Beyond Sunday
Beyond Sunday is a podcast where we dive into what our Church is up to, what's happening in society, go deeper into topics from Sunday mornings, and hear leadership talks and coffee break theology from Pastor Greg Griffith. This is a podcast of King of Kings Church in Omaha & Fremont, Nebraska. Learn more at kingofkings.org.
Beyond Sunday
All In Spotlight: Disney Elementary
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Over the past few years, God has established a fantastic relationship between King of Kings and Disney Elementary, a nearby public school. What started off with birthday gifts for teachers and hallway snack carts blossomed into an incredible two-way partnership that has blessed both organizations. King of Kings' Lara Ray and Disney principal Cindy Scharff talk about the way God has blessed both and used All In funds to make a big impact for Disney's teachers.
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Partnership Between Church and School
Speaker 1Hey there , king and Kings family .
Speaker 1This is Dan Hoppen , the director of small groups here at King and Kings , and I'm so excited to continue our all in spotlight podcast series today . So , for those who aren't aware , all in at King and Kings , each fall , our church undergoes a three week campaign that prioritizes loving , serving and giving , and during that time we raise special offerings and 100% of those funds go to a select number of organizations that we have researched , we've vetted , we've interviewed and we just absolutely love this period of just pure expression of Jesus' love to us . Today's spotlight is going to be on Disney Elementary . Disney is a part of the Millard public schools and has about 400 students from preschool to fifth grade , and we have been valuable or , excuse me , we've had a valuable partnership with Disney since 2020 . And here to talk about that more today is the principal of Disney , cindy Sharp , and Laura Ray , who is our director of next steps and community engagement at King and Kings and the one who got this relationship started . Guys , thanks so much for taking time for the podcast today .
Speaker 2Thank you for having me .
Speaker 3I'm excited to be here , yeah it'll be fun to share about the relationship and how this all came about .
Speaker 1And just real quick for people who are listening to this and not watching , would you guys mind introducing yourself , just so we can differentiate voices .
Speaker 2Sure , I'm Laura Ray , the director of next steps and community engagement here at King of Kings and I am Cindy Sharp , the principal at Disney .
Speaker 1Perfect , thank you . So Disney received about $27,000 from all in last year and I can't wait to talk about the impact that that has . But first I want to give people just kind of an idea of what Disney is , and I think every school has something that makes it unique , just , you know , sets it apart a little bit . What do you think is Disney's like unique fingerprint ? What is what , what would you say , defines your school ?
Speaker 2I would definitely say a sense of community . I know it's like a cliche where people say we're a family , but at Disney we are a family . Everybody takes care of everybody and I don't know if it's because we're a smaller school or have a smaller staff , but everybody generally cares about everyone . They know all the students . If anyone needs anything , four or five staff members will jump in and say I got your duty , you take off , I'll take care of this . It's just such a caring , caring community .
Speaker 1How have you seen that play out , Laura , as you've established a relationship with Disney over the years ?
Speaker 3Yeah , it's been really cool to see I spend a couple hours a week in the print room and so just going in and helping with whatever they need done , and you see it consistently with teachers and conversations that happen in there and just how they care for the students . It's been really awesome .
Speaker 1So it seems kind of random to have this relationship between a public school and a Lutheran church that weren't really connected before a couple years ago . What did this relationship come to be ?
Speaker 2It's so weird , isn't it Like it's ? Really so weird , how it all came out . Yeah .
Speaker 3Yeah , I think you're like go ahead . Yeah , so it was kind of birded out of COVID . I mean , I think when in the summer of 2020 , we were just like you know what ministry looked different and so we were all trying to figure out how we could , you know , bless the community in different ways . People weren't gathering , so we weren't having large events and I think something . Just a group of people that rose to the top were teachers who were going back to school and having to deal with all different kinds of layers of complication with masks and you know , just social distancing and all those things .
Speaker 3And so we reached out to Marion Fay , who ran the Interfaith Millard Public Schools Interfaith Council , and just to see what schools around our area would be open to us just coming in , no strings attached , just to bless teachers and staff . And so she suggested Disney reached out to Cindy , and Cindy was open to us just delivering a meal for their back to school training , and so that's kind of where it all started , and we then did intentional touch points throughout each month and with that , at the end of the year , I think we brought all these people together the counselors , the assistant principals , cindy just to talk about how we , as a church body , could support them moving forward . We had financial resources , we had people resources and what were their needs . So it just started through that .
Speaker 2And it really has then just been a rippling effect . King of Kings has supported us in ways I can't even begin all in is one of the ways but just so many little things , big things that they have done and I feel like they have became part of our community . When they come in with snack cart they know Laura and Jordan by name and Peter Like it has . I just feel like it just must have been the right time , the right place and the right connection .
Speaker 1Looking back to the start of this partnership , do you remember the first ? I don't even know , the first couple weeks , first couple months , as King of Kings just keeps showing up time and time again . Were there people around the school or just like , what is this church doing here ? I mean , I'm sure that there was . I'm not trying to say you guys weren't appreciative , because I'm sure you were , but there had to be some sense of who are these people and why are they here all the time .
Speaker 2I never felt that and we're close , like I think people would have shared that . I think the biggest thing was like we felt this , like what can we do for King of Kings ? Like we felt so blessed and so lucky to have that , like we almost like we're like what can we do to help you guys ? It was a weird , just a weird feeling in situation . Like a good , weird feeling Because we have an amazing , amazing community but we don't have a lot of volunteers Our parents that are able to volunteer . They work full time . Financial resources were very minimal , so we weren't used to having any of that . So , if anything , that was the thing that made us feel uncomfortable that we couldn't give back . Or we just like , when people are so generous to you and you want to help , do something to support them .
Speaker 1Well , I want to be clear . The reason that I keep using the term partnership to describe what this is is because it's a two-way street . It's not just King of Kings giving a Disney . Disney has given a lot back to us too . In fact , the first time I met you , cindy , I think , was about two years ago . You were serving here for Parents Mourning Out Like it's that stuff back . You know , we're not trying to balance the scales or anything like that . We see that you guys are not only just taking what we give you , but you're saying , yeah , we love you , we want to love you right back and do things for you too , and we've seen that at all kinds of events and we're very appreciative of that as well . Laura , what are some ways , both in the beginning and now , that King of Kings serves at Disney ? You mentioned you working in the print room . You mentioned those early meals water , water some other ways that we try and Make sure these guys feel loved yeah .
Speaker 3So we have a we try and do at least a monthly touch point at the school and whether that is a snack cart delivering snacks to each teacher's room during the middle of the day , which has just been so fun throughout the years as we've gotten to know the teachers and they recognize us and we're able to have conversations , and We've opened our building for different events for Disney , whether that's trunk or treat or the Disney musical .
Speaker 3Hosting families here has been really really fun . We do Monthly birthday gifts for teachers as well over the last couple years , which has been a fun addition , where we deliver gifts at the beginning of the month and will , and then they can hand them out as as the birthdays occur .
Strengthening Partnership With Disney School
Speaker 3And then I think to just just constant communication with you , cindy right , regarding like what the needs are , what , what we can do to support events that are already in your like in in action . So we're not looking to necessarily add anything , we're just looking to come alongside you and partner and support how we can and we do have some volunteers to that come into the school Weekly and we have , and then we also include you in the city serve projects .
Speaker 2So that's something else , that we've we've done recently , so it just kind of looks different each month and I think it's just such a genuine relationship for the fact that , I mean , I know we have staff members that have joined the church , that will just volunteer and have found a home in King of Kings , but also with having the people come in and , like Laura volunteering when it was last year , it was in May we have a field day and Students by T shirts , and she noticed that there was a smaller number of students that did not have T shirts because we were charging for them and she was like let , let me cover or let King of Kings cover it , so everyone has a T shirt . So I feel like , because we have that communication and that ongoing , that it's . You just can't even pinpoint one specific thing , right , right .
Speaker 1What impact have you seen that serving have on the kids and the staff ?
Speaker 2I . I think for students it might not be as prevalent , even though we do have volunteers that come in and work with the students . But Teachers just naturally take care of kids like they give their all to every student there , and it's hard to take care of teachers like Miller doesn't , and it's not even just the money or the gifts , but like that feeling valued and appreciative and knowing people care for them . So I think you guys have done such a great job of caring for the teachers that then that's the trickle down effect for the students .
Speaker 1It's beautiful .
Speaker 3Yeah , that is beautiful .
Speaker 1So , uh , disney first received funds from all in and and 2021 and was a part of all in again in 2022 . What are some of the ways in which you were able to use those funds and how have you seen God bless your community through those ?
Speaker 2So the first year was right after COVID , and a large chunk of it was just to help families . So , um , because we knew it was a hard time for families lots of parents had lost their jobs or , um , I don't know , I think times are still really tough for people and so with that money we were able to help families pay the rent . We were able to . Um , there was families that were had to quarantine for 10 days , so then the mom was , her parents weren't able to go to work , so we provided groceries for them . Um , people that were displaced , um , and then we we helped purchase furniture . Um , king of Kings purchased all the school supplies for the 21-22 school year for all the students . And August is expensive for families and I feel like you're just writing check after check for um , for everything and for them not to have to buy school supplies , um , and if you have multiple kids , that adds up was a huge um benefit . Um , and then I think , like last year , um , I feel like the things that were provided were game changers for Disney , um , which sounds kind of silly , but I feel like it put us on the uh , even playing field as other schools , and Millard , I think Millard has that perception that we're a wealthy district and there are definitely pockets , but there's buildings that um have great families , but not necessarily a , a PTO that can raise thousands and thousands of dollars and that is the money that then provides the extras for the school . Um . So one of the things was for STEM materials , and we were able to purchase a 3D printer , which was pricey , but that wasn't like . A 3D printer is costly , but it's the thread that goes into it that is really expensive to maintain , and so we were able to um have one and then every child be able to do lessons um and create something on the 3D printer . We also um were able to buy high interest , low text books for students . So if you have a child that's in fourth grade reading at a first grade or level , they don't want to be reading a book that looks like a first grade book , and so we were able to purchase a library , so now teachers are able to get the books for kids to read so that it looks like other books that the you know kids in their class are reading .
Speaker 2Um , I think the one thing that we had put in was a grant for teachers , and first I was like gosh , do I do that or not ?
Speaker 2Like teachers pretty much have the supplies they need , even though they spend a lot of money out of their pocket . Um , so I knew that would help compensate that , but that actually was the thing that , like I think , formed my heart maybe the most is , teachers are very frugal and will often pick up things for their classroom at a garage sale or a hand me down and , um , we have money to give the teachers their basic supplies , but not necessarily the things that make their classroom feel like a home . And so , doing that , just going into the classrooms now , like teachers purchased like new borders , new organizing containers , rugs , lamps , and you walk into the rooms and it feels just warm and inviting and it does impact kids . Kids feel safer there , feel more ready to learn . And then kind of the weird thing or the interesting thing that happened was , once we had ordered everything for teachers , the week that it was delivered happened to be the week that Amazon drivers got $5 for every package that was delivered , and we probably had over 500 packages .
Speaker 1So our Amazon driver loves us too .
Speaker 2But I think that's just a testament of like how it just keeps giving . And someone who's not a teacher , can you kind of speak a little ?
Speaker 1bit more into the value of what it's like for a teacher getting to fully decorate their classroom and being able to create their own individual space . I mean , it's like you know , people take so much time and care decorating their cube or their office or whatever it is , but that's their personal space . Like a classroom is something that you're inviting , doesn't matter , it's not a classroom , it's something that you're inviting dozens , you know , if not hundreds , of kids over the years into to be able to present yourself in a more expressed way , I imagine has great value .
Speaker 2Very much so . I think it gives them a sense of individualization where they can create the environment that they want to create . There are not funds to purchase borders or name tags or birthday pencils . If they want to give birthday pencils , often every grade level will do a holiday gift for their families and that comes out of teacher's funds . Mother's Day gifts come out of teacher's funds . So I mean , I don't know statistically what it is , but I bet on an average , a classroom teacher spends anywhere from three to $500 a year on their classroom , and it's just a little bit here , a little bit there . You know , candy for rewards , popsicles for this , and it just allowed them the ability to do what they wanted to do and not build that financial burden .
Speaker 1That's awesome . As you guys look back on this about three year partnership now like what stands out to you in how it's grown and how it's evolved .
Speaker 2I can't believe the ease of the relationship . I just the comfort level , and it's not only with Laura in now Jordan , but I think with the community as a whole . I have told Laura the times I have been here whatever you are doing here , you need to figure out how to share it , because I walk into this building and may not know anyone and I feel welcomed and loved and it's just such an incredible environment . And saying that for walking and I feel our families feel that too I'll always advertise back to school night or the parent day out and we have so many families that take advantage of it and they might not be Lutheran but they feel welcomed here .
Speaker 3That's awesome . Thanks for sharing that . I would agree that just the development of relationships with teachers over this past three years . It felt really easy for you and I to connect in the beginning , but for some teachers it was a little bit harder , like you asked that in the beginning , where some people like , yeah , and we felt it a little bit , but not a lot , but now it's like the relationships that have developed have been really impactful and really fun to see and we have two , deb and Kathy , volunteer regularly and literally I feel like they're part of our staff .
Speaker 2Everybody knows them and they just are so willing to do whatever too .
Speaker 1As you guys look into the future , how do you see this partnership continue to evolve and continue to grow ?
Speaker 2I don't know if I've really thought about that .
Speaker 3Right , I don't see it going away anytime soon . I don't need that . So I think each year we've just become a little more intentional in the relationship and just staying open to meeting the needs of the families and students and teachers at Disney has always been a priority for us . And again , like we came in , just like no strings attached , and that's still you know how we approach this right , we just want to come in and bless Disney and the teachers and students and it's been fun to see the ripple effect of that . But , yeah , I see it lasting for a while .
Speaker 2To me I feel like it's like a sense of security . You never know year to year what is going to happen at . You know , like in schools , and like no one would have ever predicted COVID and then the impact King of Kings had for the families , but I don't know Like . I feel like if something , if somebody needs something , and it could be anything from school supplies to help with rent or just like a caring place to go , you guys are there Like it's just . This , feels like to me . I just have this of what is it just that ?
Speaker 3since the scary or that's awesome . Just what you said reminded me of um . You know , reaching out when different needs are um present themselves , right , and you had a little boy in your school that really needed a mentor and we were able to connect them , to connect him with um , with Bill , and Bill would come in and have lunch with them and just talk with him and be with him . And it was um . That was just one way . That was a cool , cool way that someone could give up their time for just an immediate need and I see , yeah , and that relationship was so incredible .
Speaker 2Um , the just the um connection Bill and the student made and it was only going to be a couple of times and then it ended up being all year . And , um , we , bill , had asked the student cause he had moved on to middle school . Um , and the student was like , yes , please keep coming and seeing me . Like I feel like he he definitely changed this kid's life . Wow , I mean , I have no doubt it was really cool .
Speaker 3I remember hearing Bill and Bill's retired so he has time , but also very much , you know , is interested in volunteering . So it was just a perfect opportunity to to match someone's very specific skill set with a student who is in need . And I remember Bill telling me the story where he said do you want me to come back every other week or once a month ? And the student was like , can you come every week ? And Bill was so blessed by that too .
Speaker 2So not only was the student blessed by that time , but Bill just , I mean , was blessed beyond belief by it and maybe that's what I mean about that sense of um secure or having that support , like I I had called Laura and her and I had talked about it Like , hey , I can just help me through this and um , we came up with that . Maybe it's just like knowing that I have this community that is here for us .
Speaker 1Yeah , we will be there for you . We're not going anywhere anytime soon . And and again , we feel the love right back from you guys . I mean I will never forget , uh , our back to school event this year . I don't think I've ever seen the church more crowded . I mean the hallways were just jam packed and it wasn't all Disney families and kids . But I mean I would . I was manning one of the um , uh , one of the backpack stations and I would ask people who came up like , oh , where are you from , how'd you hear about us ? And a time and again , disney , disney , disney . And it was so like you guys helped make that a party . It was so fun .
Speaker 1So , yeah , thank you for for being such a big part of that and for you know all the contributions that you give back to us as well .
Speaker 2Thank you , that's awesome .
Speaker 1Uh , if someone is listening to this and they're like I want to be a part of this Disney partnership , I want to learn more about you know the serving opportunities there , either one of you . How can they get more involved ?
Speaker 2Well , I would say reach out to me , um , and we can talk through it . I mean , it could be really anything . Or just come take a tour of Disney . I love showing off Disney , um , it's really easy to do because we have amazing , amazing staff and students . But I um just reach out . I would love that , yeah .
Exploring Serving Opportunities for Partnership
Speaker 3And there's also a place on our on our website , um serving opportunities . You can check that out as well and we'll get you in touch with Cindy to go out and visit and see where you can fit in . So beautiful .
Speaker 1Yeah , lauren Cindy , thank you so much for giving the time today and just talking about this amazing partnership . God has obviously used it to do some really cool things , and I think we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg . I think there's a lot more to come so very excited to see what comes in the future . Thank you for having me .
Speaker 2Thank you for all you guys do .
Speaker 1The pleasure is all ours . King and Kings family , thanks for joining us on this edition of all in spotlights . Let's keep living our faith lives beyond Sunday .
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