August 27, 2020
My experience as a first time VBS volunteer
This past summer, I had the privilege to volunteer for two weeks at Abundant Life’s Vacation Bible School. It was my first experience with Abundant Life, and the first time volunteering at VBS in general since I was about 13. I was definitely nervous before my first week – wondering if I would be able to be social and energetic around kids, if I would be able to relate to them, and how things...
August 20, 2020
New Gardening Club sprouts this summer!
What a delight it is to volunteer at Abundant Life! I began two years ago, soon after my husband and I moved to Charlottesville to a home near Johnson Elementary, where Abundant Life offers after school tutoring and a Bible Club. These students challenge me and have created a special place in my heart. Sowing the seeds of a gardening club In Jeremiah 29:7 the exiles were encouraged to pray for...
July 15, 2020
STRIVE celebrates 2 CHS, 3 college graduates!
On June 17, STRIVE students, mentors, and program staff gathered on Zoom to commemorate a year full of accomplishments. Attendees celebrated STRIVE's 15 mentoring pairs and honored its two Class of 2020 graduates, Cameron Jackson and R'Quis Jones. STRIVE also saluted its first three alumni to graduate college! STRIVE Class of 2013 alumnus Paul Fry III graduated from Radford University in...
July 1, 2020
Bible Club goes virtual during pandemic
On March 13, the United States declared COVID-19 a national emergency, effectively shutting down our after school programs. Affected programs included Bible Club, a fun, safe space for elementary kids to learn God’s word three times per week. Bible Club Co-Coordinators Rachel Gaffin and Jonathan Knabe sensed the importance of staying connected with their students and continuing to tell Bible...
June 20, 2020
Prospect neighbors share “Abundant Wisdom” during quarantine
Two months into the COVID-19 pandemic, we asked our neighbors - program participants, alumni, and parents - two questions: What have you learned in quarantine, and how do you stay positive in quarantine? We have compiled their self-recorded answers into a video that's by our neighbors, for our neighbors. We're calling it "Abundant Wisdom." Thank you to everyone who participated! Be sure to...
June 13, 2020
ABC honors Cramer family, raises $30,578
Not even a global pandemic could stop Abundant Life's 3rd Annual Art of Building Community benefit, but it did force the normally in-person event online. Nearly 100 viewers logged onto Facebook Live on June 9 to enjoy the hour-long program hosted by Andrea Copeland-Whitsett. Among the pre-recorded segments, Director of Community Engagement Anne Brown presented the prestigious Sherman-Rogers...