2019 march update: spring break

Spring Break!

Dear CGM friends and family,

 Our students just got back from Spring Break. Even though our office was closed for the week, that didn't mean staff weren't out spending time with our students. We took high school students that were on the A/B honor roll to Orange Beach for the week. One young woman saw the beach for the first time in her life. Another student found the joy of humility while being schooled on the basketball court (to his chagrin, by shorter, older women). He also discovered the sensitivity of the body when you put it in motion in an amusement park ride (he was so confident at first, and so sick with nausea afterward!).

Locally, staffers took small groups to places like Rockin' Jump; they had sleepovers and swimming pool events and went out to eat. One young woman spent 8 hours dress shopping with one of our staff. Some middle school boys got to attend a civil rights celebration breakfast presented by national Greek-letter fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.

We had all these interactions and more on a week when the office was closed... And we couldn't be here doing any of this without your support. You provide us the means to help change the landscape of Montgomery and beyond. Not because you help us beat the odds for these students, but because you help in CHANGING THE ODDS for the students in our community.

Thank you for your continued support, whether financially or in volunteering, and your earnest prayers. Though the pendulum of life swings often between valleys of tears and mountain tops of laughter, our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ continues, and in no small part to your faithfulness towards us.

Summer Camp is soon upon us! 

The 2019 Summer Camp is coming up and we are expecting many children in attendance. For over eight weeks we will be able to invest wholeheartedly in these children. Our staff and interns will be able to work on academics with them, share the gospel through bible studies, build lasting relationships, and honestly just HAVE FUN some days!

CGM's Summer Camp is vital in keeping so many children off the streets and among the influence of positive role models like our staff and college interns. Without the structure, stability, and loving influence provided in the Summer Camp, many of the children would be on their own throughout the day and left to occupy and fend for themselves.

The cost of a child attending our camp is $500.

Would you consider donating to our Summer Camp Program? Click the Donate Now button below and select Summer Camp as the fund to apply your donation towards.

CGM office closed during spring break

CGM’s main office will be closed to the public during the week of March 18-22. The office will resume normal operating hours on Monday, March 25th.

jaylan saunders family fund

Dear CGM friends and family,

Last week, Jaylan Saunders, a 16 year-old student in our program, was shot and killed as he slept at home. Many people, through various social media channels or in private communication, have expressed a desire to help his family in the aftermath of this senseless loss.

Common Ground Montgomery will be serving as an instrument of collection to help the family in three ways:

1. Collection of remaining funeral expenses (the service will be on Saturday, February 2nd, at River City Church—301 Dexter Ave—at noon)

2. Money to help the family during this time of lost wages and also to help with relocation away from the house (in which he was killed in front of his mom and twin sister)

3. Long term professional trauma counseling costs for his mom and sisters

Would you consider donating toward these expenses either online (www.cgm.life/donate) under the “13. Jaylan Saunders Family Fund” line item, or via check sent to :

Common Ground Montgomery
P.O. Box 1866
Montgomery, Al. 36102
PLEASE NOTE “JAYLAN SAUNDERS FAMILY FUND” IN THE MEMO LINE

We thank you so much for your kindness and mercy during this devastating time.

Psalm 34:3,
Bryan Kelly

free tax return preparation

Did you know that you don’t have to pay for tax preparation? SaveFirst, sponsored by Troy University-Montgomery, offers FREE certified tax preparation and electronic filing services for working families and individuals. We provide these services for households earning up to $55,000 with children, or up to $20,000 without children.

Appointments begin mid-January. To make an appointment call the SaveFirst appointment hotline at 888-99-TAX-AL.

2018 end of the year letter

Bryan Kelly, Founder and Executive Director

I am deeply grateful to report that 2018 has been a great year at Common Ground Montgomery. We understand that there are so many wonderful nonprofits that are worthy of your investment, but we are thankful you have chosen us. Your support allows us to transform lives, families, and our community.

Over this past year, while I focused on expanding our efforts to other areas beyond Montgomery’s westside, Justin Hampton served as our local director and worked to make us more effective in our mission.

Recently, he felt a calling to devote his efforts towards the renewal of Montgomery’s Public School system. We are extremely grateful to Justin and look forward to seeing his future impact on our kids’ educational development as he works with the Montgomery Education Foundation. I have stepped back into the executive director role and I am excited to see God continue to use us for the transformation of our city.

This last year we established a new sending and training mechanism, Common Ground Alabama, in Birmingham. We helped establish our first plant, Common Ground Shoals, that is now seeing wonderful things happen in Florence, Alabama. We are on the verge of helping start a new kids camp in Montgomery’s southside (Camp Tenetke). This endeavor will not only provide an affordable camp and developmental experience for underprivileged youth, but will also focus on bringing kids together from all walks of life. Additionally, the Mercy House officially launched in October (as its own 501(c)3 non-profit) to help meet the needs of many through a daily presence that helps homeless families, latch key kids, and families struggling to make ends meet.

We are continuing to see the grace of God shared and shown in our midst, and that’s why I’ve included Quanda’s story from how she went from a parent with kids in our program to working at CGM.

Your giving has allowed us to put full-time people in a distressed community who continually show up and are present in a chaotic context. As Quanda has expressed so well, God loves to be present to us through people. He is using your generosity to show His love.

We are beyond thankful for your love and support because we couldn’t be here without it. Would you please consider a year-end gift and commit to a recurring monthly donation in 2019? Thank your for your prayerful consideration to help change Montgomery and beyond!