Update on Sponsor-a-Family Drive

Hi all, 

Thank you so much for your generosity! 

On Friday, December 13, a portion of Crefeld Connects delivered the two carloads of donations for a family, a single mother and three young children (see photo), to our partner organization, PathWays. A big THANK YOU to everyone who donated items!


Some of the things we received were! 

Hug-Me-Elmo 
a bike 
clothing for all three children
boots for all three children
a riding toy
puzzles and games
superhero toys
arts and crafts supplies
warm blankets
some DVDs all children can enjoy
kitchen toys
a toy kitchen for all children 
plus the body pillow for mom
picture frames and albums 

Thanks again!
Crefeld Connects

Holiday Sponsor a Family Drive

 

Every year around the holidays, Crefeld sponsors a family in need. For so many families, times continue to be challenging and the holidays particularly difficult. Thankfully, many of us continue to be in a position to help a local family who has found themselves in need this holiday season. This year our family is a single mom who has three kids:  ages five, two, and one. Find their “Wish List” here. Please help them have an amazing holiday season. They won’t have one without us. If you see an item on the list you know you have or can get, please bring it in! You can drop them off at the front desk with Angela, Kristy, or contact Nicole at ngreaves@crefeld.org. Please drop off items on Wednesday or Friday, between 1:00 and 3:00. Anything helps. Thanks so much!  

Crefeld Connects discovers that unhealthy food is cheap

Josh

Meira

Iris

Lucas

Income and Expenses for families

Minimum Wage For Families

Later in October,  we divided into two groups and investigated the costs of living in relationship to a minimum wage salary. We discussed whether you could actually live off of  minimum wage in our area. Students looked at two family scenarios, a two-person household and a four-person household.

We found that a family of four is considerably more expensive than a family of two. The most expensive thing that was purchased  was childcare. The child care bill was just as expensive as the apartment building. This information doesn't even include healthcare are or taxes.

We wanted to see how much our favorite meals would  cost. If we wanted to make Chicken satay the it would cost $43.25 for one meal. That is only the cost for one meal. You need three meals and maybe some snacks, that could easily add up to $200. We found out that things like good spices and fresh fruits and vegetables are really expensive. Sometimes families  don't have enough money to buy real food so they are forced to buy junk food and fast food.

Four person family

income per month was: $ 2,513

Housing: $775

Utilities: Included in housing

Transportation: $370

Daycare: $800

Clothes/ shoes: $100

Toiletries: $20

Luxury items: $20

Entertainment (cell phone): $126

Left over for food? $472

Two person family

Income per month was: 2,513

Housing: $585 per month

Utilities: $171 per month

Transportation: $150 per month

Clothes/Shoes: $100 per month

Toiletries: $14 per month

Luxury items/Entertainment: $10 per month for Wi-Fi

iPhones: $120 per month  

Left over for food? $790

Crefeld Connects first day

On our first days, Iris, Josh, and Jade, decorated the Cradles to Crayons box where donations can be made.

Emily and Miera made flyers that were put around the school as a reminder for students to donate.  Lucas worked hard on our website.

Digging

Crefeld Connects will be digging up the area where the garden will be. We will remove all the invasive and dead plants there.

Garden Plans

On January 15, we returned to Wyck House to begin our basic garden plans. In order to do this, we first measured the space allotted for our garden. This was more complicated than originally thought. We did not just measure the outside perimeters but charted different points within them to consider the space between other permanent fixtures, like remnants of a historic wall we cannot move. It was like creating a pirate's map. Then we created a scale so that when we start putting plants in, we will know exactly how far apart to plant them. In our scale, a quarter inch equals four feet. We learned that a garden plan will help us consider what is the best layout for our space to ensure its beauty and originality. Now we have to decide if we want our garden to be more symmetric or flowing. Most of us have already agreed that we prefer a garden that feels nature and organic.