BCYC opens its door and heart to Central Texas children

The Belton Christian Youth Center (BCYC) is a sponsored United Way of Central Texas agency. Their operational expenses are paid for by the funding that we provide. Their organization was founded in 1999 by Jerry Brentham and Roy Wood to help at risk youth, providing them an opportunity for recreational programs and activities.

Today, BCYC continues to grow as it serves close to 1,200 kids every year in approximately 30,000 square feet of building/gymnasium space. They are dependent on the continued assistance of dedicated partners such as the United Way of Central Texas and the surrounding community.

BCYC offers a positive alternative for latch-key students both after-school and in summer, providing education and recreation activities for children throughout the community. BCYC gives tuition assistance for lower-income families. Volunteers aid in homework assistance and tutoring, and computer access is available for all children at the facility. Students also participate in a weekly devotional time that is led by an activity staff member. 

BCYC encourages children to learn priceless social skills by engaging them in activities and encouraging them to meet new friends. A variety of opportunities are provided for the students in order to ensure that they can participate in activities that appeal to them as an individual. The Belton Christian Youth Center provides two game rooms, a full gymnasium with eight basketball goals, two activity rooms and a homework/reading area. Other outside activities include soccer, baseball, kickball, basketball and four-square. BCYC is also dependent upon businesses within the local community for athletic team sponsorship.

Lessons are also given to the students to prevent future at-risk behavior. Some partners include: Juvenile Probation, Department of Agriculture, First Baptist Church Belton, Belton Church of Christ, BISD, Safe Kids, Council on Drug and Alcohol Prevention, STARRY - A Children at Heart Ministry, ARROW Parenting, Ft. Hood/Military Family Assistance, and others.

Because the community continues to grow, BCYC is now working to provide an additional facility for students. For more information on how you can help this agency and other UWCT agencies or to make an online donation, visit www.uwct.org . If you would like to give a cash or check gift, send to P.O. Box 1312, Temple, TX, 76503. You may also text “UWCT” to 85944 to make a $5 pledge.



Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children offers more than a piece of their heart

                Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children has a mission to offer a place where children with chronic illness or special needs, and their families, can celebrate the health-giving benefits of nature. With help from United Way of Central Texas, it is possible for this agency to serve lives within the Bell County community who are facing these challenges. PKRC offers hope and peace to families by giving them the opportunity to be in a non-hospital setting while still learning the necessary coping skills to better cope with treatment. Partnering with families, schools and medical groups, the loving agency is uniquely able to meet the cognitive, physical and emotional needs of children living with serious medical conditions such as:

                Autism                    Diabetes         Cancer                   Blindness           Deafness

                Missing Limbs     Amputation      Cystic Fibrosis     Cerebral Palsy   Asthma               

                Displaced Youth  Arthrogryposis Mixed Diagnosis  Neurological Disorders

   The Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children offers several programs to help enrich the lives of the families they are serving. The Weekend Retreat Program operates September through May to allow hospitals and support groups to visit the retreat where children, their siblings, parents and medical providers enjoy respite and recreation. Activities are organized for children with special needs and their families, which are fun and safe. Approximately 500 children and adults are served through the Retreat Program annually.

During the warmer months, the Summer Camp Program is a great opportunity for patients to participate in activities geared towards social development and enhancing physical achievement. This option encourages children with chronic illness to participate in one of twelve week-long, diagnosis-specific camps by arrangement with their hospital or professional organization. Each summer, over 500 children participate in this program.

The most unique activity that the agency offers is the Physical Therapy Program. The natural resources and recreational spirit of the retreat center is used to enhance rehabilitation exercises through a non-clinical therapeutic environment. It engages a child with disabilities to meet emotional, social and vocational challenges, as well as leverage the intended benefits of physical therapy. This program is fairly new and still building, last year, over 50 patients participated. 

The United Way of Central Texas is a proud partner for the Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children. Without donations from the local community, we would not be able to keep agencies like PKRC up and running. For more information about United Way of Central Texas agencies or to make an online donation, visit www.uwct.org. If you would like to give a cash or check gift, send to P.O. Box 1312, Temple, TX, 76503. You may also text “UWCT” 85944 to make a $5 pledge.

     

Local angels share their love

The door of the shelter welcomes all who enter.

            Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Shelter is a supported United Way of Central Texas agency. Their mission is to provide shelter for women in crisis pregnancy and postpartum by offering a loving and stable environment to support the mother and child in their efforts to create a hopeful future for themselves.

 The housing is located at 613 S. 9^th Street in Temple and is run by loving and supporting people who are working to better the lives of women in crisis. They open a friendly door for people who would otherwise have nowhere else to go.The shelter is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is licensed by the State of Texas, to house up to 12 pregnant and/or newly delivered women or teens, including their children.

Residents can seek spiritual growth in the chapel room.

            The shelter is run by Staff Administrator JaLeta Tidmore, Social Service Assistant Stacey Mason and Administrative Assistant Lafon Eary. Guests at the shelter are cared for by two housing parents, nuns with the Sister of the Sacred Sciences, Sister Sini Paul and Sister Lincy Joseph.

The maternity ward is a safe haven

            Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Shelter provides services to help their guests grow in spiritual awareness, parenting and self-esteem. Safe emergency shelter, food, clothing, personal items are also provided on immediate arrival. The women and children in need are given referrals for spiritual growth, medical attention, legal help, law enforcement concerns, and other social service agencies within the area, to fulfill the individual’s personal needs.

Sister Lincy Jospeh ensures all the residents needs are met.

            The agency has a variety of life enriching programs to help educate the women staying with them about pregnancy, labor and delivery, child care, nutrition, parenting skills, relationships, decision making, budgeting of time and money, and recreational opportunities. The programs are set up to help brighten the future of the mother and her child with hope, by starting with these foundational building blocks for a healthy lifestyle. Documented success by the shelter shows that 95 percent of women who have stayed at the shelter, are now living independently or have reconciled with their families.

The dining room where hot meals are served.

The United Way of Central Texas helps to ensure that the Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Shelter has the funding that they need to stay in operation. For more information on UWCT agencies or to make an online donation, visit www.uwct.org . If you would like to give a cash or check gift, send to P.O. Box 1312, Temple, TX, 76503. You may also text “UWCT” to 85944 to make a one time $5 donation.