It's Time to Pray Ministry and Ladies L.I.F.E Group

We are so thankful to It's Time to Pray Ministry and the Ladies L.I.F.E. group for visiting our house this past Sunday.  We began the visit with a bible devotion led by Gwenda Simpson.  Then we broke bread and enjoyed some delicious treats while we played games and talked.  We had a wonderful day because of their kindness.  Here is the verse that Gwenda shared with us:

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland."

Recovery Rocks - Celebrating Sobriety

Congratulations to Acacia and Taylor on their Sober Anniversaries.  Sobriety is one of the cornerstones of the Steps 4 Life Program.  It is the first step on the road to recovery and self-sufficiency.  Acacia and Taylor have worked very hard in our Program and we were thrilled to acknowledge and celebrate their accomplishments.

Cynthia is thrilled to celebrate Acacia's one year anniversary and so proud of the work that Acacia.  Congratulations Acacia!!

Congratulations on 4 years of sobriety Taylor.  You have earned it with hard work . We are very proud of you.

Burrage Mansion Orange Harvest

Volunteers from Steps 4 Life, the U of R, Employment Community Options, and LDS Service Club helped Burrage grounds workers wash and sort this year's crop of super-delicious navel oranges from the Burrage Mansion groves. The oranges are harvested, washed, sorted and then given away to many Redlands children and charities, including the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Micah House, Family Services, the Blessing Center, food banks and homeless centers. There's lots of work over several week's time, but it's almost completed.... until the Valentias get ripe in another month or so, when harvesting starts all over again!

Christmas Blessings - Women and Children's Home

We are so grateful to our many supporters in the community who helped our families have a wonderful Christmas this year.  A special thanks goes to the Redlands Church of Christ for their donations and support in making this a special holiday season.  Our Women and Children's Houses were filled with smiles, laughter and love as they celebrated the day with presents and a delicious Christmas dinner.

Our supporters showed the true meaning of Christmas by helping us make this day happen for our families.

Our families gathered together to celebrate Christmas in the house.

The children were very excited to begin opening their presents.

This was a true family event as the moms and their children celebrated the morning together.

The Women and Children's Houses were full of smiling children as they got hugs from their moms.

Finally Cynthia and the women got to relax a bit after a delicious Christmas ham dinner.

Christmas Blessings - Smiling Children

Due to the generosity of our many supporters, our children had a wonderful Christmas as they celebrated the day with their moms.  A special thanks goes to the Redlands Church of Christ for their donations and support in making this a special holiday season.  

We'll never forget the sight of the children opening their presents on Christmas morning.  Our houses were filled with smiles and squeals of delight as they unwrapped their gifts.  We were truly blessed this Christmas season.

Christmas morning was all smiles

This young man is quite happy with his new football.

Merry Christmas!

She is very happy with her bucket of chalk.

More smiles on Christmas morning.

Lots of fun opening the toys.

Hanging out on Christmas morning

Christmas Blessings - Men's Homes

We are grateful to all of our supporters for helping our Men's Homes have a Merry Christmas.  A special thanks goes to the Redlands Church of Christ for their donations and support in making this a special holiday season.  

The men made a delicious Christmas dinner and exchanged gifts.  Cynthia stopped by to wish them all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 2018.  It was a great day for everyone.

Cynthia wishing the men a Merry Christmas.

Chris and the men on Christmas Day

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

New Office - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Steps 4 Life Community Services is grateful for everyone who came out and participated in our ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate our new office space.  We are very appreciative for the Redlands Chamber of Commerce joining in the celebration and supporting our programs.  This new space will allow us to provide even more services to people who are struggling in our community. From the bottom of our hearts - we want to give a big "Thank You" to everyone.

Our children made this wonderful sign to mark the special occasion.

Here we are after the ribbon was cut.

Many of our clients joined in the celebration.

Cynthia and one of our supporters in the new office.

Cynthia and another supporter in our new office.

All smiles in the new office.

Congratulations - Completed Nurturing Parenting Course

Congratulations to our clients on completing the Nurturing Parenting Class that was provided by Building a Generation.  This was a 16 week course that covered family communication, awareness of needs, nurturing behaviors and healthy physical and emotional development.  The course was focused on building self awareness, positive concept/self-esteem and empathy.  The children also got to complete a Child Enrichment Class at the same time so they were awarded their own certificates.

This was a great experience for both our women clients and their children.  We are very proud of our clients for their perseverance in completing this program.  We are also grateful to Building a Generation for providing this wonderful learning opportunity for our clients.

Here are our proud mothers and their children with their completion certificates.

Adrina is very proud of her World's Best award

Proud mom and daughter and completing the class.

Equally proud mom and son

Two more proud graduates and their children

Congratulations - Completed Leadership, Engagement and Development Class

Congratulations to several of our clients for completing the Leadership, Engagement and Development (L.E.A.D) Class provided by The Family Service Association of Redlands.

In this class, our women learned about leadership and living an honest, purposeful life.  This included a focus on preparing healthy meals as part of a program of mentally, physical and spiritual wellness.  The class also showed how healthy eating is possible even on a limited budget.  All in all, this was a great experience for our clients and we are proud of them for finishing the program.  

We are also grateful to the Redlands FSA for making this class possible for our clients and helping their on their journey to self-sufficiency.

Congratulations on completing the Leadership, Engagement and Development (L.E.A.D) Program!

Congratulations to Our Families Reaching Self-Sufficiency

Steps 4 Life is so happy to be a part of these family reaching self-sufficiency and moving into their own places.  We are also deeply grateful to the many individuals, businesses and agencies that donated goods to help these families with their new start.  These families have worked very hard and deserve their new success.  Congratulations!

One of our families at their new place.

Another family reaching self-sufficiency

Steps 4 Life helping out.