As you may know, Vineyard Church of Overland Park has been getting more and more involved in and with our community. About a year ago God gave us the vision of Vineyard Church of Overland Park becoming the best friend the Community of Overland Park has ever had. We want to be a church that sees what God is already doing and joining in. All across this world, we see multiple ways God is moving, both through faith based organizations and non faith-based organization. The fun part is listening to God, to see which ones He wants us to partner with. We believe Head Start of Shawnee Mission is one of those non-faith-based organizations where God is already at work. For example, we have heard stories about special-needs kids who were not able to walk, learn to walk for the first time during their time at Head Start.

Around ten years ago, Vineyard Church of Overland Park has been in a partnership with Head Start of Shawnee Mission. Once a year, at Thanksgiving, we would receive a list of families who needed a meal for Thanksgiving. Through the experience of delivering the Thanksgiving meals to the families, we found that Head Start already knew where the families were. They already have a relationship with the poor of Johnson County.

You ask yourself, there is poor in Johnson Country? That is correct! Based on the information provided by United Community Services and Johnson County Children and Youth Trends for the year 2009, there are 21, 998 people in Johnson County that live at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Federal Poverty Line for a family of 3 for the year 2009 is $18,310, which is an income of roughly $9.50 per hour. 14% of these families living at 100% of the Federal Poverty Level in Johnson County are children under the age of five and nearly 50% of the families living below the poverty line include at least one child under the age of five.

Head Start of Shawnee Mission today serves 218 low-income children and families residing in the Shawnee Mission School District. I say all of this, because there is a need right in our own backyard and Vineyard Church of Overland Park has an opportunity to join in to what God is already doing through Head Start.

Last year, as a newly formed outreach team, we were asking God for direction in where He wanted our church to serve. What could Vineyard Church of Overland Park do to be the best friend our community ever had? Then it occurred to us, why don't we partner more with Head Start of Shawnee Mission? They already know where the families are and have relationship with them.
At the beginning in 2010, we began to deepen our relationship with Head Start through our Outreach Ministry. For three months, during the summer, we partnered with them by providing a Weekend Meal Supplement for the families of Head Start and we are excited to inform you that because of your generosity we delivered over 190 grocery bags to Head Start for their families.

We're so excited about this partnership. Join us as we continue serve our community by building more relationships with the organizations of our community.

Kevin MacPhail

Vineyard Church of Overland Park