Marion Cares

Give a Ruler and start a Relationship

Joe — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:30:41 +0000

Last August we (that includes many of you) gave over 375 backpacks filled with grade and gender specific school supplies to students from Kindergarten to their Senior year. What a great project to give students the confidence to begin their new grade with all the right tools!

Even better – this project begins a conversation!

“Thank you for the supplies for my daughter” leads to “what are other ways that we can support her with her school work?” [We have STEM!] Or “How can we encourage her with a relationship with Jesus?” [We have TxT Time!] Or “What is she doing this summer?” [We are going on field trips!]

Passing along a generous gift of school supplies and a new backpack invites families into an “almost every weekday relationship”. And over 2, 3, 5, 10 years – that changes lives – that brings hope – that transforms communities.

Ask your church how you can be included in this great project – ask your workplace how you can team together to give to 1 or 2 students OR just email me and I will give you the list and it is off to the store! Just buying a large backpack helps too!

June – Families are signing up

July – Churches, Businesses and Individuals are receiving lists

July 22nd – Everyone returns their filled backpacks to Marion Cares.

August 3-4 – Backpacks are given out to the families!

Click on “CONNECT WITH US” to get involved!

Serve Summer FUN to Youth!

Joe — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:27:00 +0000

Growing healthy Friendships, knowing God’s Unconditional love, and enjoying New experiences inside and outside the neighborhood. Marion Cares can offer this FUN to youth (K-12th grade) in the Marion area – but we need your help!

We rely on volunteers (high school through mature adults) to serve One Hour a Week from June 3 to August 15th. Programs begin at 11:00 AM or 12:15 PM. We are also adding some programs in the evening.

We need 30 volunteers to assist youth by:

Kicking a Ball – recreation and sportsmanship
Picking Vegetables – community gardens and cooking
Driving a Van – field trips to area events
Telling His Story – learning the Bible for Life (TxT Time)
Reading a Book – keeping up with summer reading

Programs begin on Monday, June 3rd and end on August 9th. We meet in three neighborhoods around Marion.

Click on this link to SIGN UP TODAY and tell us where you want to serve.

http://www.marioncares.org/contact/

Pasta Dinner on April 20th at Marion High School from 4:00-7:00 PM

Joe — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:00:53 +0000

Come to Marion Cares first annual Pasta Dinner! We are one of the events of the Marathon for Shoes weekend.

What: Pasta Dinner – Menu includes: Spaghetti & Meat Sauce from Zio Johno’s, Salad & Dressing, Bread, Homemade desserts, and refreshments.
Where: Marion High School cafeteria – 675 S 15th Street, Marion, IA
When: 4:00-7:00 PM
Who: The community is invited to meet the kids and families of Marion Cares and the runners and their families from the Marathon.
How Much: All proceeds benefit Marion Cares. Cost is $10.00. Children 10 & under eat FREE. Race participants are able to purchase tickets during event registration. Tickets are available at the door. We accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover cards.

Purchase tickets NOW by clicking here!

Visit the Marathon for Shoes website at www.marathonforshoes.com

Marion Cares is a faith-based nonprofit organization serving students and families in the Linn-Mar and Marion Independent School District. We serve over 1,000 children and families – from providing free meals to children and families, after school tutoring sessions to children, backpacks and school supplies, clothing and safe “havens” in various locations around Marion where children can visit and play. We strive to take care of everyone who needs help.

Pasta Dinner Video

He told a story about us!

Joe — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:14:08 +0000

[A Linn-Mar elementary student was asked to do a writing project based on “What I like (person or thing).” He shared his paper with us.

Marion Cares

The reason I like Marion Cares is because of TxT, Game Night, and Trunch or Treat.

I like TxT because we do fun activeties as a team. And learn new things about God and Jesus. And then we pray to God. Then we eat food that volunteers make. And then we thank them for cooking and surving it to us.

I like Game Night because we can do arts and crafts whith glidder, marckers, and construction paper. And we can play fun games on the computers. Their is an air hockey table and a foosball table to play on but nobody really plays foosball. And in the kitchen there is popcorn, pop tarts, grennilla bars, juice, and hot chocolate.

I like Trunck or Treat because it’s kind of like Holloween. Only you get clothing and winter supplys. Of course you still get candy. And you get little gift bags with Bathroom supply’s. And there is food and Drinks.

And that is why I like Marion Cares.

Preston (Linn-Mar Student)

Our Donors for 2012 – Thank You!

Joe — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:05:20 +0000

Businesses

Cargill, Inc.

*City of Marion

CR Bank & Trust

CR Inside Local Labor Mgmt Committe

Farmers State Bank

Giacoletto Foundation

Hills Bank

Horsefield Construction

*Iowa Health

Lebeda Mattress Factory

Marion Iron

Marion Mixers

Mooney Engle Land Company, LLC

Morris and Company

Philip’s Diamond Shop

Skogman Family

*Skogman Realty

The ESCO Group

*Timberline Manufacturing, Inc.

US Bank

Van Meter Industrial, Inc

Vector Corporation

Wal Mart

*In Kind Donation

Churches

Antioch Christian

*AscensionLutheranChurch

*ChristCommunityChurch

*CornerstoneChurch

Echo Hill Presbyterian Church

*FaithLutheranChurch

FirstBaptistChurch

First Presbyterian Church

First United MethodistChurch

Iowa Conference United Methodist Camp

Living Water Methodist

LutheranChurch of the Resurrection

Marion Christian Church

*New LifeCommunityChurch

*St. Mark’s LutheranChurch

*St. PaulLutheranChurch, Marion

St. Paul Lutheran Priscilla Guild, Mt Vernon

St. Joseph Catholic Church

United Methodist Women

*In Kind Donation

Service Clubs

Daybreak Rotary

*East-Cedar Rapids Rotary

*Home Services Group

Kiwanis Marion Sunrisers

Lions Club, Marion

*Optimists, Marion

Preceptor Beta Epsilon

*In Kind Donation

Celebrating STEM at Azure

Joe — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 20:33:54 +0000

A great day for STEM at Azure

Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and State Senator Liz Mathis advocate for STEM learning in Iowa. Marion Cares is one of the unique STEM learning centers in Iowa because of the $18,500.00 given by local Electrical workers and contractors. (FUSE)

Click on the link below to see the story in the Gazette and on KCRG

http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=688915941

Click on the link below to see the story in the Marion Patch

http://marion.patch.com/articles/marion-charity-receives-18-500-novelty-sized-check-visit-from-lt-governor

Click on the link below to see the story in the Marion Times

http://www.mariontoday.org/times/article.php?id=3162

Trick R Trunk – October 26 and 27

Joe — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:14:45 +0000

Our next community project is Trick R Trunk on Friday and Saturday, October 26th-27th.

We need trunks (and people) at the following locations:

Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church (Friday, October 26th) 5:00-6:30pm [parking lot on C Ave]

Or Saturday, Oct 27:

Azure Apartments- 11:00am-12:30pm [Building 690, in the parking lot by apts 8-10]

Squaw Creek Village – 1:00-2:30pm [parking lot near offices]

Marion Villlage – 3:00-4:30pm [parking lot near office]

Pick one, two or all of them.

What a great event for a family, individuals, groups, etc. Fill your trunk with something that you collect (1st Presbyterian collects socks! Faith Lutheran collects scarves!) like food, books, toiletries, – and of course some Halloween candy. OR Fill your trunk with items that have already been donated to Marion Cares. (We have coats, books, hats, clothes, Sonic giveaways, etc.)

What a great way to encourage the families that connect to the programs of Marion Cares!

Email me or call me with any questions – joe@marioncares.org or 319-377-5344

Volunteers – We support you!

Joe — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:26:15 +0000

1. Materials provided – Review materials on their own time and choose options based on your class (age appropriate, space, etc.)

2. Director Joe available on site – answering questions, supplying resources, and intervening when needed.

3. Classroom guidelines – Marion Cares uses the same classroom guidelines as the Linn-Mar school district. Linn-Mar At- Risk Elementary and Middle School staff provide recommendations for issues and/or student involvement.

4. Two People work as a team – Each class has a minimum of 2 volunteers (2 adults OR 1 adult and 1 high school youth) All volunteers go through a background check.

5. 90 or less minutes each week – We do have substitutes when there is a conflict.

6. Training – Volunteers receive 1 hour of training/feedback time every other month. A volunteer handbook is given to each volunteer.

Click on the Volunteer Tab to see where we need YOU!

Looking for School Supplies?

Joe — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:48:43 +0000

Marion Cares received over 200 requests for school supplies from families living in mobile home and apartment complex communities around Marion. If you missed the sign up and the distribution dates you may be able receive the supplies we are delivering to the schools.

Here are the schools that are receiving supplies from Marion Cares during the weeks of August 6 and 13.

Linn-Mar Schools: Bowman Woods Elementary, Echo Hill Elementary, Excelsior Middle, Linn Grove Elementary, Novak Elementary, Oak Ridge Middle, and Wilkins Elementary. Find the school phone number at http://www.linnmar.k12.ia.us/

Marion Independent Schools: Emerson Elementary, Francis Marion Intermediate, Novak Middle, and Starry Elementary. Find the school phone number at http://www.marion.k12.ia.us/

We want to thank all of the Marion churches that were so generous in their support of this project:

Antioch Christian Church

Ascension Lutheran Church

Christ Community United Methodist Church

Cornerstone Church

Echo Hill Presbyterian Church

Faith Lutheran Church

First United Methodist Church

First Baptist Church

First Presbyterian Church

Living Water United Methodist Church

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

Marion Christian Church

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

School Supplies Update

Joe — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:35:02 +0000

Our School Supply/Backpack project is going great. Seventeen churches have adopted 317 youth which is 76 more than have signed up for supplies. More Linn-Mar and Marion Independent families are signing up everyday. One single mom “paid it forward” by donating supplies to two students – she was thankful for supplies her family had received from Marion Cares in the past.

Here are the dates and places we will be at to match up students with supplies – Help out and enjoy the smiles.

Saturday, August 4th -
11am-1pm – Squaw Creek Village
2-4 pm – Azure Apartments

Sunday, August 5th -
1-2 pm – Valley View apartments
4-6 – Marion Village

Call the Office if you want to arrange a different pick up time.