The Getting Ahead Program
October 2023 through January 2024, every other Thursday evening
from 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM
at ERUCC (Evangelical Reformed, United Church of Christ), 15 West Church Street, Frederick, Maryland
It’s Back! The wonderful program that “helps low-income families move from dependency to self‐sufficiency through education, self‐assessment, and mentoring experience. The participants will take a look at their current situation and plan for the future all while building relationships, setting goals, and resources to “get ahead”.” This program serves our local community members who generally would be considered our “working poor.”
The Getting Ahead program guides Investigators (participants) through the process of assessing their own resources and how to build those resources as part of their move to self-sufficiency. Getting Ahead Investigators create their own plan for a sustainable life, explore resources needed for sustainability, build healthy relationships with others, begin the process of writing their own future stories, and examine how they can change the legacy they leave to their families and community.
This program is partnering with local organizations and churches to facilitate a 16-week “kitchen table style” program to help people stabilize their situations and build resources to improve their lives.
Here’s where All Saints’ can help. The sessions are held every other Thursday evening starting in October 2023 through January 2024 and they need our help with:
- Providing meals for the Investigators, Facilitators, children and childcare providers (so that the Investigators don’t have to worry about childcare while participating)
- 2-3 people plating the meals/serving the attendees
- Packing up any extra food for the Investigators to take home
The Getting Ahead Program is held at the ERUCC (Evangelical Reformed, United Church of Christ), 15 West Church Street in Frederick, and the food is to be dropped off there at 5:30 pm.
We are requesting ministries, families, or other groups of our All Saints’ community to coordinate amongst their groups to provide the meal. I hope that as you read this you will think about offering to prepare an entree, side dish, salad, dessert, or snacks for these adults and a few children. Previously we have had wonderful participation from many various groups and committees who coordinated together to provide a meal, and the outpouring of this support was so greatly appreciated by the Investigators and the local non-profits running this program in Frederick. One of the Facilitators said of All Saints’, “We are amazed and humbled that people are taking time out of their busy lives to do this for people they do not even know. We are grateful for the commitment of your members to helping these individuals improve their quality of life.”
If you want to help the community by supporting the Getting Ahead program, please contact Katy Ackland, (kackland921@aol.com, 240-336-3230) for more information. Ministry leaders – be on the lookout for a call or email from me soon to request your team’s help with this important opportunity! If you’re new and want to engage in this outreach, please contact me. We are also looking for assistance with managing this wonderful program.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Katy Ackland
kackland921@aol.com
240-446-3230
