Braving the Elements
Nearly 400 students, parents and faculty/staff members of Faith Christian School braved the elements on Friday, November 4, to accomplish 50 projects throughout the county on their annual Community Service Project. The day’s theme, "Do Good, Be Generous, Share," chosen by director Tamra Moger, served to direct the students to joyfully serve others on this special day. The younger elementary children spent hours creating cards and preparing programs that were presented at several nursing homes. Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Doris Carter, reported a nursing home resident’s telling one of the five-year-old girls, “We love seeing your little smiling faces; you have just made our day!”
A group of junior high girls packed goodie boxes at Causekeepers that will be sent to the soldiers overseas, while several groups organized food supplies at the CUOC. These were the ones with the dry jobs; many of the students raked leaves and did yard work in area organizations in a light drizzling rain. No matter—the students still had fun. Emma Busick posted on her Facebook page, “CSP was AMAZING as usual! Had a blast with my best friends. Raked tons of leaves, got rained on, and laughed our heads off. Can't wait until next year's CSP!”
However, Mrs. Marjie Grubb’s group had the most bizarre story of the day. She, her daughter Mickey, and Ivey Byrd were dispatched to The Salt Box in Asheboro to paint a bathroom. Expecting to have the paint and supplies provided for them, they were dismayed to discover that not only was the bathroom MUCH larger than they had expected, but also there was no paint or brushes to even complete the job. So with a twenty dollar bill in her pocket, she went to a nearby paint store to see what could be gotten. The store manager wasn’t sympathetic with Mrs. Grubb’s plight, but a local painter, who just “happened” to be in the store, offered her paint and supplies if she would follow him to his workshop at his house. It turned out that this part-time painter was also a pastor, and he loaded the little work group down with everything that was needed to do a first-class job. Only God could have had that painter in the store at just the time Mrs. Grubb was there.
The day began with a dreary rain, but it ended in sunshine and smiles as students returned to the school and reported on the “cups of cold water” that were given in the Name of the Lord.
Introducing
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
What is the CSP?
CSP stands for Community Service Program. The CSP is the primary fundraiser for Faith Christian School and is based on the classical “thon” concept, ie: Jog-a-thon, Walk-a-thon, Bowl-a-thon, Rock-a-thon. What sets the Community Service Program apart from the other “thons” is that instead of our students soliciting donations for jogging, or walking or bowling, they raise money for the purpose of giving five hours serving those in need in Randolph and surrounding counties. This service is rendered to those served at no cost to those being served.
Why is there a need for fundraisers?
The annual operating budget for FCS is over one million dollars. Student tuition covers only 65% of the annual expenses. The remaining 35% of the funds needed each year come primarily from donations and fundraising. Instead of engaging in a wide number of fundraising possibilities, such as candy sales, cookies sales, et al., the school does basically one large school wide fundraiser – the CSP.
How does the CSP operate?:
- The CSP organizers are busy, almost year round, lining up projects through HOSPICE, Randolph Consolidated Services, area nursing homes, federal housing developments and many folks who are in need help around their homes.
- FCS provides each school family with a CSP Packet which contains all the information needed to help them and the school meet the goals of this fundraiser.
- Students will begin to solicit pledges and donations for their community service work. The students will be looking for family, friends, neighbors and area businesses to sponsor them for five hours of community service. Each pledge or donation will be submitted on an individual CSP SPONSOR SHEET and will be turned in on a specified TURN IN DAY. The school will issue bills for all pledges and send a “thank you” for all the donations. There are two suggested ways students can secure pledges and donations: 1.) Make phone calls to close friends and family members. (It has been a common experience for people to prefer to make a donation for community service as opposed to buying sale items). 2.) Next, students can send the CSP SPONSOR SHEETS to friends and family in other states. All mailed in pledges and donations will be credited to each specified family.
- On the specified TURN IN DAY, all pledges and donations will be collected and tallied. At this point, incentive rewards will be assigned (These rewards vary from year to year. The CSP Packet will contain details of incentive program).
- On the specified CSP Day, the entire faculty and staff will mobilize and go out into the community to perform community service. Classes from Grade 4 and below will be visiting the various nursing homes in the county. Students in grades 5 thru 12 will be organized into teams of three or four students and sent out to work under the supervision of a teacher or an adult volunteer. Each year, the teams complete approximately 70 community projects.
- The office processes all pledges and donations and sends “thank you notes” to all participants. The office will distribute a DONATION REPORT which will allow each family to know who sponsored their child so that each family may send an additional “thank you note” if they so choose.
What type of work is done on CSP day?
Our students paint, rakes leaves, clean houses, wash windows, make minor repairs, visit nursing homes, perform programs and just about anything else they are asked to do. CSP Day is truly a special day. Most of our students are very blessed, materially, and the CSP Day gives them a chance to minister to others in need. They have opportunity to serve and experience the appreciation expressed by those served.
How can people help with the CSP program?
The key word is, VOLUNTEER. CSP needs include: helping with mailings, providing transportation to and from the nursing homes, supervising a work group and much more. We encourage everyone that can to help and make the CSP program a success.
What is the Capital Assessment Fee, and what does it have to do with CSP?
Since fundraising is important to the operation of FCS, it is important that every family participate in this one major fundraiser. To help ensure that every family participates, a “potential fee,” called the Capital Assessment Fee, is charged to every family. Families who reach their CSP fundraising goal will not have to pay the Capital Assessment Fee. Families may choose to simple pay the Capital Assessment Fee instead of solicit pledges and donations. This is a system used successfully by other schools, and allows the administration to keep tuition lower and approximate the fundraising budget for the school year.
For Those Wishing to Help Financially:
Below you will find a link to a Community Service Progam Response Form. Every donation needs to be recorded on one of these forms. If you would like to make a donation to the CSP, please print one of these forms and mail it to: FCS CSP, 5449 Brookhaven Road, Ramseur, NC, 27316. Every donation is important and appreciated. You may also print the form and ask others to contribute. Parents who need additional forms may print and use the form from this link.
Click here to make a PayPal Online Donation to the Community Service Program.
Click here for a Mail-In CSP RESPONSE FORM
Thank you in advance for your support of Faith Christian School as we endeavor to train and educate servant-leaders for the Kingdom of God.