about the care van program
One in four children living in Texas go without the necessary immunizations to lead healthy, happy lives due to a lack of affordability and access to medical care. Yet, immunizing children is one of the most direct, simple and least expensive ways to build healthier futures for medically underserved families in Texas.
Using its fleet of specially customized mobile immunization Care Vans, the Care Van Program is able to complement traditional "brick and mortar" clinics by visiting schools, churches, restaurants, recreational parks, shopping centers, public housing, community events, etc. and conduct immunization outreach clinics in the communities where these at-risk families live and work.
In addition to offering free childhood immunizations, the Care Van Program also offers free health screenings at most of its health education community events. Health screenings include blood pressure checks, body fat and strength tests.
The Care Van program has provided more than 858,000 immunizations to 515,000 children through April, 2011. The program is coordinated through the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Inc., and with thanks to lead sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. This is a free clinic for Texas Vaccines For Children eligible children. The location of other clinics operated by the Care Van and their schedules may be found at http://carevan.org/neighborhood.htm.
joy Mission Group
JOY mission was started as a local outreach to support and address needs in our area. Our name stands for “just older youth”. We meet the second Tuesday of the month from 10:00 to 12:00 in the Family Life Center September through June. We do add other times and dates as our projects demand. You don’t have to be crafty, know how to sew or knit. All are welcome.
Our sewing projects have included about two dozen walker bags, six dozen port pillows (most for Presbyterian Cancer Center in honor of Linda Bryant), several dozen Fidget pads that were made for residents of Three Forks Memory care as well as given to on request to others. We sewed bags filled with hygiene supplies for the Kaufman Genesis Center for Women and for the homeless in Dallas. We clip coupons to send to our military to be used in the commissary store. We have collected new and used clothing items and hygiene products for the homeless veterans in Dallas. Baskets of goodies have been given to our own homebound church family at holidays. The last several years we have filled hundreds of Easter eggs in support of our church hunt. We try to give items in support of our youth when they get their bibles, are confirmed, graduate or at the blessing of the back packs. The Norville children’s center in Kaufman has been one of our ongoing efforts. We have been able to provide many supplies as well as homemade pillow cases stuffed with clothes and toys at Christmas. We try to also support our elderly by making lap blankets and sewing treat bags for all the residents of Three Forks and Ridgecrest, as well as getting the number of residents who have no one so we can make sure they are remembered at Christmas. We have granted several wishes for the angel tree at the senior center at Christmas. Our police force and firefighters have been the recipients of valentine cookies. There are too many other projects we have completed to mention without becoming laborious.
But the major ongoing project we are known for is our fleece prayer blanket ministry, over 75 delivered so far. We start fleece blankets that our congregation help finish by tying individual knots and saying a prayer over them. These are given to those who are sick and others going through a hard time who need some extra love and support. Covid made us change some of our works for a while but the prayers and love were still there. This is a whole church effort.
Port pillows, walker bags or prayer blankets can be requested at any time by church members and can be given to those in or outside of our church family. A request can be given to the church secretary or by filling out a form found in our church entryway.
We couldn’t exist but for the gracious support of our church family. As with many other worthwhile organizations, we rely on the financial generosity of our church members. Money can be donated to us by check with JOY notated on it or cash in an envelope designating us in the collection plate.