YOUR RIGHTS AS A DONOR If at anytime you would like to change the amount of mail you receive from us, please contact the Development Team at 905-528-7625 x239, and we would be happy to comply with your request. In addition, Living Rock Ministries assures its donors that personal information is not used for commercial purposes. We do not rent, sell, trade or share our donor information. Personal information is kept confidential and is used only to mail you information about our services.

INTERESTING WAYS TO DONATE MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS

Thank you to Chedoke Presbyterian Church, for providing a generous supply of hoodies through their "Hoodie Sunday" Program. Flamborough Baptist Church has "Undie Sunday" and donates the critical need of underwear, socks and "Tim Horton’s Roll up the Rim Prizes" to bless youth. Living Rock thanks you.

30 Wilson St. Hamilton ON L8R 1C5 P: 905-528-7625 F: 905-526-8723

www.livingrock.ca CHARITABLE#: 88345 8812 RR0001

EVENING YOUTH SUPPORT WORKERS NEEDED

UPCOMING EVENTS September 7-10th - 72hrs For Life with Live Bravely 72 hours of “reflection and training” leading up to World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. Please RSVP

September 18th - Life Long Learning Week Luncheon 12-1:30pm. Celebrating the partnership with Adult Basic Education Association, youth success stories, tours. Please RSVP

Thursday October 23rd - United Way Celebration Lunch 12-1:30pm. Luncheon & Treasure Sale, tours. Please RSVP

Monday November 17th - Open House 4pm-7pm Tours, Great Food and Youth Stories. Free celebration.

Living Rock Ministries is currently accepting applications for volunteers for the Evening Program, funded in part by United Way and the City of Hamilton. The Evening Program runs from 6:00-9:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Freestyle Fridays (on the first Friday of each month) If you are interested in volunteering, check out www.livingrock.ca for volunteer opportunities or contact: Joel Van Steenbergen, Volunteer Coordinator at 905-528-7625 x249 or joel@livingrock.ca.

IN HONOUR OF:    RECEIVED FROM: 

 All youth        Jeane e Bishop  Clara Jonkman's 9th Birthday    James Jonkman  Jeane e Eby        Anonymous  Lucie          Louise Hart  Maya's 13th Birthday      Daniel & TJ Perl  My son & his wife      Susann Coston  Our Wedding Day May 31, 2014    Michael & Samantha Freeman  IN MEMORY OF:    RECEIVED FROM: 

Colleen Gaudet      John MacDonald Dorothy MacDonald     Alan & Karen Craig          Dave & Donna Siddall          Don and Kathy Currie          George & Pam Siddall          George and Georgie Johnson          Ingrid & Family, Kurt & Family          John & Margaret Jamieson          Lenard and Carroll Kiiskinen          Lewis and June McDonald  Mark and Helen Hall          Mary Ann Bollman          Michael Cioci          Patricia Rowe          Vernon and Vivian McCauley          William and Margaret Clark  Leroy Soper       Anonymous  George and Heather Found          Mary Miazga  Mackenzie Day       Staff of Living Rock Ministries  My Mom and Dad      Natalie Hu on  Peter Brown       Mrs. Hilary Walker  Pauline Bearfoot     Staff of Living Rock Ministries  Ronald Smith       William & Judith Moffat  Shelby Fraser       Alan Fraser          Amber Passchier          Anonymous          James and Doris Leneve          James and Noli Fraser  Jose & Melody Pereira          Kay Bennison          Staff at The Hamilton Clinic          Staff Of Living Rock Ministries          Walt and Janet Fraser          Wanda Goulet Susan Levy Moffat    William & Judith Moffat  

“It was amazing! Being able to pray on the beach was amazing! God revealed himself so much.” -youth Find out more inside…

The Rock Review Serving youth since 1985

Summer 2014

“Hope is what man needs. Everyone needs someone to talk to. Everyone should ask for help even if feeling a little bit weak in life. If man dœs ask for help, man can live longer and see love.” -Kyle shared at Gathering giving God glory

CREATIVITY THROUGH DIVERSITY Living Rock celebrated it’s 12th Annual Creativity Through Diversity Fashion Show at Park Street - Gas Works. This event brings together the youth community, to be world champions raising over the $550 goal towards the Right To Clean Water Program through World Vision in Rwanda.

During rehearsals, the youth were taught about boundaries and self esteem and took part in team building exercises. They modeled proudly, their hair and make up done by Lorenzo’s and wearing outfits loaned from Moore’s Men’s Apparel and Out of the Past as well as from the generous donation from The Jump Off. This type of pampering and attention is not often lavished on them and you can see the confidence shine even in those who may seem shy.

Thank you to all of the guests, sponsors, celebrities, performers, volunteers, the youth models and artists; the City of Hamilton as a sponsor; and Gas Works for hosting the Fashion Show and The Freeway Coffee House for hosting the Arts of August Grand Finale. A very special thank you to the Summer Staff for your support and creativity. “He is in the most

unexpected places in the most unexpected ways… He guided me to school, an apartment and hopefully a new love.” -Youth Prayer

YOUTH REFLECTIONS

CAMPING: TAKING COMMUNITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Thanks: MC Lisa Hepfner (CHCH) and Andrew Gerror (Fresh FM Radio Host)

As we draw near to the end of summer, we take time for reflection and we also look forward to the Fall/Winter, with great expectations and anticipation. Serving at Living Rock is an absolute privilege, but we must be transparent about the ups and downs that we face. Summer at Living Rock, is bustling with exciting activities, such as, Arts of August, the GOHOP prayer truck and camping, but it is also a challenging time for the ministry financially. To date, we have raised 46% in donations to carry programs and services through until the end of 2014. We are reminded of a verse in 2 Corinthians 4:1

“Since God in His mercy, has given this wonderful ministry, we never give up.”

We are praying that you, our friends and partners, would consider making a regular monthly gift to the ministry. Monthly gifts provide stability and enables us to plan for the future.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT ALAN CRAIG • FOUNDER / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Purchase your copy of The Living Rock; Between Me & A Hard Place and learn how the Rock began , or buy the Soupfest Collection Recipe & Coupon Book

CORPORATE SPONSOR THANK YOU “As a company, the Hamilton Wentworth community has supported Omni since opening 10 years ago & we strongly believe in giving back. We understand the urgency of supporting those who care for at-risk youth, knowing the positive impact such care has on those who carry the future within them!”

For some wonderful news, we are pleased to announce, that ArcelorMittal Dofasco will continue to fund Living Rock’s Weekend Program, for another year. Open access programs, such as the Weekend Program for Saturdays, provide meals, shelter from the heat and cold, access to showers, crisis support and social-recreational activities. These are vital to creating community at the Rock. In a recent survey of only 101 youth, at Living Rock,

we learned that 54% of youth we serve are living in unsuitable housing and that 34.7 % of the

youth, have been homeless more than 3 months, in the last year.

This funding renewal will make it possible for this program to be available to vulnerable youth. We will look forward with anticipation, to meeting with you and all of our ministry partners, at Living Rock’s 29th Anniversary Open House at Living Rock on Monday November 17th, 2014 between 4pm-7pm. Please mark your calendar, so you will not miss this celebration. Alan Craig Executive Director Living Rock Ministries

/per month provides crisis support

Each year Living Rock responds to 29,000 visits by street-involved and homeless youth

$20

/ per month will help sustain crisis support & referrals through Food Bank

Rock Crisis Response Room

Telephone & Computer Access

Links to the community

Emergency Transportation

Staff Support

$25

HAVE AN IMPACT ON LIVING ROCK

Provide emergency food for more than 550 youth per month Provide food, diapers, clothing for 1,039 children each year Continue providing opportunity for volunteers to contribute 5,500 hours

Over 3,392 youth accessed the

weekday food bank & youth

used the weekend food bank 856

ONLINE

A youth focused food bank “It’s more than food.”

 

There  is nothing  like hanging with  the Rock  youth  at  the Annual  Pinery  Camping  Trip  in  Grand  Bend.  I  looked around at these  incredible, creative and resilient youth.    I cannot describe what a privilege  it  is  to be a part of  this group.  At the Rock, staff have the opportunity to facilitate healthy community for the youth. The camping trip takes it even further; bonding as a team in a  beautiful setting.  

Camping: Taking Community                   To A New Level 

I watched  them  jump  in  the waves of Lake Huron  for way  longer  than  I can.  I witnessed a youth who learned to trust her teammates, to keep her tippy boat afloat on the Canoe Trip.  A staff member’s Dog:  Spencer, became the Camping Trip Mascot. I watched the youth care for Spencer as he walked around the fire pit, stopping at each person and graciously allowing everyone to pat him with‐out discrimination.   Having Spencer  there was a great  ice breaker and helped connect the youth with each other.   It was awesome to observe another participant focused on building the fire with skill, energy and persistence.  He was really appreciating the time away from his horrible  boarding  house, while  on  this  trip.    He  shared  his  regret  of  leaving school and his determination to graduate and find stable employment. All of his energy was rewarded by making a perfect fire. Mission accomplished.  One youth confides: “The  late night  sharing around  the  fire was my  favourite part of the trip.”  Some history I know already.  I am aware of stories of  trauma, death of parents, multiple foster homes,  abuse, bullying and violence.  Youth relate to each other.  They understand.  An excited camper announced to everyone on the trip about their growing faith and recent baptism.  “A year ago I was doing drugs and was messed up with suicidal thoughts. God has given me good friends. The Rock staff were a huge support during crisis times this year.”  Al Craig, Executive Director listened. “This community and friendship is exactly what I hoped the Rock would be for the youth. “  

Memories are made in this positive social space.  As the bus pulled up to the Living Rock,  I was reading an article in ‘An Epidemic of  Homelessness’  that drove  this point home  for me.  “Runaway  youth lacking  in a  social  network were more  likely  to  report using  illegal drugs, having mul ple sex partners and engaging in survival sex* than youth with a social network of peers.”  It highlights the value of youth having posi ve friendships. This is the work of Living Rock.  

Thanks to the Charity of Hope for sponsoring this incredible experience. Thanks for monthly  donations to enable the Rock to retain skilled staff that impact the lives of youth.    *Sex in exchange for anything needed including money, food, clothes, shelter or drugs          **Genders and names  may be changed  

By Karen Craig, Program Director 

“Camping is a chance to experience   deeper community.”          ‐Julie Conway, Development Director 

PLATINUM SPONSOR: $10,000 Logo on all Soupfest marke ng & promo onal materials Logo recogni on at Media Launch Event Half page ad in Soupfest programs Vo ng Sta on Logo Display at Soupfest  10 Free Tickets to Soupfest  Access to VIP Room Special cheque presenta on (if requested)  SILVER SPONSOR: $1,000 Quarter page ad in Soupfest programs     *All levels receive recogni on during the opening and closing ceremonies, throughout the  

day on the A/V presenta on, in the Soupfest program, on the Rock website with a  direct link  and in at least one of the Living Rock Quarterly Newsle ers.   

GOLD SPONSOR $5,000 Half page ad in Soupfest programs  Bread Sta on Logo Display at Soupfest 5 Free Tickets to Soupfest Access to VIP Room     BRONZE SPONSOR: $500 Logo recogni on in Soupfest programs 

   SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

2013

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NSO

RS 

Jackson Square

PLATINUM SPONSOR DIAMOND SPONSOR  GOLD SPONSORS 

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