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Home > Tabor Publications > Tabor Talk Tabor Talk Summer 2001 Articles: Message from the President "Pitting the Pairs" is an exercise that helps one prioritize his or her "to-do" list. To familiarize you with the concept, I have a sample "to-do" list to practice pitting the pairs. The concept is to break down these tasks and pretend that there are only two decisions to make. You give a point to the task that wins priority. After "pitting" each task against another one, the one with the most points is your top action item. For example (see below): Choose vacuum or volunteer, give a point to the winner. Next choose vacuum or TV and give a point to the winner. Next choose vacuum and devotions and give a point to the winner. Now you go on to the next series until every item has been "paired" against another item. The item with the most points is your top priority. ___Vacuum the house Many people would suggest that areas like prayer and giving to others would be high priority in their life, yet when we pit the pairs on what we did last week, does it really come out on top? I shared this exercise because Tabor wants to increase the amount of volunteer help. I must admit I am nervous as I know involvement in civic organizations and volunteerism have been in steady decline for many years. On the one hand, it appears that volunteerism has increasingly been losing in the pitting the pairs exercises. On the other hand, I am encouraged by the pillars of our community who somehow find time amongst busy schedules to volunteer. I do not want to diminish the works of those who already give so much nor do I want to discourage those who are struggling to give more. Rather, the place to start is by evaluating what our true priorities are.
Shelter to Independent Living program participant Russell Edwards has a lot to proud of, including conquering a 30 year drug habit. Russell moved to Lancaster's Water Street Rescue Mission after spending seven days in a Delaware detox center. Moving to Lancaster proved to be a very good move towards helping his sobriety. "I had resigned myself to the addicts life style. It took me 30 years to break that cycle," says Edwards. His seven month stay at the Rescue Mission was the first step in a long recovery process. He knew if he returned to Delaware, he would return to the same destructive cycle and drug habits. These habits caused him to lose numerous jobs and be periodically homeless. From the Rescue Mission, Russell moved to Harb-Adult and stayed there for six months while taking life skills classes. It was here that Russell was referred to Tabor Community Services. He has been with Tabor for a little over a year and has been successfully employed, rents an apartment and has become self-sufficient. He says he learned skills at Tabor he never had before because he stopped maturing at age 19 when his drug habit began. A large part of his addiction was the need to buy and spend excessively. At Tabor he learned how to shop around for the best prices and not to spend what he didn't have. "I needed someone to tell me no," he says. He also learned to stay away from stores like Rent-A-Center! In the year he has been at Tabor, Russel has not only learned the value of money, but has saved enough to rent an apartment and pay off his debt, back bills and broken leases. He knows now that he is the only one accountable for his spending."Tabor has given me the insight on how to handle my money. I really got a lot out of this program. I would do it again if I needed to." While at Water Street, Russell worked at Arnold Logistics for one and a half years. He also reapplied for his CDL license and now works for C&S Wholesale Grocery Delivery and has been with the company for 6 months. "On the way to work I pray. From Lancaster to York I give thanks," he says. Although on the road much of the time, he loves the job and often volunteers to work overtime. Russell has accomplished so much that he often goes back to Harb-Adult and the Rescue Mission to speak to others with similar problems about his accomplishments. Since moving to Lancaster, Russel met his wife and was married on April 1st of this year. He and his wife are most proud that they have become completely self-sufficient. "Since we came here, we haven't had to ask anyone for anything. I am so proud of us," says Russell's wife Linda. As of July 1st, Russel has been clean for two years. He says of his success, "A lot of things have changed since coming to Tabor. I am really happy. I never knew life could be this good."
Saturday, July 7th, Tabor held its first Success Picnic for the 2000-2001 graduates of the Shelter to Independent Living (STIL) program and the graduates and participants of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) and Family Savings Account (FSA) programs. The graduates of the STIL program are helped to find housing through housing, budget and self-sufficiency counseling. Through the FSS program, Section 8 Rental Assistance families achieve economic independence by working with their counselors. The FSA program encourages families to build their assets by providing a match for their savings. Counselors at Tabor work with all participants on budget counseling and encourage them to meet their financial goals. The picnic was held at the Lancaster County Central Park, and included food, games, entertainment, arts and crafts, contests and prizes. The level of success that these families have experienced would not have been possible without the support and encouragement from Tabor programs. We all had a reason to celebrate! Congratulations Graduates! Riders couldn't have asked for
better bike riding weather on June 9th and 16th for Dream Ride 2001.
After last year's heat, a few showers on the 16th didn't seem to
bring about too many complaints! Split into two weekends this year,
the Nightmare Tour around the perimeter of Lancaster County took
place on the 9th. Riders started very early in the morning and were
helped out along the way by aid and water stations. Thanks also to our contributors who made the event a financial success. Tabor received $3295.60 in pledges this year! All proceeds from Dream Ride 2001 will benefit Jubilee House, a transitional housing program for women and women with children who have recently completed a substance abuse treatment program. Lastly, we thank everyone who participated in Dream Ride 2001, including our volunteers, who manned an aid station, in support of Tabor Community Services, Inc. We would like to thank Kenny Pellman and Rossmere Mennonite Church for all their help this June. Kenny, along with a group of volunteers, came in for two days and helped Tabor with our office renovations. They removed old wall paper, repaired walls and repainted several offices and our board room. What a huge help! Zanika and Wanika Hightower, 13-year-old twins from Lancaster, have volunteered to come in once a week, or whenever needed, to help with administrative duties for the summer. They are hard workers and have been a big help. Thanks girls!
Date: Saturday, September 8,
2001
The cost is $10 per person and all proceeds go towards Tabor Community Services and Jubilee House, a transitional home for women and women with children who have recently completed a substance abuse treatment program. If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please call Gretchen Haubner at 397-5182, extension 112. |
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