Valuable and Vulnerable — Caring for At Risk Children

This list serves as a resource for opportunities to serve at risk children.

1. Waymaker (Accommodations and Inclusion).  The Waymaker Ministry at MRCC utilizes volunteers to walk alongside our members and visitors with disabilities, and their families. They provide accommodations and supports that allow those with disabilities opportunities to be involved and belong, no matter the need. Volunteer needs include Buddies for Bible class, Substitute Buddies to fill in on Sundays and Wednesdays as needed, volunteer groups to attend Inside Out Day Camp, male and female Buddies interested in going to youth group camps, retreats, and mission trips, and volunteer groups to eventually provide a quarterly respite opportunity for caregivers.  Contact: Reed@mrcc.org.  405 507-6400. https://www.mrcc.org/waymaker/
2. Foster Care & Adoption Ministry. This ministry at MRCC aims to provide comprehensive support for children and families before, during, and after foster care and adoption.  Key aspects of the ministry include: Support and Care Teams (small groups of volunteers are paired with foster and adoptive families to offer practical assistance, such as bringing meals, providing babysitting, running errands, and offering continuous encouragement), Support Groups & Classes (they host dedicated gatherings—such as Wednesday night support groups—where foster and adoptive parents can connect, share experiences, and find mutual encouragement), Tutoring Programs (weekly tutoring sessions are provided for children within foster and adoptive families), Parents’ Nights Out (this program organizes events that give parents a break while volunteers provide safe, engaging childcare), and Community Engagement (this ministry works to raise awareness about the needs of children in foster care and equips the broader church body to serve through prayer, mentoring, and family connections as a Christ-centered response to vulnerable children).  Contact Janet Irvin at mrccfoster@gmail.com or 405-208-2192.

In short:

  -Support Group: Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

  – Tutoring for foster and adoptive children and families: Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 PM

  – Meal Support: Frozen meals for foster families 2–3 times per month

  – Care Baskets: Provided to new foster families, including care items for the children

  – School and Holiday Support: Provision of school supplies and Christmas gifts

  – Parents’ Nights Out: Hosted quarterly to help parents reconnect

3. Alburquerque Mission Trip. Each year in September a group of MRCC men do landscaping and construction projects for Albuquerque Children’s Home. Contact Jamie Scott, jamie.scott@gmail.com.
4. Food and Clothing Supplies at MRCC. Contact Tosha Hodges of the Client Care & Support Group Coordinator at Memorial Road Church of Christ:  hodges@mrcc.org,  Phone: (405) 607-6411
5. Children’s Homes and Childcare Agencies. For a complete list of Childcare agencies associated with Churches of Christ, see https://www.network127.org/member-directory/.  
6. Children’s Homes and Childcare Agencies supported by MRCC. Overseen by elders Scott Mueller and Brent Scott.
   1. Lilyfield—Edmond Office 501 E. 15th Street, Suite 400A, Edmond, OK 73013, Phone: 405-216-5240 or 866-397-7202, Email: info@lilyfield.org. Holly Towers is a MRCC member.
   2. Westview Boy’s Home—120 W. Broadway, Hollis, OK 73550 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 553, Hollis, OK 73550 (580) 688-9281.  westviewboyshome.com. Mary Ann Rosenbaum and Paul Kluver of MRCC are board members.
   3. Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch—New York Campus: 298 Middle Rd., Riverhead, NY 11901 timothyhillacademy.com. Annual OKC dinner each spring.
   4. Tipton Children’s Home—1000 N. Broadway Ave., Tipton, OK 73570 tiptonchildrenshome.com
   5. Hope Harbor, 15025 East 380 Road, Claremore, OK 74017  hopeharbarinc.org
7. Village of Hope, Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana. Aubrie Ross.  405 401-9580  aubrie@heartbeatforhope.com
8. Neema Village, Arusha, Tanzania. Contact Lottie McCormack lottiesan@gmail.com (405) 317-7231
9. Reviews of books about at-risk children, adoption, and foster care by Sally Shank of Memorial Road. https://www.network127.org/resources/book-reviews/
10. Christian books about children. See haroldshank.com/books/
11. Articles about helping children. https://www.network127.org/network-127/harold-shank/articles-by-harold/
    1. Reason to be involved in Child care (4 parts)
    2. Hosea a book about hurting children (4 parts)
    3. Orphans by Choice
12. Urban Ministry Conference, Feb. 18-20 at South Walker Church of Christ in Oklahoma City! Contact:  Taylor Cave at taylorcave13@gmail.com
13. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. It is a national network of non-profit organizations that recruit, train, and empower community volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are navigating the foster care and legal system. Contact Donna Carpenter a MRCC member who has been involved in this program for years. donnacarp@hotmail.com (405) 740-6375
14. James Connection, P.O. Box 751, Pittsburgh, PA 15146 jamesconnection.org  
15. Hope for Haiti’s Children, 12020 Southwick Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45241 hopeforhaitischildren.org.   OKC Breakfast every spring.
16. Agape Child and Family Services, Memphis, TN. MRCC mission trip there each summer. Contact Max Pope.
17. Christian Relief Fund, P.O. Box 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114-1670 crf.com

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