How to Fund Your DC4K Program
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How to Fund Your DC4K Program
Yes, you can run a DivorceCare for Kids program even on a tight budget! Read more to find out how.
By Linda Ranson Jacobs first time you run DC4K, the initial The investment is going to be more costly. For some of the items, you can consider them a one-time cost. These are the DVD player, TV and the CD player. If your church already has these items, ask to borrow them for DC4K. Another option is to borrow these items from church members. Assign lists to different groups: Divide the supplies into various lists and ask different groups in the church to be responsible for collecting the items from the members of their groups. Tap into the senior citizens: Don’t forget the snack costs. Many older, grandparent-type congregants are willing to ante up each week to feed the children in your groups. Allow God to use those healed: Some former divorced adults, or DivorceCare or Single & Parenting graduates, will be willing to help get your DC4K up and running by donating funds, their time and/or supplies. Other ideas: • Buy from discount online school and education supply companies. • Buy in bulk from the retail discount stores. • Bring items from the leaders’ homes. • Scour the local dollar stores. Look for items that can replace the suggested items. • Go to a local print shop/store and ask for the end rolls of the paper they use. Or ask for donations of printing mistakes that they are going to throw away. Some of these can be used to make the games suggested. Be creative: • Use cut-up cardboard boxes instead of poster board.
Other initial costs include the items in your Weekly Art Tote. Once this is purchased, you can replace items one by one as they wear out or are misplaced. Borrow things: Items such as the Ping-Pong balls, scarves, mirrors, toy cars, suitcases, stuffed animals and more can be borrowed from church members. See what is at the church: Items such as cake pans and tongs may very well be in the kitchen at your church. Hunt and scavenge the kitchen and closets in your church for items that you can use, or find other items that you can substitute for ones suggested. Publish a list: Make up a list of disposable supplies such as paper, boxes, old magazines, envelopes and others things that church members may have at home. Ask them to donate these items by publishing a list in the church newsletter, bulletin or even the church’s website.
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Make your own stamp pads by using a Styrofoam meat tray. Lay an absorbent paper towel on the tray and cover the towel with tempera paint. Make your own beanbags by sewing or gluing pieces of felt together and stuffing with rice, corn or beans. When the lesson calls for scarves or bandanas, use pieces of material scraps. Another option is to ask each child to bring these items from home and keep at the church until the last DC4K session. Go to local retailers and ask for donations of goods, materials and supplies. If you find a manager who has been divorced or knows children of divorce, explain how this program is going to help the children. Ask the retailers to invest in the future by donating to the children today. Collect paper grocery sacks or ask a local grocery store to donate paper sacks.
Don’t forget to pray and take every care and concern to the Lord. Rely on Him to provide all of your needs.
© MMXI by the author and/or Church Initiative. All rights reserved. Reproducible only when used with a Church Initiative ministry program. Linda Ranson Jacobs is the DC4K creator and developer. For more information, email [email protected]. To discover more about DivorceCare for Kids or to find a DC4K group near you, go to www.dc4k.org.
Yes, you can run a DivorceCare for Kids program even on a tight budget! Read more to find out how.
By Linda Ranson Jacobs first time you run DC4K, the initial The investment is going to be more costly. For some of the items, you can consider them a one-time cost. These are the DVD player, TV and the CD player. If your church already has these items, ask to borrow them for DC4K. Another option is to borrow these items from church members. Assign lists to different groups: Divide the supplies into various lists and ask different groups in the church to be responsible for collecting the items from the members of their groups. Tap into the senior citizens: Don’t forget the snack costs. Many older, grandparent-type congregants are willing to ante up each week to feed the children in your groups. Allow God to use those healed: Some former divorced adults, or DivorceCare or Single & Parenting graduates, will be willing to help get your DC4K up and running by donating funds, their time and/or supplies. Other ideas: • Buy from discount online school and education supply companies. • Buy in bulk from the retail discount stores. • Bring items from the leaders’ homes. • Scour the local dollar stores. Look for items that can replace the suggested items. • Go to a local print shop/store and ask for the end rolls of the paper they use. Or ask for donations of printing mistakes that they are going to throw away. Some of these can be used to make the games suggested. Be creative: • Use cut-up cardboard boxes instead of poster board.
Other initial costs include the items in your Weekly Art Tote. Once this is purchased, you can replace items one by one as they wear out or are misplaced. Borrow things: Items such as the Ping-Pong balls, scarves, mirrors, toy cars, suitcases, stuffed animals and more can be borrowed from church members. See what is at the church: Items such as cake pans and tongs may very well be in the kitchen at your church. Hunt and scavenge the kitchen and closets in your church for items that you can use, or find other items that you can substitute for ones suggested. Publish a list: Make up a list of disposable supplies such as paper, boxes, old magazines, envelopes and others things that church members may have at home. Ask them to donate these items by publishing a list in the church newsletter, bulletin or even the church’s website.
•
•
•
•
•
Make your own stamp pads by using a Styrofoam meat tray. Lay an absorbent paper towel on the tray and cover the towel with tempera paint. Make your own beanbags by sewing or gluing pieces of felt together and stuffing with rice, corn or beans. When the lesson calls for scarves or bandanas, use pieces of material scraps. Another option is to ask each child to bring these items from home and keep at the church until the last DC4K session. Go to local retailers and ask for donations of goods, materials and supplies. If you find a manager who has been divorced or knows children of divorce, explain how this program is going to help the children. Ask the retailers to invest in the future by donating to the children today. Collect paper grocery sacks or ask a local grocery store to donate paper sacks.
Don’t forget to pray and take every care and concern to the Lord. Rely on Him to provide all of your needs.
© MMXI by the author and/or Church Initiative. All rights reserved. Reproducible only when used with a Church Initiative ministry program. Linda Ranson Jacobs is the DC4K creator and developer. For more information, email [email protected]. To discover more about DivorceCare for Kids or to find a DC4K group near you, go to www.dc4k.org.
