Cloud and Fire Ministries

Our company has been associated with Cloud and Fire Ministries for several years. They bring us candidate employees who are primarily at-risk post high schoolers who need a second chance. We find that these kids have a superior work ethic than most that we encounter. They are determined to succeed and eager to learn. We provide them with training and watch them grow into skilled workers. Occasionally there is a problem and the Cloud and Fire personnel quickly intervene and normally the issue goes away. It is a win-win situation for us and the kids. We need the workers and they are willing to work. Cloud and Fire is to be highly commended for turning these kids around.

The staff was extremely friendly and engaged the students in such a positive way. Everyone was always included in activities and constantly exploring and staying true to the foundation and beliefs of Cloud and Fire!

I had volunteered for the organization when they acquired their new building and we were painting the rooms, cleaning the building, organizing the space, etc. Meeting the leaders of the organization was very nice & they were extremely welcoming & helpful. I learned more about the mission of the organization and they really change lives...especially in children and youth. I see that they do everything with excellence and they really love the children/youth. I know that this organization gives hope and encouragement to all the high risk youth that enters their doors.

I started volunteering at Cloud and Fire because of the incredible educational opportunity that was offered to the young men and women of the community. Students were encouraged and guided through the process of serving others by using skills acquired during the program. Later, I became involved with the after-school program for younger students. Staff, volunteers, and students worked together to create a safe environment where learning was a valued asset.

Marcia

Cloud and Fire is an organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at risk kids. I just started tutoring young adults (16-25), who are working to complete their high school diploma or GED against incredible odds. The staff is both qualified and motivated. They provide a support system that allows these young people to succeed. Without this organization many of these students would choose to continue in an unproductive lifestyle, but with Cloud and Fire they are given hope!

I'm a relatively recent retiree and volunteer twice a week to tutor some of the young adults (16-25) attending the charter school sponsored by this ministry. I could spend less--or even no-- time with them, but here is why I make a choice such as that:
All these young people have had serious disruptions to their lives of every imaginable kind (rape, pregnancy, mother/fatherhood, fatherless/motherless homes, evictions, jailed relatives, and poverty are a few examples) and been unable to graduate from high school in the more normal ways. Realizing they have little future without a high school diploma they are very serious about their studying and schoolwork. Some commute farther distances by bus than I would have done by car. I haven't seen any disciplinary problems or misbehavior of any kind in nearly two years of working with them; all have been incredibly polite and responsive to the efforts of the highly professional teachers who work with them. The Executive Director spent 18 hours of this last Saturday getting a new program launched that will provide the students with a safe Saturday night environment away from the common weekend gang influence. That kind of effort on her part is not at all untypical for her, her husband, and many of the staff. You may believe that the students respond favorably to that kind of caring!

Cloud and Fire Ministries is a very important organization that makes a tangible impact in the lives of at risk youth. They are located in San Fernando Valley in a gang infested area. Melody and her team provide refuge and resources to help kids stay off the streets and out of gangs. Through the education and job training that Cloud and Fire provides the kids have a future of hope! This is place of love and encouragement. I have been fortunate to meet some of the incredible young men and women that have benefited from the program. Cloud and Fire are great stewards of their resources. They are A+++

I was a volunteer for the Cloud and Fire Ministries for two years. I must say it was a pleasure and privilege to be involved in this wonderfully-organized and run non-profit school. The teachers are all highly-qualified, dedicated individuals and the administration is top-rate. I thank God there is a school for students like the ones at Cloud and Fire to have a second chance at getting their lives together through this program so that they can go on to be productive members of society.

I stopped my volunteer work since the school is in Van Nuys and I live in Santa Monica and it was getting to be a bit of a trek for this 70-year old woman.

Sincerely, Jean Worland

Melody and her staff have always been top-notch. I have volunteered on and off over the past few years, whenever my schedule allowed, and the people are just incredible. From the leadership to the students, lives are being changed, and the love radiates from within the walls of the school and spreads into the community. I've never met a nicer, more genuine, and dedicated group of people.

Cloud and Fire Ministries is a great organization that really makes a difference in children, youth, and young adults lives within the San Fernando Valley. In the most impoverished areas of the valley, cloud and fire does a great job of giving youth hope for their future by providing tutoring, education opportunities, expanding their perspective of life, and Christian mentorship that will change their future and lives forever!

I recently joined the staff at Cloud and Fire and feel so honored to be a part of their commitment to these young adults. It is such a unique program that they have created to teach, mentor, counsel, and guide these men and women, and it has truly been incredible to hear from my students how blessed they are by this organization.

There are very few (if any other) non-profits in the San Fernando Valley that are meeting the educational, vocational, relational, and spiritual needs of youth and young adult to the degree that Cloud & Fire Ministries has for the past decade. This ministry is truly an amazing organization to support.

This is an extremely impactful organization to future generations that would otherwise not have too many opportunities for change. I love to see how children and youth who have come through this organization are now young, responsible adults, who contribute to society and give back to their community. Above all, i love that they give the eternal hope and confidence that only Jesus can give. They are by no means ashamed of sharing the Gospel message. The leadership is not afraid to move forward and to implore new means of serving the neighborhood youth while never compromising their beliefs and convictions.

Cloud and Fire in their first years has been there for young people and they are doing a great job and they keep improving when I was a student the staff offered the help I needed and that help me to continue with my education the atmosphere is friendly every student learns to respect each other also during class the student are well behave this made classes more easy to pay attention on the subject their system of learning allows the student to be more independent, cloud and fire is one of the best school programs I ever assist I believe cloud and fire will help other young students that are seeking for a better life style.

I have been a volunteer since January, 2012. This organization has touched not only the lives of
the children they serve but it has touched our lives as well. We learned about the organization while sitting in Church one Winter Sunday in December 2011. My daughter and I were sitting there listening to the founder of Cloud and Fire Ministry give her testimony and talk about her organization. The love she has for all of the children was so profound, it touched our hearts deeply. Since volunteering at Cloud and Fire, we have learned about the beautiful, intelligent and wonderful children that attend this organization and the impact it has had on each of their lives. To see the children grow in character and academics in a loving, caring and nurturing environment has been a wonderful blessing. Initially, I couldn't see how my daughter and I would be able to volunteer since we live a good distance from the organization. My daughter's heart was touched when she learned about Cloud and Fire and wanted to help the kids and volunteer. Because of her determination and interest, we were able to work it out and at times volunteered not once but twice a week and on special occasions. It has enriched our lives in ways unimaginable. The leadership and staff who devote their time for this very important organization are a wonderful group of people who make volunteering alot of fun and rewarding.
Amy and Valentina Pagliari

i was a volunteer for two years and was impressed with how caring and committed the staff was. loved the organization so much, i am now a part-time teacher. an amazing organization that loves kids in tangible ways.