Build The House Eve

As we make final preparations for our 2014 signature event I can’t help but think about how far we’ve come. For starters I type this article on really functional web-page where lots of donated time has gone into (Thanks Dave Salvagnini).

It was about this time in 2009 that our small group saw a need in our community and rallied together to come up with an idea to help one family! Four months later we were running our very first Cornhole For Community event. At the end of that day we wrote a check for $1950 to a family that was overwhelmed, first they were overwhelmed by life, next they were overwhelmed by the generosity of our community!

Since that time C4C has given away nearly $28,000 (!!!) through four major events. We have served families, neighbors and organizations with a desire to be a blessing wherever we can be.

But, Build the house is unique in many ways for C4C. 1) in previous years it was always about just raising as much as we can. There would be no disappointments because there was no goal. 2) C4C beneficiaries have always been new people, people that we built a relationship with because of the event and their needs 3) there is less stress when you are just a community group trying to help others.

However, this year, we certainly have a goal! We need to raise the money to fund Benjamin’s house. C4C team has been more focused, more intentional and more outgoing than any other year, that’s because our goal this year is bigger than any number we have ever raised. Do we think we can do it. . . there is always some doubt, but we know the people that support us. We know our community, we know we can get there. At the end of the next couple of days we need to receive nearly $13,000 to reach our goal. Please help us do that! Play in the tournament, eat the food from the food truck, bid up the auction prize that you know someone else wants and GIVE at the event or through that button on the upper left corner of this page!

Additionally, this year is different because of the family we are helping. This is a family that is very special to my family and our community. This is a family that has had a year of stress, and uncertainty, mingled in with a mix of joys and blessing and through it all never lost faith in the plan that God has for them and the mission that they are on. Their desire to love orphaned children thousands of miles away through a safe and nurturing environment is just a small picture into the compassion that they have. I was with them early on after they found out about Benjamin’s impending issues, I was with them in the hospital after her water broke earlier than normal and later I met baby Ben – created just the way God intended. It’s through his short, but impactful life that many people will be touched.

As of August of 2014 Caring for Community became an IRS recognized 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit, with that comes great responsibility. But the process of doing so has driven us to a place where we are even more determined to have meaningful impact in Mansfield and all around. The status has opened several doors this year that didn’t get the attention that we’ve gotten in the past. We look forward to serving the people of our community for many years to come.

Looking forward to a great event tomorrow, with great people around us, benefiting a great cause. Please join us in any way possible!

J. D. Thompson
Director – Caring for Community