"To the Staff at Spring Valley:
My time here has been a learning and great experience for me. I have met a lot of wonderful people who have not only become my friends, but a part of my family. Even on my worst days where you think that there is no way out of a terrible situation, the family here kept me strong and made me realize that there is always hope under any circumstance.
I will miss everyone here at Spring Valley!  God bless everyone here at Spring Valley!"
Comments from a single mother who recently moved into her own residence and is on the road to a better future for her and her children.

Christian Community Action provides shelter and supportive services to individuals and families struggling with homelessness, crisis concerns, and/or mental illness as they move toward self-sufficiency.
 
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Christian Community Action
2001 Calumet Ave.
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 548-2379
(219) 548-3363 (fax)

Spring Valley Shelter
465-1022
Greenwich House
462-0351

CCA is a 501(c)(3),
not-for-profit organization.
CCA is a member agency of
United Way of Porter County.

Lauren Skadberg of Valparaiso 'tests' the inflatable slide prior to the 1st Annual Celebrate Families Anniversary Event. The slide, other inflatables and more family fun return as part of CCA's Anniversary Celebration. The public is invited to come enjoy food from Birky's BBQ, live music, carnival games, cake walk, plant sale and crafts for the kids. The day begins with the return of the Run for Shelter - a 5k run/walk which is part of the Calumet Striders' Gold Cup Series.


2nd Annual Celebrate Families Anniversary Event Returns with Run for Shelter and more
CCA invites community to Run for Shelter and Celebrate Families at carnival event

Christian Community Action will host its second annual Celebrate Families event Saturday, May 10 at First Presbyterian Church in Valparaiso from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm.  This Mother’s Day weekend event will commence at 8:30am with the Run for Shelter 5k Run/Walk, part of the Calumet Region Striders’ Gold Cup Series.

Following the Run, families are invited to attend the Celebrate Families Carnival which will feature live music, concessions, inflatable activities, games, and Mother’s Day crafts for kids. Featured bands include “Into the Light” and “Vindicated”. Birky's BBQ will provide for food, there will be a cake walk, Spring Gardening & Mother’s Day plant sale.

Proceeds from the day’s festivities will support CCA and its programs, including Spring Valley Shelter and Greenwich House.

If you are interested in participating in the Run for Shelter, call (219) 548-2379 or visit www.valpoevents.com/run to register. Run day registration begins at 7:00am, and the Run begins at 8:30am.  Awards will be presented for winners in sixteen divisions and overall.

Law Students Help the Homeless
Phi Alpha Delta, the fraternity of law students at Valparaiso University, recently donated $3,400 to Spring Valley Shelter.  They raised the funds through their annual charity auction, a bowl-a-thon and appellate brief binding.  This contribution will go toward the costs of providing housing, life skills classes, psychological counseling and case management to approximately 150 homeless families per year. 

Pictured are Tom Isakson, Director of Program Development for Christian Community Action; Chip Owens, Treasurer of Phi Alpha Delta; Emily Orsinger, Justice of Phi Alpha Delta; and Erin Miller, Program Director of Spring Valley Shelter.


CCA Announces Staff Changes/Additions
Several new additions joined the CCA and its programs' staffs in April.
Erin Miller began as the Program Director for Spring Valley on April 1, 2008. Erin has been working with the CCA staff from since last August as she finishes her Master's in Social Work at IU Northwest.

Tom Isakson, former Program Director for Spring Valley, is now Director of Program Development. He will focus on new and expanded programs for CCA and its programs to better serve our community and clients' needs. (more)


Eagle Scout Inspires Spring Valley

NathanProject.jpg

Nathan Erxleben found the inspiration for his Eagle Scout project at Christian Community Action’s Spring Valley Shelter. When he finished, Nathan left a hall of inspiring quotes for Spring Valley’s clients and made a safe, tidy area to contain the trash.

Erxleben, a senior at Chesterton High School who has been accepted into the US Naval Academy for the fall, saw an opportunity to positively impact clients at Spring Valley using inspirational quotes from Mother Teresa, Oprah, Michael Jordan, Ernest Hemmingway and many others. Erxleben narrowed down the final 19 quotes from many recommendations from friends, family and the community. (more)


New Porter Health and Wellness Fund
Provides New Program to Help At-Risk Adolescents

[Valparaiso, 2/29/08] A grant from a new fund at the Porter County Community Foundation will help adolescents at Christian Community Action’s Spring Valley Shelter manage the unique challenges they face as youth dealing with homelessness.

Children make up more than half of the clients for Spring Valley Shelter. Those 13 and older have special challenges brought on by both their upbringing and the stress of losing their homes, transient living arrangements and/or living in a homeless shelter. Many of these youth are dealing with parental relationships that are not providing them the consistent support they need to cope with the challenges they face living in these situations at an age of heightened awareness and self consciousness. These factors can lead to high levels of anxiety, low self-esteem and issues connecting with classmates. This can also impact their relationships with friends, their ability to apply their best effort in the classroom and to make the right decisions about their livelihood. (more)


Greater Northwest Indiana Association of REALTORS
Brings Home Support for 2008

GNIAR-sm.jpg

The Greater Northwest Indiana Association of REALTORS ® (GNIAR) delivered a wonderful gift to Christian Community Action, February 22, as they became the first Premiere Annual Corporate Sponsor  for 2008. Their contribution was delivered by Pat Pullara, COO GNIAR (R) Government Affairs, and Martha Brubaker, President, GNIAR Board of Directors, pictured above handing the contribution to Spring Valley Program Director Tom Isakson with CCA Director of Development, RG Skadberg.

GNIAR(R)'s support of through the Annual Business Sponsorship Program provides CCA much needed annual support of programs to help clients move forward as individuals and families. In addition, GNIAR (R) receives recognition as a sponsor of CCA's events throughout 2008, including the Walk for the Homeless of Porter County, Saturday, April 19 at Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve, Chesterton.

Upcoming Events
Celebrate Families Festival
Run for Shelter
5k Run/Walk &
Carnival
Saturday, May 10
First Presbyterian Church, Valparaiso
Run Registration: 7-8:15am
Run Start: 8:30am
Walk Starts after run
www.valpoevents.com/run
Online Registration

Carnival: 9:30am - 4:30pm
features live music, inflatable items, games, and
cake walk.
Food from Birky's BBQ
Plant sale, too

club jano Saturday Night Festivals to Benefit CCA
May 17, June 7, 21, July 19 and August 2
Live music, food, fun
Downtown Valpo
www.valpoevents.com/Bike

Fine Dining and Wine Event
Sunday, June 29
Restaurante don Quijote
12:30 - 4:00pm