LIGHTHOUSE INC

1 person found this review helpful

Over the past several years, I have had the honor of watching this organization flourish. From the first day I spoke with Rev. Andy, I knew that something was different about this organization. Too often in the nonprofit world, we overuse the word compassion and fail to recognize it's about community. Lighthouse, Inc. understands that it's not enough to have compassion. This organization understands that it is about community - recognizing that caring for the most vulnerable among us builds and sustains community. The Lighthouse difference is that instead of pitying the less fortunate, they roll up their sleeves and do something about making this world a better place. The most significant example of this is their work in the projects of Cleveland. Years ago, equipped with a small mobile unit and a staff of mostly Caucasian individuals, they ventured into the projects to do one thing - feed hungry children and families. Lighthouse, Inc. realized that they could not better the community by waiting for the community to come to them. They saw a need and they did not hesistate to take ownership of the solution. I first learned of their work when Rev. Andy called my office. Faced with bureacratic red tape, his concern was not about the viability of the organization; rather he was deeply concerned about not being able to help more hungry children and families. When the organization was awarded a grant to continue their work, I was grateful to have been a part of ensuring their good work could endure. As a grantee, the organization was timely, organized and efficient. When I conducted a site visit, I was moved by the children's accounts of how Lighthouse changed their lives for the better. This organization deserves many accolades not only for what they do, but how they do it. I hope these words reflect the phenomenal work, devotion and ability of Lighthouse, Inc. to build, foster and improve the community.

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I had the privilege of working with the HeavenTrain team on their new website: http://urbanlighthouse.org

Through the entire process, they were a joy to work with and allowed me to see their heart to care for the communities they serve. Their lead on the project, Bonnie Moorman, was especially helpful and truly embodies the spirit of service and professionalism that has made HeavenTrain so effective.

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Lighthouse is making a difference in the city of Cleveland. They are impacting lives by not only meeting felt needs, but by ultimately meeting the greatest need of all, the need for Jesus! May God richly bless this organization.

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I used to be an elementary teacher and I was looking for an opportunity to minister to children again. I was a tutor at Carl & Lewis Stokes Elementary Academy one day a week in 2012. Each week we worked usually on sight words, reading skills and helping to build self esteem in the children. It was a joy to see a smile on the students' face when they knew they learned new words& understood the lesson. It was also good to see them work with other students playing a game and being a "team" or helper. Both Light House Inc. and the staff at the school were very welcoming, helpful and grateful for the work we accomplished with the students.

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I am a retired public school librarian and I did not think that I would do volunteer work in schools. I am glad that a friend at church encouraged me. When I walked into Stokes Elementary in Cleveland, I felt right at home and I almost said out loud: "Wow, this is what I used to do every day and I loved it." I worked with first graders on readiness and early reading skills. I saw the same students each week and I got to know the sort of things that would motivate them: their favorite book, a puzzle game, etc. Working on beginning consonant sounds was challenging. We tried different strategies throughout the year and it was rewarding for all of us when we saw progress. Kevin L. Schaner

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I tutor at East Tech High School. The relationships formed through Lighthouse bring the Kingdom of God into the school in powerful ways. The words hope, potential, and future are being instilled in these young minds. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'm excited to see what God is doing.

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It is a honor and a privilage to volunteer with Heaventrain. To watch Pastor Phil serve the childeren of Central Cleveland is amazing. He gives so much to the childeren who have so little. How rewarding it is to hear the childeren say Thank you and to receive a hug. When I volunteer with Heaventrain I always learn more about the love of our heavenly Father from Pastor Phil and the team.

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Lighthouse INC is a wonderful team of people who have put their best feet forward in serving the children in Cleveland. I have recently begun part-time work with Lighthouse, and I have volunteered a few times on Heaventrain to help catch a glimpse of Lighthouse's larger goal. The lighthouse/heaventrain team is committed to what matters more than numbers of persons fed or snazzy programs to boast of. The bottom line is loving kids who need someone to believe that they can do it! Through tutoring, investing in good quality meals, and spending time cheering on these kids, Lighthouse folks are getting it done. They know the kids well thanks to years and years of faithful ministry through Heaventrain. More importantly, this group of people knows the significant value of each individual child. We have seen and heard of some miraculous things from some of the leaders, and I believe that is evidence of a team with the right vision!

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1 person found this review helpful

I can remember a time on heaventrain when a little boy had come to heaventrain and we were doing the summer feeding program; the kids 18 and under got a chance to eat a delicious hot meal with cold milk and carrots. While we were packing up to leave, we were giving away extras to the kids who wanted them (because we had a set amount and we had to pay for that amount any way) when this boy's mom walks up to all of our staff with tears in her eyes, hugging us and saying that they didnt have any food and didnt know what to tell the children. She said that heaventrain blessed their family with the sandwhiches and milk, which would feed her 4 children. Since this was our last stop of the day, we gave them our last box of sandwhiches and milks. For over 32 years, heaventrain has been quietly serving and blessing the community; and is able to build lasting relationships through holiday food drives, giving out coats for kids, and the numerous tutoring programs and extracricular activities students can be involved in after school. In the words of another heaventrain parent, heaventrain is a blessing and dont ever stop serving. Non-profits like this nowadays are rare and so thats why i nominate heaventrain for this grant.

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I started off going to the heaventrain as a young teenager. I wrote an essay for the heaventrain and Pastor Phill and the staff invited me to join the staff but, i really didnt know them and since id already almost been snatched up twice, i decided to hold off and watch them. That was five years ago, and when i tell people this story they're baffled because they couldnt see themselves living in these neighborhoods facing the struggles these people are facing today. The heaventrain served as something to look forward to; seeing as society is so rough these days.

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So many times over the last several years I have heard from kids on Heaventrain how much they look forward to Heaventrain each week. Their moms have told me how the kids hear that train whistle and hurriedly grab their shoes and race out the door to meet Heaventrain. So what's all the hype about? Come spend one day among these children and you will never be the same. In their eyes, I see hope and resiliency no matter how difficult their lives have been. They are so worth the commitment of the volunteers to come each week and show them God's love in tangible ways through listening and caring, playing games, and feeding them. Then there's the deep yet simple Gospel message shared on Heaventrain that is so relevant to where they are. I love being part of Lighthouse and reaching out to these kids! They have helped heal my heart without ever knowing it.

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4 years ago, I heard about Lighthouse through my son and volunteered to help set up the office. Then I spent a day delivering food through the Storehouse program. At each site several resident volunteers would help unload the food and then set up mini pantries. It was fun to work together. Next, I traveled with Heaventrain on a Saturday in December. It was very cold, but the volunteers stayed all day, interacting with kids as they waited to board the bus or when they came off. I was amazed at the hope in these children's eyes when it was obvious that their community and living conditions were less than ideal. They were resilient in the face of difficulties. I could see why they responded to the teachings; they needed real answers. I have helped in other ways, too, and have found the community widely recognizes Lighthouse and speaks very positively of it.

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