Below is another update about the #closetstrike journey! If you’d like to help, click [HERE] to read the story!
Terence
Yesterday, we got word that our first corporate sponsor [Northwestern Benefit] will serve with @lovebeyondwalls on August 12th to promote literacy, education, and love at Sheltering Arms (in the Camp Creek area). In fact, we made the entire day about corporate professionals serving, and not about our organization!
We felt it is not only important to serve children and families, but to leave our core values of collaboration and sacrifice imprinted on both Sheltering Arms & Northwestern Benefit!
This day will be a day of fun for the children, education for the parents, and a day of assistance for the staff that we all will serve. The best thing about this event is that we will raise over 200 children’s books to give-away to every child to help them develop in their educational curriculum.
If you’d like to volunteer or serve, email volunteer@lovebeyondwalls.org or view the flyer below.
LBW Team
Below is a quick story of what inspired us to start the #closetstrike journey!
To donate, click [HERE]
Terence
Today, I made 60 DAYS in one outfit… That’s two months or 1,440 hours. I only have 30 days left in one outfit to raise uniforms for kids in four schools who will struggle in their closets. #lovebeyondwalls has vowed to adopt four schools [READ HERE TO FIND OUT SCHOOLS] to resource over 200 students who may need a help in their closets this coming school year.
It has been a long sixty days in this one outfit, but I’m not stopping until @lovebeyondwalls resources every single child…
As you can see, my shoes are busted and my uniform has collected tons of stains… This has been both embarrassing and rewarding! Why? Because I’m following what Christ would do… I’ll release my first video tonight explaining why I started this journey…
Terence
This past weekend, 60+ people stopped by our facility for #lovebeyondwalls Meet, Greet, & Serve day! It was awesome! In fact, tons of the people who stopped by went out and served with us in the College Park community to serve those in need. It was our second (Dream Center type) Adopt-a-Block to outreach to the community.
We were able to provide food & water to many people who live in low income apartment complexes! It was both heartfelt and inspiring to see both volunteers and residents stand in a circle together in prayer!
In fact, one lady (resident) broke down in tears because she said, “If you guys wouldn’t have shown up, I wouldn’t have had food for the next two weeks….” This lady thanked God with everything right in the parking lot. We all left those apartments thanking God for the ability to serve, but also meditating on two passages from the scriptures that speak to what we experienced…
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (James 1:27, NRSV)”
“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? (Matthew 6:26-30, NRSV)
Terence
Today is literally the 59th DAY of me wearing one outfit! I can’t believe I’ve been able to go so long (as I miss my other clothes). That’s 1,416 hours… The hardest challenge about wearing the same outfit has been the embarrassment. People have literally seen me in this outfit everywhere…
Oh, and I have gotten some mean mugs, and cold stares. But, I have learned how to ignore them. I can only imagine how children feel who have to endure this treatment from their peers. Especially when they had no say in the poverty that they are faced with… You don’t believe me about the embarrassment, well here is a picture of my shoes that are starting to become busted…
So far, we have not met our goal, but I am confident that we will meet it. Starting tomorrow, I will release videos to share this story more to raise the last 170 uniforms needed to jumpstart the closets in four under resourced schools we are partnering with to build uniform closets.
If you would like to donate, I ask that you read the #closetstrike story [HERE]
Terence
Last night, the entire #lovebeyondwalls team was honored for doing the work of God in the community! It was not only a humbling experience it was encouraging at the same time! We all walked away not puffed up, but encouraged to continue following God and sharing God’s love with all people! Below is a picture of the aware that we won!
The LBW Team
49 DAYS ago, I made a commitment to help four Title 1 schools raise uniforms to assist students who struggle with resources in their closets throughout the school year. To do this, I have given away ever article of clothing I own, and only left myself one outfit to walk in the shoes of many students that wear the same thing every single day.
However, today I am tired… I have been wearing this one outfit to every single thing: I’ve worn it to workout, to meetings, to work, to sleep (once or twice), on trips, etc. Although, this outfit has grown on me, it is scary looking forward. I don’t know if we will raise the other 200 uniforms needed by the end of July and I don’t know where or how I will replace the clothes that I gave away.
It really is a very unique journey, and one of the most challenging I have had to endure!
However, I keep asking myself, “Is it worth it?” And honestly, the only answer I could come up with is–YES! It is because this will start a resource closet to service four under resourced schools.
I don’t know how this will come together over the next 41 DAYS, but I definitely have a “don’t stop mentality.” What is a don’t stop mentality? It contains three specific things:
1) Big picture reflection – This keeps you focused on the entire picture at large. When you are focused, this helps you maintain a right perspective on your journey.
2) Small celebrations – This allows you to celebrate where you are, and what you have been able to accomplish toward the bigger picture.
3) Focused solutions – This allows you to remain focused on the needs that you are priviledged to serve.
Wherever you are, whatever project you have going on…. join me in refusing to stop! Stay focused, and have a resolve to go the distance.
If you would like to know how you could contribute, read [HERE]
Terence
On June 11th, we took the love of God to the Puttsburgh community by partnering with the Salvation Army, It’s Just A Dream, and many volunteers. We served a little over 150 residents from that community with food & hope!
Terence
Today makes 42 days in one outfit. That’s 1,008 hours! So, far we’ve collected enough uniforms to cover one school… Help us collect enough to resource three more schools… I have 48 more days to go… Can’t wait to share this journey with all the students we help…
Here is a picture of the uniform that I have worn all these days…
If you are interested in helping, below you’ll find the schools we are adopting, and the supplies that are needed to resource these schools:
SIZES
small (6-8)
medium (10-12)
large (14-16)
SCHOOLS
Mt Zion Primary (50 uniforms pledged)
PreK- Yellow polo style shirts
K5-Green polo style shirts
1st grade-Red polo style shirts
2nd grade-Navy polo style shirts
Pants/Bottoms: Khaki, navy, or black
EJ Swint Elementary (50 uniforms needed)
Tops: button down or polo style-white,
Bottoms: Khaki or dress pants style, shorts or skirts-khaki, blue, black color
Fountain Elementary (50 uniforms needed)
Tops: Polo style or button down style—yellow, gold, blue, or white
Pants, shorts, skirts: khaki, blue
Riverdale Elementary (50 uniforms needed)
Tops: Polo style with collar–Red, black, white, navy blue
Pants, skirts, skorts, knee length shorts: Khaki, black, dark blue
Also, if you are interested in learning where you can drop these items off, read [HERE]
Terence
