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Community Corner

Voice of Care Pleased with Debut #GivingTuesday Participation

New Website Encourages Support, Shares Stories of those Served by Disability Ministry

West Chicago based Voice of Care marked #GivingTuesday in a big way with the launch of a new website and the ministry’s first intentional focus on online giving.   The Lutheran disability support organization raised over $6,000 through its debut participation in the 2013 global philanthropic campaign which urges people to give to non-profit initiaves.  #GivingTuesday was initiated last year in an effort to counter the escalating merchandising excesses of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Deaconess Kris Blackwell, Executive Director, was pleased with the debut effort.  “#GivingTuesday was a new adventure for Voice of Care,” she explained. “We had many people visit our brand new website at www.voiceofcare.org to make a gift.” Blackwell shared that the majority of Voice of Care’s current supporters are not involved in online giving or social media, but were enthused, “Many of them still stepped forward and sent a check.” The organization that has been reaching out to share Christ’s love with disabled adults and children in northern Illinois over the past decade unveiled a new online look with a website designed to encourage financial support and volunteer participation while sharing stories of those served by Voice of Care.

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Voice of Care set an ambitious goal of $50,000 for the donation drive.  The $6,198 raised just passed 12 percent of the target.  Blackwell is not discouraged, “We are sure that people will continue to send their Christmas gifts in throughout December.  The money we raised covers three weeks of the programming costs for sending our two chaplains to 20 facilities.”

To illustrate the impact that Voice of Care is making in the lives of those served, Rev. Paul Klopke shared a recent experience from a chaplaincy visit to Glenbridge Rehabilitation Center in Niles, Illinois.  “A middle aged paralytic woman with a low-pitched voice sang the words of a traditional hymn, ‘Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me’.”  Then, with conviction, Klopke recalled, the woman loudly proclaimed, “He did!”  Klopke observed, “The faith of this woman spoke of gratitude and appreciation for God’s love and favor in spite of her disabilities.”  Voice of Care is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities by offering them a chance to worship and express their faith.    

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About Voice of Care

Voice of Care’s mission to equip the Church to nurture people with disabilities and their caregivers in their walk with Christ is effected through chaplaincy, congregational training and resources, special needs camp programs, and is supported by volunteer service and the financial gifts of individuals, churches, and businesses.  For more information, visit www.voiceofcare.org or call 630.231.3862.

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