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Circles of Hope connects community volunteers with individuals who are ready and willing to do what’s necessary to move from limited resources to greater stability.
Rather than functioning as an additional agency, Circles focuses on building relationships.
The process begins with a 15-week class called Getting Ahead.
Getting Ahead graduates have the opportunity to become Circle Leaders and — along with a team of friends/allies — continue working on their personal goals developed during the class.
In December, Circles will graduate about 13 Getting Ahead students.
Those who continue as Circle leaders will be matched with allies from the community.
For 18 months, Circle leaders will meet with their allies on a regular basis as they develop and implement their own plan for building a variety of resources in their lives: financial, physical, educational, social, spiritual and many others.
Anyone interested in learning more about what it means to be an ally may participate in a free, one-day class.
Ally training is a way to find out about Circles, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Participants are not obligated to become allies. In fact, there are plenty of ways to help out with Circles other than becoming an ally.
For example, Lea Ann Reber, a scheduler for radiology at Newton Medical Center, serves as the weekly meeting coordinator, arranging for meals and child care each Tuesday during the Circles/Getting Ahead meeting.
She serves on other Circles’ committees as well, such as the Guiding Coalition — similar to a working board.
“I attended ally training and found it very helpful in expanding my understanding of Circles,” Reber said. “I definitely recommend taking the training. I started volunteering to clean up in the kitchen after the meal to help out a friend; however, it didn’t take long to get caught up with the momentum and excitement of the Circles of Hope movement.
“I was so impressed with how friendly, supportive and caring everyone was, from staff to Circles leaders to other volunteers,” she said. “Circles of Hope is one of the most positive and help-oriented organizations, outside of my church, that I’ve ever had the pleasure of being affiliated with. I am always amazed how very appreciative everyone is for anything you do for them, no matter how great or small. My involvement with Circles of Hope has been a growth experience for me, and I get much more out of it than I could ever hope to give. Our community is blessed to have this vital service as part of our community.”
Another example of serving is through Circles’ resource team.
Among other tasks, the resource team is investigating the benefits of Individual Development Accounts — matched savings accounts that help people with modest means save towards the purchase of a lifelong asset, such as a home.
Timothy Conner, an instructor for Hutchinson Community College and executive director for the Missional Church Network, serves on the resource team, as well as the guiding coalition.
“Everyone needs to take part to make it work,” Conner said. “Circles is a perfect place for followers of Christ to be salt and light in our community.”
Other resource team members are Allen Cooper, vice president, Midland Bank; and Don A. Sauerwein, assistant vice president, First Bank of Newton.
“I believe Circles can make a real difference in our community,”Sauerwein said. “If you have a place in your heart to help people, Circles has a place for you.”
Lynda Schroeder, substitute teacher for USD 373 is another enthusiastic volunteer.
“I am the child-care program leader for Circles,” she said. “I participated in the Poverty Simulation, and it was very helpful in understanding the needs that people with limited resources have. It also gave me a small window into what many people go through on a daily basis. I have enjoyed providing child care for the children of Circle Leaders and the members of the Getting Ahead class.”
Support for Circles comes in a variety of ways.
For example, Newton Medical Center CEO Steve Kelly and his wife, Patricia, and the Todd and Tammy Tangeman family, along with other couples from Grace Community Church, have provided weekly meals.
Recently, teams from USD 373’s McKinley Administration Center generously provided and served meals for the Circles/Getting Ahead meetings in October.
There are many ways to be supportive of Circles, depending on one’s interests and availability.
To find out more, call 284-0000, stop by Peace Connections at 612 N. Main St. or sign up to attend the next ally training from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 801 N. Main St. in Newton.
Circles of Hope connects community volunteers with individuals who are ready and willing to do what’s necessary to move from limited resources to greater stability.
Rather than functioning as an additional agency, Circles focuses on building relationships.
The process begins with a 15-week class called Getting Ahead.
Getting Ahead graduates have the opportunity to become Circle Leaders and — along with a team of friends/allies — continue working on their personal goals developed during the class.
In December, Circles will graduate about 13 Getting Ahead students.
Those who continue as Circle leaders will be matched with allies from the community.
For 18 months, Circle leaders will meet with their allies on a regular basis as they develop and implement their own plan for building a variety of resources in their lives: financial, physical, educational, social, spiritual and many others.
Anyone interested in learning more about what it means to be an ally may participate in a free, one-day class.
Ally training is a way to find out about Circles, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Participants are not obligated to become allies. In fact, there are plenty of ways to help out with Circles other than becoming an ally.
For example, Lea Ann Reber, a scheduler for radiology at Newton Medical Center, serves as the weekly meeting coordinator, arranging for meals and child care each Tuesday during the Circles/Getting Ahead meeting.
She serves on other Circles’ committees as well, such as the Guiding Coalition — similar to a working board.
“I attended ally training and found it very helpful in expanding my understanding of Circles,” Reber said. “I definitely recommend taking the training. I started volunteering to clean up in the kitchen after the meal to help out a friend; however, it didn’t take long to get caught up with the momentum and excitement of the Circles of Hope movement.
“I was so impressed with how friendly, supportive and caring everyone was, from staff to Circles leaders to other volunteers,” she said. “Circles of Hope is one of the most positive and help-oriented organizations, outside of my church, that I’ve ever had the pleasure of being affiliated with. I am always amazed how very appreciative everyone is for anything you do for them, no matter how great or small. My involvement with Circles of Hope has been a growth experience for me, and I get much more out of it than I could ever hope to give. Our community is blessed to have this vital service as part of our community.”
Another example of serving is through Circles’ resource team.
Among other tasks, the resource team is investigating the benefits of Individual Development Accounts — matched savings accounts that help people with modest means save towards the purchase of a lifelong asset, such as a home.
Timothy Conner, an instructor for Hutchinson Community College and executive director for the Missional Church Network, serves on the resource team, as well as the guiding coalition.
“Everyone needs to take part to make it work,” Conner said. “Circles is a perfect place for followers of Christ to be salt and light in our community.”
Other resource team members are Allen Cooper, vice president, Midland Bank; and Don A. Sauerwein, assistant vice president, First Bank of Newton.
“I believe Circles can make a real difference in our community,”Sauerwein said. “If you have a place in your heart to help people, Circles has a place for you.”
Lynda Schroeder, substitute teacher for USD 373 is another enthusiastic volunteer.
“I am the child-care program leader for Circles,” she said. “I participated in the Poverty Simulation, and it was very helpful in understanding the needs that people with limited resources have. It also gave me a small window into what many people go through on a daily basis. I have enjoyed providing child care for the children of Circle Leaders and the members of the Getting Ahead class.”
Support for Circles comes in a variety of ways.
For example, Newton Medical Center CEO Steve Kelly and his wife, Patricia, and the Todd and Tammy Tangeman family, along with other couples from Grace Community Church, have provided weekly meals.
Recently, teams from USD 373’s McKinley Administration Center generously provided and served meals for the Circles/Getting Ahead meetings in October.
There are many ways to be supportive of Circles, depending on one’s interests and availability.
To find out more, call 284-0000, stop by Peace Connections at 612 N. Main St. or sign up to attend the next ally training from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church, 801 N. Main St. in Newton.
