Calvary Home For Children

CALVARY HOME PROVIDES HELP, HOPE, AND HOME TO ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN. OUR VISION IS TO BUILD AN EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY OF NURTURING HOMES FOR DISPLACED CHILDREN IN THE UPSTATE THROUGH OUR MAIN CAMPUS AND BY LICENSING INDIVIDUAL FOSTER HOMES IN ANDERSON COUNTY. WE STRIVE FOR EVERY CHILD TO BE NURTURED IN A WELCOMING, RELIABLE, AND CHRIST-CENTERED HOME AND BE UNITED WITH THEIR FAMILY AS A MORE PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND ACADEMICALLY STABLE INDIVIDUAL.

THE SARAH COBB MCCLELLION CAMPUS IS HOME TO THE FOSTER FAMILY COMMUNITY. OUR CAMPUS IS CURRENTLY MADE UP OF: FIVE INDIVIDUALLY LICENSED FOSTER HOMES THE ADMINISTRATION/COUNSELING BUILDING THE VOCATIONAL ARTS CENTER THE SOLAR FIELD LOTS OF ROOM FOR CHILDREN TO GROW AND THRIVE EACH COTTAGE HAS A FULL-TIME "MOM AND DAD" WHO CARE FOR 6-8 CHILDREN. EVERY HOUSE HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD. HOUSEPARENTS SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS WORKING WITH EACH CHILD'S EMOTIONAL HEALTH, SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. OUR PRAYER AT CALVARY HOME IS THAT THE CHILDREN WOULD LEARN TO TRUST GOD WITH THEIR FEARS. FOSTER CHILDREN FACE MANY SCARY THINGS IN LIFE, AND APART FROM CHRIST THE FEAR COULD BE CRIPPLING. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: REPLACING LIES WITH TRUTH THIS STUDY IS GEARED TOWARDS HELPING TEENAGE GIRLS IDENTIFY THE LIES THEY ARE BELIEVING ABOUT THEMSELVES, OTHERS, AND GOD AND HELPS THEM REPLACE THE LIES WITH TRUTH. FREEDOM CAN ONLY BE FOUND BY LIVING IN THE TRUTH. WE ADDRESS LIES SUCH AS: "GOD IS JUST LIKE MY FATHER." "I HAVE TO PERFORM TO BE LOVED." "I NEED A BOYFRIEND." "WHAT I DO NOW DOES NOT AFFECT THE FUTURE." USUALLY, THROUGH DISCUSSION, ADDRESSING ONE OF THESE LIES LEADS TO THE DISCOVERY OF OTHER LIES THEY ARE BELIEVING. ONE LIE THAT CAME UP RECENTLY WAS, "I CAN'T FORGIVE BECAUSE FORGIVENESS MEANS ALLOWING A PERSON WHO HAS HURT ME BACK INTO MY LIFE." THIS TYPE OF FORMAL INSTRUCTION IS NOT THE ONLY WAY CALVARY HOME STRIVES TO TEACH TRUTH TO THE CHILDREN ON OUR CAMPUS. MANY CHILDREN COME TO CALVARY HOME BELIEVING THE LIE THAT THEIR SITUATIONS PRIOR TO FOSTER CARE ARE THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE. THROUGH DAILY LIVING, CHILDREN LEARN TRUTH. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS. THROUGH THE INTERACTIONS OF FOSTER PARENTS, CHILDREN LEARN THAT ADULTS WHO LOVE ONE ANOTHER CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT USING VIOLENCE OR FOUL LANGUAGE. PREPARING THEM FOR LIFE INFORMALLY, INSTRUCTION OCCURS DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN EACH OF THE FOSTER HOMES. THE SKILLS TAUGHT AT HOME USUALLY INCLUDE HOW TO CARE FOR ONE'S OWN HYGIENE AND PERSONAL CARE, AND HOW TO MAINTAIN A CLEAN AND PLEASANT HOME. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN LAUNDRY, CLEAN THEIR ROOMS, PREPARE YUMMY BUT NUTRITIOUS MEALS, AND HOW TO CLEAN UP THE KITCHEN AFTER DINNER. CHILDREN ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO ODD JOBS AROUND CAMPUS TO EARN SPENDING MONEY. THESE ODD JOBS HELP THEM LEARN OTHER IMPORTANT SKILLS SUCH AS HOW TO WASH A VEHICLE, HOW TO MOW THE YARD, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY - HOW TO COMPLETE A TASK WITH DILIGENCE AND EXCELLENCE. FORMALLY, WE TRY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTIVE TEACHING. ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE OUR LIFE SKILLS COURSES IN THE SUMMERTIME. HERE, CHILDREN LEARN FIRST HAND THE BASICS OF PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL WORK, WOOD-WORKING, DRY-WALL REPAIR, MECHANICS, BUDGETING, AND FINANCES. SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ALSO PROVIDE UNIQUE AND FUN OPPORTUNITIES. THIS YEAR, ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY, WE TOOK THE CHILDREN FOR A FUN BUT INSTRUCTIVE OUTING TO CLEMSON. OVER CHRISTMAS, A LOCAL ORGANIZATION HAD GENEROUSLY PROVIDED 25 DOLLAR VISA CARDS. EACH CHILD RECEIVED ONE CARD AND WE TOOK THEM TO FOUR DIFFERENT STORES IN CLEMSON WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THE MONEY. THE GOALS OF THE EXERCISE WERE MANY. 1. EXERCISE THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING ITEMS FROM THE STORE. 2. EXERCISE MAKING EDUCATED DECISIONS ABOUT SPENDING MONEY. 3. EXERCISE CALCULATING MULTIPLE PURCHASES AND SALES TAXES TO DETERMINE YOUR REMAINING BALANCE. 4. EXERCISE READING SHOPPING RECEIPTS. 5. EXERCISE EATING AT A RESTAURANT WHILE STAYING WITHIN YOUR BUDGET. 6. EXERCISE LOVING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WELL BY GOING INTO STORES WITH THEM THAT DO NOT INTEREST YOU WHILE MAINTAINING A GOOD ATTITUDE. 7. EXERCISE CARRYING ONESELF RESPECTFULLY AND PLEASANTLY IN PUBLIC. BACK TO SCHOOL MAKEOVER MUCH LIKE THE NEW YEAR, EACH NEW SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW BEGINNING. THIS YEAR, SEVERAL YOUNG LADIES ON OUR CAMPUS ARE ENTERING HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME. AS SUMMER BREAK DREW TO AN END, ONE YOUNG LADY, JESSICA, BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT HOW SHE WANTED TO PRESENT HERSELF IN THIS NEW SCHOOL. JESSICA'S DEFAULT WARDROBE OF CHOICE IS LEGGINGS, OVER-SIZED T-SHIRTS, AND SLIDES. BUT JESSICA REALIZED SHE WANTED TO PUT HER BEST FOOT FORWARD IN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. WHEN SHE EXPRESSED THIS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF CALVARY HOME, MRS. LAURA JUMPED INTO ACTION. WITH THE HELP OF A LOCAL SALON, JESSICA WAS ABLE TO GET A NEW HAIR STYLE. AFTER THE HAIR APPOINTMENT, MRS. LAURA TOOK JESSICA SHOPPING FOR CUTE, BUT COMFORTABLE, CLOTHES THAT JESSICA COULD WEAR WITH SATISFACTION AND DIGNITY. THIS SHOPPING EXPERIENCE WAS A MOMENT OF LEARNING A NEW LIFE SKILL- HOW TO PUT TOGETHER AN AFFORDABLE WARDROBE THAT IS COMFORTABLE BUT CLASSY. JESSICA IS NOW EXCITED TO ENTER HIGH SCHOOL WITH A FRESH START. TEENAGE GIRLS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING MAKEOVERS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR THOUGH. OUR COTTAGES ARE RECEIVING MAKEOVERS TOO. ONE OF THE FOSTER MOM'S DECIDED TO SET UP A "SCHOOL STATION" IN THE GARAGE, TO HOPEFULLY HELP KEEP THE TRANSFER OF GERMS BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME TO A MINIMUM. THROUGH A LOT OF HARD WORK AND ELBOW GREASE, THE WALL HAS NOW BEEN PAINTED, CARPET LAID, AND HOOKS HUNG. NOW THE CHILDREN HAVE A STATION WHERE THEY CAN TAKE OFF THEIR SHOES, HANG UP THEIR BOOK BAGS, AND SANITIZE THEIR HANDS BEFORE ENTERING THE HOUSE. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE LORD'S GRACIOUS AND CLEAR PROVISIONS. EVERYONE IS NOW READY FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR TO START