I wish I could thank you in person. Twenty-three years ago, when I was just divorcing and my son and I lived in Wexford Ridge, the Center was basically a single room. The kids’ programs and pantry kept us going.

Now even when the pantry’s not open, we have a little cooler and shelves out there. Sometimes there’s a loaf of my favorite 12-grain bread. Sometimes neighbors bring extra veggies, and I can take my grandbaby “matoes” home. Sometimes there’ll be sweet potatoes or greens, and that’ll make a meal. And then sometimes I know someone else who needs that, and now I’m feeding someone else’s family, just from what was sitting on that shelf or in that cooler.

That’s the kind of small thing you and I appreciate. It’s those small things that count to us.

Thanks to you, those small-but-important things keep happening at the LCEC.

Because the kids are important to you, you see their growth and that they’re still here, they’re growing up, they’re moving on to college. Those teenagers are here for a reason, and it’s not just because their mom made them come.

This is an environment that’s worth investing in because first of all, these children are our future. Some of them are just coming in to have fun for the day. But guess what? They CAN have fun. They can let it all out. And that matters to you, too.

I believe that when we give to the Center, we invest in a lifetime of building up a community.

We invest in those babies, those elementary kids and middle school kids, then the high school kids. We invest in employment training and the computer lab. We invest in the food pantry and gardens where our kids grow food.

We may not even know the people personally, but we believe in what they stand for. And when we can see the mission alive within these walls, then that makes it worth our dollars.

I think that’s what we’re all about. We build each other up, we help each other, and we’re thankful for each other.

I’m proud to be a part of that. I don’t just hear about how my giving makes a difference, I literally see where my dollars are going.

Will you join me in making your dollars count?

Will you open your wallet or pocketbook (or phone) right now? Will you even consider joining me and my son and about 200 other friends and neighbors in the SOLID giving circle?

I may live on the other side of town now, but this is where I keep coming back. I rebuild other communities, but I always call this one my home.

Thank you for making this home important.

Peace,

Charly Jordan
Wexford Ridge resident, 1996-2000
LCEC Board member, 2011-2019

PS: There’s so much happening inside of these doors — and you keep it all going. It’s hard to believe we’ve been together for 40 years now, but that’s the power of community. Your gift sends a message that we’re going to be here for years and years to come. Thank you!