Sunrise Children’s Services and Mark12 Ministries are both located in Bullitt County, and their paths sometimes cross unexpectedly and sometimes not. For example, a teenage boy receiving care at the Spring Meadows Campus in Mt. Washington shared with staff that his father was homeless. It turned out that the boy’s father was being cared for by Mark12 Ministries. When the boy graduated from Spring Meadows, he wanted to give back and began working at Mark12 Ministries. Knowing that Mark12 had helped his family, he wanted to contribute in any way he could to help others in similar situations.

This incident was one of many factors that sparked a conversation between Mark12 and Sunrise Children’s Services about additional ways they could partner. Mark12 operates the Outreach Thrift Store in Shepherdsville, which not only helps cover operational costs for their ministry but also provides much-needed items to those living in Bullitt County. However, the thrift store is always in need of volunteers.

The staff at Sunrise recognized that they could help meet this need while also providing the youth they serve with an opportunity to develop career-related skills and give back to the community.

Mary Edmondson, Sunrise Program Director of Vocational Rehabilitation, was thrilled about the potential partnership. She worked closely with Perry Cooke, Executive Director of Mark12 Ministries, to envision how the teenage boys and girls at Sunrise could volunteer at the thrift store. The youth rotate their volunteer time based on their schedules, and they eagerly look forward to getting away and contributing to something positive. According to Mary, “Mark 12 has been a godsend! The kids love it, and I enjoy watching the Lord work through them. They volunteer their time and the talents the Good Lord has given them, and in return, they have also helped themselves.”

Perry Cooke and his staff share this enthusiasm: “We are excited to partner with a wonderful Christ-centered ministry that shares our mission to care for the least of these. When the boys come in to volunteer, they experience a sense of normalcy, doing what other kids their age are doing after school. Our team looks forward to loving on the boys and making them feel valued and special.”

Many at Sunrise acknowledge the importance of giving back as part of the healing process. “When we give to others, we are actively reflecting on the need to be servants of God through our actions,” said Emmanuel Maize, program director for the Spring Meadows Center. “This is a humbling experience that allows us to connect with others as God would have us to do. Partnerships like these allow our boys to experience the joy and personal growth that come from giving back.”

Written by Jake Pelfrey, Vice President of Marketing and Advancement.