Monday, July 16, 2007, 04:28 PM - CGSA Events
Hello members of CGSA!
I hope the summer is coming along well, that you have been able to be
productive in work, with some time to relax and enjoy the weather on
the many nice days we've had.
CGSA is foremost a Christian group, and so we must uphold Christ's
proclamation, to love our neighbors. Last Sunday, my pastor talked
about the Parable of the Good Samaritan, how those who are the least
respected and acknowledged by society are primarily the ones
Christians have responsibility toward, to love and serve.
Weinland Park is a community in need. The average income of people who
live there is below poverty line. Crime of all sorts is rampant there,
being one of the highest rates in Columbus. The place is a home to
many single mothers. Some numbers (1990 census):
11% of residents own their own homes
Average family annual income: $18,613
Unmarried women head 25 percent of all households, while 41 percent of
all households have no vehicle access and 15 percent don't have a
phone. While the unemployment rate in Franklin County is 3.4 percent,
Weinland Park's is 9.6 percent.
Weinland Park is right at the doorstep of the community of the Ohio
State University. As responsible students, citizens, and especially as loving Christians, we have a responsibility to make a difference in Weinland Park. And we can. Already, large changes have been occurring in
Weinland Park. A Children's Center has been erected there recently,
there have been new housing developments, recently the Mayor visited a
local church in a large community-wide celebration. A big difference
to the community has been students coming to live in Weinland Park;
three active members of CGSA have residence there.
But there is still much to be done, and much that can be.
This summer in Weinland Park CGSA will be holding an all-day event
August 18. For those of you who have any skill in computers, or even
no skill, but like taking stuff apart, Free Geek has a bunch of
computers to be disassembled. The parts of the disassembled computers
that function well will eventually be reassembled (not by us) into
computers, and donated to the community. This is an important job
which requires virtually no technical skills.
But if computers cause shivers in your heart, and working on them is
simply impossible for you, please sign up for the Godman Guild. FOR
THOSE NOT WANTING TO TAKE COMPUTERS APART, but still want to help on
August 18, you can sign up to help with a community gathering that
will also be on August 18. Please let me know by e-mail by this
Wednesday, July 18, if you plan to do this!
For people working with Free Geek, or for those who would rather do
something different, we will all be meeting as a group for a community
gathering afterwards. There will be food and conversation.
Everyone is welcome, and strongly encouraged to attend and help out on
August 18.
Let's show Columbus that CGSA is a group that cares about the Weinland
Park community.
Paul Rimmer
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