Giving Thanks to a Great Partner

One of the greatest gifts we are given as a not-for-profit agency is housing partnership. Our goal is to always focus on the mission, in our case providing after-school tutoring and mentoring to area youth, opposed to concentrating heavy efforts on paying bills. Of course, we have bills that we must pay for but in our case many of those bills are supplies that go directly towards the children whether it be new school supplies, books, or even scarves and gloves. This project started as a mission of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in 1999 and emerged as a not-for-profit agency in 2007. SFLC has kept the deep partnership Good Shepherd Church through housing for our program, staff office space, and office supplies. It is that support than enables us to focus more attention towards the children and the needs of our program families.

The relationships between SFLC and community partners come in many shapes and forms. The relationship might be built through a sermon on Sunday morning where Rev. J.D. requests volunteers to help with the after-school effort of SFLC or the relationship can blossom by our staff members bouncing around the office preparing for the daily activities. SFLC is blessed to have such a gracious housing partner, friends from this partnerships, and to share in fellowship with all those entering the doors.

The relationship goes swing both ways. As much as Good Shepherd provides for SFLC, SFLC is providing for Good Shepherd in another light. See the note below from Rev. J.D.

Here at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church we are very thankful for SFLC because the program enables the people of our church to become aware of the needs of their neighbors right here in Rock Island and then they are also able to make a positive contribution of time and talent and love to improve the lives of children in need. The professionalism and enthusiasm of the leadership of SFLC is inspiring. It is a program that was born out of the mission of our church 12 years ago and we rejoice in the growth that we continue to see. We look forward to see what God will continue to do in and through all of us. We are thankful for SFLC right now and we know that we will continue to be thankful for this wonderful program for many years into the future.

Rev. J.D. Georlett
Pastor, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
Rock Island Illinois