August 2025

Holy Moly, School is about to start!! Is that a good thing or a bad thing? In some cases, getting back into a routine will be fantastic. On the other hand, homework is not. Who likes homework? NOT ME!!! I know, I know. Sometimes it is a good thing and it helps the kids continue to learn and they need to do it. Don’t get me wrong I totally understand the reason behind it. I am just a parent that doesn’t care for it. *sigh Hope that doesn’t get me in trouble.
 
IN OTHER NEWS!!! Our fundraiser during the 127 garage sales was a success!!! We had a few vendors set up and the Portal Café was open for all. We had sausage gravy and biscuits, snacks, walking tacos, cold pop, water, and other kids’ drinks.  We were able raise some money and look forward to next year’s event!!!
 
Over the summer YFC, Youth for Christ, teamed up with us and we allowed them to come hang out at the Portal Building. This time was on various Thursdays throughout the summer and not during Portal hours. Some of the Portal teens came out and hung out as well. We were unable to have the snack bar open during this time because lack of volunteers and most people work during the day.  The kids seemed to have a blast. Burrito toss was a newer game that was introduced and oh the stories!! I won’t tell if you won’t. Just kidding.
 
We were also contacted by the Van Wert and Convoy Dollar Generals to partner with them for a back-to-school supply drive!! How cool is that!! Hopefully you were able to see the boxes and flyers. We need to show these teens that we, the community, are here for them. This supply drive will go through August 20th.  There is a list and flyers at each Dollar General and on the Portal Facebook page.  Let’s help the teens one pencil at a time or notebook or pen. You get the idea. Just grab and extra school supply and toss it in the box after you pay for it of course. 
 
Did you know that we have had 26 new students since the first of the year!!!! That is AWESOME. Some nights it feels like there are 100 kids there and others it feels like there are only a few. But every night is so worth it for us and the students.  I asked the question, what has portal done for you? Most of the kids put something about finding their best friends, making great friends, and just hanging out with friends. But one really caught my eye. They wrote how their home life isn’t the greatest and Portal helps them be somewhat normal. This honestly broke my heart and made Portal even more special because kids can come and be themselves and spend that time with other kids from all back grounds and just be kids. I know that was a bit deep but it’s real. I have the kids write these so no one knows who wrote them. They don’t sign the papers unless they want to. They all just go in a pile and I sort through them. This is why we do what we do and have this teen center for all the teens and all walks of life. 
 
Onto lighter things!! Holy donations!! Thank you all so very much that have donated snacks and pop and ramen in the month of July and into August!! We are truly blessed. They honestly won’t last long; these teens can eat!!! Example like 60 10-inch pretzels. We acquired 2 cases of them. But if you break it down, there are 24 days that Portal was open over a 3-month time period. A few of those days we were closed. So, they ate 60 large pretzels in less than 24 days. That is 2.5 pretzels in less than a three-hour time frame PLUS all the other snacks. A pretzel and hour!!! Just to give you an idea. Hahahahahaha
 
A great verse for the month of August is Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

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