... Welcome Back!

A note from Amy Palmerton

I am a bit overcome as I write this. I am so deeply grateful today for the connections I have made recently with mothers (single and otherwise) who have such passion for lifting one another to higher levels of motherhood and womanhood!

We are excited to begin a new season of ministry with you and wanted to let you know about some changes that have been growing over that last several months.

Justina Erre (the brain and heart behind getting this whole thing going in the first place!) is moving out of leadership of POETS and moving into different roles with her family. As many of you know, she is now teaching part time at Mariners Christian School and her husband has been pastoring in a new position at Mariners Church. With all of those changes, she believes it is best to take a smaller role with POETS. We know that it was her energy and passion that pushed us along for the last two years and we are going to do our best to stay organized and focused without her! Thank you Justina!!!!!

In her place, I am humbly (and happily!) stepping in as the Director of Development for POETS. As a non-profit 501C3 ministry, we have been encouraged, guided, and invited to look at our organization on a larger scale. We are finishing ministry plans, business plans, fundraising plans, program plans and a our POETS website. All of this requires a more intentional leadership presence so we can form a new board, recruit volunteer and paid staff, pursue funding, create a membership opportunity. My strongest hope is that we become stronger partners within the local area churches we attend and from that strength reach out effectively to our communities. Collectively we will create a powerful and life changing movement of people who serve one another. The Scripture that applies here is “Launch out into the deep.” Luke 5:4. Please consider launching out with us!

As exciting as all of this is becoming, there is so much to DO. But it is my desire that in our organization, in all of our DOING, we take many moments to remember our BEING. I share the simple analogy of travelling by plane with small children. Flight attendants encourage us to pull down our own air mask before we pull down the air mask for our children. So before we can offer others what is needed for their wholeness, let’s remember to check our own oxygen levels first!! Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

In closing, please remember the following mothers and children in your prayers for just a few moments:

o A mother of a five-year-old son who is working two jobs at odd hours to make ends meet. She is currently applying for a management position at one job that would allow her to work a more child-centered schedule.

o A mother who left her husband after 17 years of abuse. Please pray for her two teenage children who are living with her right now, for their healing and wholeness. She is currently in the real estate profession and needs to find more productive employment.

o A mother who left a long marriage after undisclosed trauma. Her two daughters are thriving and living on their own. Please pray that in this new season of life, this mother would be fully restored into her identity as a truly loved daughter of God.

o A single mother whose husband has left the country and left her without financial resources. Pray that her business as a commercial seamstress would thrive and she would be able to care for her teenage son.

Thank you for indulging me with this l-o-o-o-n-n-n-g post. It has been a very long time since there has been any communication from POETS. If anything in this letter containing our goals and objectives is unclear, please do not hesitate to respond to me directly.

We look forward to becoming a vibrant movement of People On Earth To Serve.

Helping a Single Mom Move

It is amazing what we can do when we work together. We are working toward helping a moms whose kids go to school with one of our moms. She will be living a couple of houses down from her so will be in continued relationship with her. Here is the update:

We have found a double bed with trundle for $399. It was ordered today and shipped to Amy's house.

We have donated:

Table and chairs
Floor Lamp
Place settings for four
Some clothing (size 7/8 boy, size 4 girl)
Two pillows
Pots and pans
$50 toward the bed

We still need bedding for a double and a twin bed (sheets, 1 pillow, comforters, etc.), a double and a twin mattress, large throw pillows to make the bed a daybed/couch (REMEMBER, this is a small studio).

HELP US HELP THEM

POETS is trying to help single moms in our community this holiday season. We are throwing a group of approximately 20 moms and their kids a holiday brunch on Dec. 5th. We are hoping to collect several $25 Target gift cards to distribute equally among the moms so that they are able to shop independently for their children this Christmas. We need your help!! If you are able, please send Target gift cards in $25 increments to:

POETS

219 Wellesley Ln

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

POETS will be obtaining their nonprofit status this week. So if you would like, we are able to send you a receipt for your donations.

We are also hoping to supply these moms with food for their holiday. If you would like to contribute financially, please use the "Donate" button located on the left of this page. Again, if you would like a receipt, please simply note this when you donate.

Thanks so much for your support!!

The POETS moms!

Backpack Success!

Thanks to everyone that helped make our backpack drive a success. We supplied ten Costa Mesa Elementary schools with 375 backpacks. Check out the article from the Daily Pilot!!

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2009/08/28/topstory/dpt-moms082909.txt

BACKPACK STUFFING

Don't forget to join us for the second annual backpack stuffing party!

Where: Jamie Rice's House

When: Friday, Aug. 28 at 10:00 am

POETS Activity

POETS Activity

March 2008 – Inception.  Handed out Easter invites around Wilson park and began about 6 months of providing snacks every Wed. at the parkr

April 2008 – Acquired Tax ID #

May 2008 – First garage sale (made approx $850)

May 2008 – Helped three families at Killybrook Ele. with food, toiletries, etc.

Sept. 2008 – Provided 215 supply stuffed backpacks to seven different CM elementaries plus 100 sets of supplies to one elementary school. (Received $3000 from RH)

Nov. 2008 – Dec. 2008 – Received four donated vehicles that were distributed to four deserving families.  Provided $500 for each to pay for registration, repairs, etc.

Nov. 2008 – Second garage sale. (Made approx. $1850) – Sent four large garbage bags of clothes and shoes to Uganda.

Nov. 2008 – Helped a family (friend of a gal in group) pay $3000 in bills, get food via gift cards, etc.

Dec. 2008 – Helped four families at Christmas time with food, toiletries, clothes and $50 - $100 Target gift cards.

Dec. 2008 – received $7500 from RH

Feb. 2009 – began providing house cleaning to two individuals (married) with cancer (promised for at least six months)

Mar. 2009 – Helped a gal by providing $200 change for a garage sale to pay month’s rent and also buying baby stuff (crib, etc.) from her to give to another mom.

Mar 2009 – Provided a walker for a disabled Haitian girl

Mar 2009 – gathered clothes and grocery gift cards for a family in need.

May 2009 - Third garage sale.  Made approximately $1,200.

June 2009 - Gave $3000 to a family whose young son has cancer and insurance is no longer agreeing to pay.

Income generated to date (4/24/09):    $18,743.74

Expenditures to date:                                $15,539.71

Balance to date:                                         $ 3,204.03

Have decided to concentrate our efforts on single moms from three elementary schools in CM.

Feeding the Homeless

If you want to experience life, experience compassion. Here, some moms provide a little compassion and give to the homeless.

"I came that you may have and enjoy life."
- John 10:10

Backpack Bash

Thanks again to all who helped out with donations for backpacks. We had a fantastic time including the children on the project. They really worked hard and stuffed away for these children who aren't as fortunate as they are. We were able to get 215 backpacks and materials to fill them. This day was a day of hope that would soon be given around our community

Justina, took the time to explain what this cause was for and the kids responded so well. They knew they were a big role in this and (God)Put (them)On Earth To Serve!

I kept on hearing some children repeat, 5 pencils, 3 erasers, 1 ruler. Its almost as if they knew things had to stay efficient. It was awesome to see the young ones unselfishly hard at work.

It was far more of a blessing to us to be apart of something so great.

POETS

POETS was created by a group of moms who met for playgroup once a week but wanted to do more for their community.  We felt that we were "Put On Earth To Serve".  POETS has been working to help families and children in Orange County since April 2008.  To date we have:

1.  Helped three families through the Newport Mesa Unified School District with necessities (food, clothing, toiletries, etc.) - May 2008

2.  Provided 215 supply filled backpacks for eight elementary schools in Costa Mesa plus 100 sets of supplies for one elementary. (Sept. 2008)

3.  Provided one family in tremendous need with clothes, food, toiletries, and $3000.

4.  Helped four families in  Costa Mesa during the holiday season by providing food, clothing, toiletries, and gift cards. (Dec. 2008)

5.  Helped a family in need paint their new home, purchase furniture for their home, and provided meals.  (Nov. 2008)

6.  Provided a car and repairs to a young lady.  (Nov. 2008)

We are looking to continue in the new year.  We would love for you to join us on our adventure.