Joshua House, located at 123 West 10th Street, Tyrone, is always bustling with activities for the area youth, and the upcoming months will be no different.
According to executive director of Joshua House, Jim Kilmartin, there are several programs and events that are already in progress or about ready to start. The following is a summary of some of the activities:
• Thrive! is a radical praise and worship gathering for youth and young adults in Tyrone and the region. Thrive! is scheduled for November 18 at 7 p.m. at Joshua House with Ron DePriest ministering. Thrive! is also scheduled for December 15 at 7 p.m. at Joshua House with Tony Barboza ministering.
• JHouse Juniors will be held every Tuesday after school starting November 7 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., and JHouse Juniors’ Wild Fire will run every Wednesday starting November 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Call JHouse Juniors Director Tommie Murray for more details at 232-0622 or email at Tommie@joshuahousetyrone.org. Child tutoring will be available by contacting Tommie Murray as well.
• The Community Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by Joshua House and the Salvation Army will be held at Joshua House, 123 West 10th St., November 21 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Take-outs are available. Most of the 125 to 150 people that attend are families from economically poor homes. Joshua House started this event in 2002 with Major Karen Garrett and the Tyrone Salvation Army. Individuals can help by coming and serving or by donating food and/or finances. The teens at Joshua House love to serve at this annual dinner. For more information, call Joshua House at 684-2032.
• Christmas shopping for kids is an event that Joshua House likes to coordinate each year as well. Volunteers are placed on at least a $100 budget to take a Joshua House kid shopping at Christmas time. Individuals can give a one time gift or several times over the year to help make this possible.
• This year, Joshua House is hosting a Christmas Party at Cold Springs as an outreach requested by residents of the apartments whose kids attend Joshua House. Joshua House will provide gifts for the children and appetizers for the families. It is estimated that there will be at least 40 children to provide gifts for at this time.
• A weekly dinner for the teens of the community is scheduled for every Thursday evening. Joshua House could use donations of drinks, food and supplies. Anyone who would like to volunteer as a helper to cook and prepare dinner is welcomed as well.
• The mid-year grade incentive trip to Splash Lagoon is scheduled for January. This is for students that come on a regular basis and achieve set grade incentives. This encourages students to work hard at school.
• An end of the year grade incentive beach trip is also scheduled for June. This is for students who have achieved set grade incentives all year. They will be able to go to Wild Wood Crest, NJ for five days and four nights.
According to Kilmartin, the monthly operational budget at Joshua House is $4,000 per month. This includes utilities, food, activities, mortgage, payroll, phone, internet and insurances.
In order to finish the second floor of the Joshua House building, they need to raise $10,000 to $12,000 to make it usable space. Once its completed, there will be a conference room, offices and a place where small groups can meet.
Joshua House is also in desperate need of a new sound system for the youth worship team it is developing. The system will cost between $10,000 to $12,000.
Kilmartin added that basketball is a big part of JHouse and he is looking to develop a basketball facility to be able to use all year long. This will be great for the winter league and for the kids to play after school. Right now Joshua House is able to use the Armory some afternoons when there is someone there. However, there are many times when no one is available to be there, and there is no where else the kids can play.
The Joshua House hours include:
• Mondays 3 to 6 p.m., offering tutoring, hang-out time, JHouse Café snack bar, Play Station 2, pool tables, four computers with internet, air hockey, foosball and ping pong.
• Tuesdays 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. JHouse Jrs.
• Wednesdays 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. basketball at the Armory.
• Wednesdays 6:30 to 8 p.m. JHouse Jrs. Wild Fire.
• Thursdays 3 to 6 p.m. same as Mondays along with offering dinner at 5 p.m.
• Fridays open after home football games and then after the season from 9 to 11 p.m.
• Sundays 6 to 8 p.m. is Ignite, youth and young adult church and activities.
Check the website for more details at www.joshuahousetyrone.org.
