That is one of the things I love about working at the Lighthouse.  We do not value our programs, we value helping people.  Our programs are just a tool that we use to accomplish the task of helping people.

When you pray for the Lighthouse, you are not praying for our programs per se, you are praying for the people who will be helped through our programs.  When you are giving to the Lighthouse, you are not giving to a program.  You are giving to help people.

As many of you know, we have been trying to build another townhouse unit to help single parents get their feet on the ground.  We have run into a lot of unforeseen issues, mainly arsenic, that has prevented this from happening.  If we were only concerned with programs, I would be saying this project is dead.  But since we are worried about people, and in this case single parents, there is still hope.  We are looking at several options right now, weighing the pros and cons of each option.  I ask that you continue to pray for guidance in this area.

In this new decade, I ask for your continuing support of the Lighthouse.  Not so that we can build pretty building, but so we can help people.  Not so that we can have pretty programs, but so we can help people.  Thank you for all of your support so that we can help people.

Life for Hailey, however has not always been so simple and serene. She came to Kaufman Drive, the Lighthouse Foundation’s transitional housing for single parent families, from Safe Harbor, Butler countys first and only homeless “shelter.” Growing up, she lived with her mother, but eventually left her house due to family conflict. She then lived with her grandparents and various friends relatives for a while. Hailey had struggled with substance addiction for several years, but when she found out she was pregnant, immediately sought help and has been clean for over a year. Hailey and her mother did not always get along, but when she started turning her life around, and had her son, their relationship began to heal. Now her mother visits Hailey and Connor daily, and watches Connor while Hailey works as a waitress at a local restaurant. Great job Hailey, we look forward to seeing where God takes you and your family.

Many volunteers spent time preparing, organizing and working the drive, along with The Lighthouse staff. This year, each family who “shopped” at our toy drive was asked to donate $1.00 per child to Lifeline International, a mission outreach in Cambodia.
The parents who shopped raised over $500 for Lifeline!!! The cost of living in Cambodia is about $2 per day in the city. It costs Lifeline about $1200 to run the school, orphanage and pay their entire staff each month. The families of our toy drive nearly covered half a months expenses for Lifeline!

The toy drive served over 150 families, and approximately 500 children ages 1 month-16 years old. Grandparents were also able to come to the drive and “shop” for toys for their grandchildren. It is always nice to spread generosity and gifts to children at Christmastime.

Thanks to all who helped:

Bakerstown Methodist Church

Bakerstown Pres. Church

Bakerstown Alliance Church

Ben Lesniak, Boy Scout Troop #58

Family Christian Bookstore

Gibsonia Wal-mart #2603 for providing the Angel Tree

Rich-Mar Rotary

St. Richards R.C. Church

St. Thomas in the Fields Episcopal Church

Treesdale Golf and Country Club

…and so many others who gave to the drive!!

]]> http://thelighthouseonline.net/2010/01/toy-drive-2009-double-the-blessing/feed/ 0 http://thelighthouseonline.net/2010/01/we-met-our-match-50000-challenge-a-success/ http://thelighthouseonline.net/2010/01/we-met-our-match-50000-challenge-a-success/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:10:30 +0000 Jaime http://thelighthouseonline.net/?p=596 This past October, an anonymous donor presented the Lighthouse with a $50,000 match donation challenge to alleviate the cost of renovating Safe    Harbor. While we raised much of the funds needed to renovate,  the cost of bringing the building to the most current codes for operation exceeded our budget. We announced the challenge at our Friends of the Lighthouse Dinner to many of our friends and donors.

We are happy and proud to announce the match was met by YOU, our faithful and generous  donors! THANK YOU for responding to our need. Because of your giving, we ended 2009 only $28,000 in the red. While ending our fiscal year with a surplus would have been ideal, God has been faithful to fulfill all of our needs according to His riches in glory. Please continue to pray for us, our many programs and the ministry. We trust that 2010 will be a defining year where those we serve will come to know Christ through our actions and example. Thank you for your faithfulness!

Mars catches recycling fever
Middle school wants trash, old shoes, sweaters

ADAMS TWP — Mars Middle School families can clean out their closets and donate to a good cause at the same time.
The school’s environmental committee is collecting various common household items for a variety of recycling or reusing programs.
Old athletic shoes are being collected through Jan. 16 for donation to Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program.
The shoes are recycled into track and playground surfaces, gymnasium floors, basketball and tennis courts, and wood courts.
Science teacher Mary Jo Phillips, who has been overseeing the environmental committee for six years, said she ran across the unique Nike program online.
She said given the generosity of Mars parents in past collections, she has no doubt her room will be filled with castoff sneakers in no time.
“The people in this area are great,” Phillips said.
The committee also is collecting old telephone books, aluminum soda cans and tabs, used ink and toner cartridges, and newspapers and office paper as part of the annual recycling campaign.
The cans benefit Habitat for Humanity, the tabs Mars History and Landmarks Society, and phone books will be donated to Consolidated Communications for the manufacturing of ceiling tiles.
“I just hate making trash,” Phillips said.
Newspaper, junk mail, catalogs and other office paper will be recycled, and the school will be paid per ton.
Phillips said the money will go into an environmental fund, and she and other faculty will decide on an environmentally friendly item to purchase later in the school year.
The committee also is collecting new or gently used sweaters and coats until Jan. 29.
The apparel will be donated to the food bank at Lighthouse Foundation in Middlesex Township.
Jaime Carter, director of public relations at the Lighthouse, said the coats are displayed on a table during the weekly food distribution. Clients can choose one coat per family member when they come in to get their food.
“There are so many people who can’t buy coats because it’s an expense, especially for kids, who grow out of them so quickly,” Carter said.
She said receiving the coats from adolescents is particularly gratifying.
“It’s really encouraging to see kids that age donate, because it shows they are aware of the need around them.”
She said the school district has always been very supportive of various Lighthouse programs.
Phillips said residents can take items to the school during school hours. More information is available by calling the school at 724-625-3145.
More information on the Nike shoe recycling program is available at www.nikereuseashoe.com.

Program offers young adults safe place to go

The transitional living program at the Lighthouse Foundation offers disadvantaged young adults a safe, secure place to stay while pursuing the goals that will allow them to live a productive life.
Claire Borchert, director of transitional housing at Lighthouse Foundation, said she mainly receives clients by agency referral and by young adults calling to inquire about the program, which is for 18- to 21-year-olds.
She said Blanchard House on Mercer Street in Butler has four apartments where young women can live for 18 to 24 months, depending on their needs.
Penney House at the foundation’s home in Middlesex Township has two apartments and one efficiency, where five young men can live until they attain the necessary skills. Penney House’s program also lasts 18 to 24 months. Borchert said most participants have outgrown the foster-home system or were kicked out of their homes upon turning 18.
She said residents complete mandatory productivity hours, where they must pursue education or do volunteer work. Residents are encouraged to work part-time, even if they are attending classes.
She said Lighthouse works with the Job Corps to help the residents determine educational goals. Intermediate Unit 4 provides tutoring for those working toward earning their general equivalency diplomas.
Those in transitional housing also attend monthly skills-of-survival class, which includes instruction on budgeting, resume preparation, emergency preparedness, basic car maintenance and other skills for successful adult life.
“A lot of them haven’t learned the tools they need to be self sufficient and be out there on their own,” she said.
Last year, eight young men cycled through Penney House. Blanchard House currently is full.
The Lighthouse Foundation, on Route 8 near Cruikshank Road, also has transitional housing for single mothers, a food bank, a weekly community dinner, a furniture warehouse for the disadvantaged, the Wheels of Work car program, Christian family counseling, free community computer classes, and a Christian bookstore. To donate or to contact the foundation, call 724-898-4673 or log onto www.thelighthouseonline.net.

		Libby Mason-Savena, owner of Avea Salons in Mars, turned to the Lighthouse Foundation 15 years ago when she was on the verge of being homeless. Through determination, Mason-Savena worked to make her transitional living experience into a success story by pursuing a career in the beauty field. JUSTIN GUIDO/ BUTLER EAGLE

Salon owner credits facility for support

MARS — Those enjoying a cut, color or manicure at Avea Salons are largely unaware they are being pampered in a shop that determination built.
The high-end salon was opened two years ago by Libby Mason-Savena, whose background seemed to preclude her from such success.
Savena found herself broke and on the verge of homelessness at age 19 because of a variety of negative circumstances. A client of her supervisor at the beauty salon where she then worked told her about the transitional living program at the Lighthouse Foundation in Middlesex Township.
The program provides housing to young adults ages 18 to 21 whose circumstances prevent them from getting their adult life off the ground. Lighthouse personnel help residents better themselves, and the housing allows them to work on improving their lives instead of a daily struggle to survive.
“With the Lighthouse, I had rides to school and work,” Savena said. “Some of the cars had holes in the bottom, but hey, it worked.”
Living arrangements during Savena’s time at the Lighthouse 15 years ago included small individual rooms for six women who shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Six men lived in similar circumstances on their side of the building.
Savena immediately understood the program’s premise of bettering a person’s self during the 18-month stay. While there, she received two scholarships that paid for her education at Butler Beauty School.
Savena went to school in the daytime and worked in the evening. She earned top grades at school while maintaining the exhausting schedule.
“I used the Lighthouse for what it was for,” Savena said. “Kids who are kind of down on their luck who need a new start.”
Also helping Savena during her time at the shelter was her belief in education and her determination to beat the odds and not only succeed, but thrive.
“If I had not found the Lighthouse, I probably would have jumped from one minimum wage job to another,” Savena said. “But I knew education was the way out of that cycle.”
After graduating from Butler Beauty School, Savena attended advanced beauty school in Washington, D.C., where she accepted a job with a hair-extension company. That job allowed her to travel the globe.
After several years there, Savena accepted a position at a salon in Treesdale. She worked there for seven years before opening Avea Salons, which she is expanding to add 700 square feet of client services space.
“I’ve always had a vision of how clients should be treated, and I always worked toward that goal,” she said.
Savena hopes her story will inspire other young people to achieve success and self-sufficiency.
“I’ve gone from rags to riches so many times,” said the petite entrepreneur as she surveyed her well-appointed waiting area. “But look at me. I came from absolutely nothing to all this. Fifteen years ago I was living in a shelter, and now I own a high-end salon.”
Savena said she and her husband, Chris, named their shop Avea as an anagram combining the first name and middle initial of their daughter, Ava Elizabeth, who died just one day after her birth. The couple and their daughter, Sophia, live in Wexford.
“There are always obstacles, but if you really want to do something, you can find the means,” Savena said. “You have to make a way, and I really think education is the key to a better life and a better society.”
Vern Borchert, who was director of the Lighthouse Foundation when Savena lived there, laughed when told she had decided on the plural Avea Salons because it allowed room for growth.
“That’s classic Libby,” Borchert said.
He said Savena took advantage of every program available during her stay in transitional housing to maximize her chances of success.
“She was so motivated,” Borchert said. “She was the poster child for (transitional housing’s purpose.)”
He said Savena had one characteristic that is lacking in many transitional residents: She believed in herself.
“She had really good self-esteem,” Borchert said. “She believed she could do it.”
Savena said while she has weathered bad times the likes of which cannot be imagined by others in her tax bracket, there is worth in adversity.
“There is a lot of pride and self-esteem involved when you do something yourself,” she said.

We have a waiting list of over thirty families—we cap the list at thirty—waiting to get in. Kaufman Drive Phase II would allow us to provide housing to several more homeless families. But since this will not be possible on Kaufman Drive itself, we are working on “Plan B.” So far we don’t know exactly what “Plan B” is. There are many possibilities and our goal is to decide which is the best way to serve these families in need. Please remember to pray for guidance for the Lighthouse staff and Board of Directors about this matter. Hopefully we will be asking for your help to complete the project really soon!

In a year when the economy suffered, the support from the community outshines the negative economic news. I watch the television reports from different areas of the country that are suffering. Inevitably, I will have a thought something along the lines of, “They need a Lighthouse”. What makes the Lighthouse great is not our policies and procedures. What makes the Lighthouse great is the tremendous support we receive from a loving group of donors, volunteers, churches, schools, and civic organizations that stand behind us in what we do.

Looking forward to 2010, there will be many challenges, and we will continue to need your help. We have a $50,000 matching donation for which we are overjoyed. Every dollar that you give now will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $50,000. We ask that you would prayerfully consider giving a year-end gift toward this matching donation. Again, thank you for your support in 2009.

Being at the Lighthouse, I have a lot of things to be thankful for. Honestly, it is an amazing feeling knowing that we have an entire community supporting us. Meeting more and more people every day who support the work of the Lighthouse is just astonishing. So in this season of Thanksgiving, let me say thank you.

I get to see thankful people every day. A thankful person like Fred* who took his vehicle to a garage and they told him it was going to cost $1800. Fred called us and we were able to fix his vehicle for $150. A thankful person like Lisa* who, upon receiving her food order, was blown away at the quantity and quality of the food. A thankful person like Emily* who has a place for her and her children to live and has the opportunity to get on the right track. I wish more people could see that side of the Lighthouse. Personally, I am thankful that the Blanchard House is open again! Wow! What a difference that house is making in young women’s lives.

During these tough economic times, I am thankful for your support of the Lighthouse. This has not been an easy year for anyone. The need is great, and, because of your ongoing support, we are able to provide hope.

We still have a lot of work to do. And yes, I am thankful for that too. We still face many challenges. Again, I am still thankful. The Lighthouse needs your support to be able to continue providing hope in the future. Thank you in advance.

Dan Borchert, Executive Director

*Names have been change to protect identity

Walking into the Avea Salon in Mars, PA, you get the feeling of a big city, posh beauty experience. Libby Mason-Savena is the proud owner of this salon, a dream she had since she started working in the industry when she was 20 years old.

Libby was just like many young girls. She moved out of her home when she graduated from high school, started working and attending college classes. For a few years, she did well and was able to support herself. Eventually the cost of living on her own became too much to handle, and she needed somewhere to live where she could save money and work on other goals she set for herself. Libby met Beth Williams, our first Director of Housing, and was able to move into our transitional housing . Libby was the model resident– she realized what an opportunity she had while living at the Lighthouse and she took full advantage of it!

Libby applied for and won the Betty Rice Fountain of Love Scholarship to help pay for the cost of attending Butler Beauty Academy. While in our program she worked two jobs, attended beauty school, and was at the top of her class. After completing beauty school, she went on to get more advanced training at Graham Webb Studios in Washington, D.C.

Libby was a part of our program for a little over a year, and accomplished all of the short-term and long-term goals she set for herself! Talking with her, you get a true sense of her positive attitude and willingness to give back and help others. Her advice to people who are currently in the same situation she was in back then? “You can’t get frustrated and give up!” Libby’s story is one that inspires and challenges everyone.

Libby is a proud wife, mother and owner of the fastest growing salon in the Mars area. She is overwhelmed by the support of the community and her clients. Just two years after opening the salon on her own, Libby is already expanding her parking lot and is considering expanding her building as well. Avea is a full-service salon, specializing in hair cuts, color and extensions. The salon features private cutting rooms, a manicure/pedicure room, and waxing room. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM– 9PM. Avea Salon is located at 100 School Street in Mars.

For more information, call 724-687-0450 or visit www.aveasalons.com.