided by “Fun and Games” and included a tea-cup ride, train ride, jumping house and a dunk tank. Games were donated, by the Boy Scouts of America “Eagle Scouts” project, which included a bean bag toss, golf game, and several other competitive games that provided stuffed animals for game winners.
The San Leandro Times, San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, Davis Street Community Services, and the Principled Academy helped publicize our event to the community. Thank you to Isaac Durst, for hosting our carnival location and helping us to get the word out in the community. Thank you to Alberto, who is an exchange student all the way from Spain, and who helped us all day long by making snow cones, and to Jorge Gomez of USGA, Inc who donated all of the hot dogs and buns, and to Kevin and Michael Youngblood of USGA, Inc. who donated their time, equipment and participated in helping with the games, set up and clean up. We couldnât have done it without you guys!
Category: Events
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2nd Annual Carnival in San Leandro
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14th Annual Fairways Fore Foster Kids
Do you want to show off your putting game? Can you drive the ball long? Are you accurate? Show off your skills for a chance at prizes, including a brand new car from American Chevrolet with a hole in one.
If you’re not much of a golfer, you can still help us with this event. Contact Us at the Manteca office if you want to provide items for the Raffle and Auction. Or if your business would like to sponsor us, you can sign up to do so here.
We put on events like this so we can benefit the kids in foster care that our agency helps. We look forward to seeing you October 26!
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An Eagle Scout Project For Our Carnival
Last year we put on our first Carnival in San Leandro. It was so much fun for all those that attended that we wanted to do it again this year. Our 2nd Annual Carnival in San Leandro on September 22 will feature food, games, rides, a photo booth and so much more! This year we were so fortunate to have an eagle scout, Jeston Bond, offer their services to build some games for us as their eagle scout project.
Jeston spent 200 hours and his own money to build some amazing quality games, including plinko, mini golf, and cornhole. These games required planning and multiple steps to create. He built the games from raw wood, cutting, sanding, painting and applying the lettering. Over the months he invested into these games, he had to work through rain and heat going up to 108 degrees.
We’re looking forward to a great Carnival in September, thank you Jeston for all your hard work and time!
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8th Annual Foster Care Picnic
We had our 8th annual picnic for our families and youth in June this year. We had our typical play activities, games, music, food and added a photo booth, face painting and a henna tattoo booth. We welcomed back Reptile Ron and his interesting creatures. His traveling reptile show was exciting and educational for everyone. We appreciate all the families, staff, GK Music, the volunteers, and everyone who participated in making the picnic a magical day for all.
Our picnic is the perfect opportunity for our kids and non-minor dependents (those over 18 years of age in care) to have some good old fashioned fun. It is also a time for our foster parents to visit with other foster parents and make new friends.
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Tip a Hero Event at Chili’s
. All day Chili’s will be giving back 15% of your meal orders to Agape Villages when you present this flyer. We hope to see you there!
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Christmas Parties
Agape Villages celebrated its Christmas parties this year with pizza and cake, games and gifts for all the foster kids. We had a party in each of our 3 regions. Thank you to all of the Agape staff who worked so hard to make this such a memorable night for the kids and families. Thank you to all who donated so that we could provide these gifts.
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Thank You Pleasanton North Rotary!
Agape Villages was thrilled to be the beneficiary of Fund-A-Need at Pleasanton North Rotary’s A Starry Night event in September. Rotary members Tom Hall and Tami Hennegan presented the check to Janet Kleyn and Jen Oxe on December 1. The check was for $28,030! We are overwhelmed and so thankful.
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We are an Inspire Giving Semi-finalist!
Janet Kleyn and Courtney McAlister were pleased to attend an event on Nov 30 in Citrus Heights, where Agape Villages Foster Family Agency and 2 other semi-finalists for the Inspire Giving grant were featured. Janet and Courtney answered a lot of questions about the Agape Transitional Youth Program, which is a year long program that helps prepare youth from age 14 – 21 to be happy, productive adults.
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ELF Someone to benefit Agape Villages
ELF Someone! We are partnering again with the Tri-Valley Church to bring joy into your neighbors’ yards with balloons, elf cutouts and an ELFed sign. If the house you want to ELF is in Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton, Tracy, Danville, San Ramon, just pay a small fee and the church will organize the ELFing starting Nov 30 leading up to Christmas Day. All proceeds benefit Agape Villages.
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Friday FAQ’s: What is Orphan Sunday?
This past week you may have seen an email or Facebook post about Orphan Sunday, which is coming up on Sunday, November 12th. Orphan Sunday was originally inspired by the efforts of a church in Zambia. An American pastor was visiting the church, and sat in awe as people who were struggling themselves all answered their pastor’s passionate call to care for the orphans in their community by bringing forward food and money. Some members of the congregation even gave the shoes off their feet. Orphan Sunday then became a movement throughout churches in Zambia, and was brought to the U.S. by Every Orphan’s Hope (a trademark of the Christian Alliance for Orphans).
CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans) wants Orphan Sunday to be a local effort, led by individual churches. They hope to see each church discover the best way for their congregation to get involved with addressing the needs of children in foster care and orphanages both here in the U.S. and abroad. Orphan Sunday events vary, for example, events in previous years included special messages on Godâs heart for the orphan, prayer gatherings, fasts and simple meals, student-led fundraisers, foster family recruiting and live concerts.
A story found on the testimonials page of the Orphan Sunday website details how one church was transformed by its participation in Orphan Sunday.
“Clay and Tami joined Emmaus Church in Redlands, CA along with their two daughters adopted from foster care. Tami approached her pastor about doing an Orphan Sunday event and he was very supportive of the idea. The last few years Orphan Sunday at Emmaus Church has involved a message about âGodâs Heart for the Orphanâ and a panel of adoptive and foster parents. Emmaus Church encourages everyone to participate. Clay relayed a story of a young single man who doesnât feel he’s in a place to adopt but knows he has a part to play in supporting families who do.
Orphan Sunday at Emmaus is one of the largest attendance Sundays of the year. It has grown the church as well, from 2 adopted children in Clay and Tamiâs family to over 20 children who have been placed in families from U.S. foster care and international adoption. They even joke that there was a couple who didnât come on Orphan Sunday because they knew if they did, theyâd be signing adoption papers. Turns out they didnât attend but months later adoption papers were signed!
Whatâs encouraging about Emmaus Church is the ethos of âeveryone has a part to play.â Not everyone is called to adopt and there are numerous ways to support Christian orphan care, from respite care to preparing meals, and mentoring a child in foster care to financially supporting an orphan care ministry or organization.”
Agape Villages Foster Family Agency would love to partner with any church or other faith-based community that would like to do an Orphan Sunday with their congregation. We can have someone come and speak about foster care in your church’s community, the need for foster families, and ways to get involved. If you belong to a church or other faith community, and would like to participate in Orphan Sunday, please contact Katy Partan at kpartan@agapevillages.org.
âOrphan Sunday engages Godâs people to put our FAITH into ACTIONâŠas we unite to advocate for the most vulnerable.â
â ANDY LEHMAN, Vice President, Lifesong for Orphans
CAFO has put together a lot of great materials that offer ideas and ways to get involved. Click HERE to view their resources and suggestions for involvement in the foster care system.