Crossroads Youth & Family Services November Newsletter

Crossroads NOVEMBER 2021

"All Roads Lead to Home"

CONT ENTS 03

FEEDING THE COMMINITY

05

Renovated Centers to open and families help volunteer.

06

Community Enhancement Project Begins

04

LCF FUNDS OECP PROGRAM

HEAD START UPDATES

HOLIDAY SNACKS Roasted Pepitas signal Fall and a healthy take on Apple Pie

07

Another community partner helps fund the Lawton Early Childhood Program

YOUTH SERVICES Fall Festivals, Workshops at the library, and EPIC Box updates

13

STAFF SHOUTOUTS Look at all the amazing people wa part of the Crossroads Family

14

CELEBRATIONS From birthdays to work anniversaires

15

PARTNERSHIPS We are thankful for our community partnerships.

the food fix MAIN STREET HEAD START BEGINS COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT

We started our community enhancement project a little early. Liz and Kristina delivered a full box of donated items to the stand-alone pantries across town this afternoon. This is an ongoing project through April. Each time our box gets full, we will go to stock those pantries. We even included some recruiting flyers.

Ways to help Bring dried and canned goods to the Norman Main Street Head Start location 1333 W. Main St; Norman, OK 73069.

Place the items in the marked boxes.

In Need of Assistance?

Our family advocates provided lists of local resources for our digital resource pages for each county. These should all be available on each center's page. In the meantime, Oklahoma has this amazing directory that links to wonderful organizations in each county.

Lawton Community Foundation Each

year,

the

Lawton

Community

This

funding

helps

provide

additional

Foundation comes together to highlight

instructional coaches, family advocates, and

charitable works throughout Lawton. This

many other resources for the families

year, Crossroads Early Childhood Education

participating

Program was selected as a recipient to

program in Lawton. For more information,

receive $5,000 towards the OECP (Oklahoma

check out our OECP page on the website.

Early Childhood Program) grant through CapTulsa.

in

the

Early

Head

Start

Opening Soon!

BETHEL AND SEMINOLE CENTERS

After much anticipation, the Head Start/ Early Head Start Center in Bethel, as well as the Head Start Center in Seminole will soon open.

We are excited to bring these centers to life and be a resource for the local families.

"WE ARE IN THE FINAL STEPS BEFORE WE CAN OPEN THESE CENTERS!"

During these times, it is all hands on deck. Much appreciation to the family members willing to lend helping hands at our centers. From delivering tasty treats to securing the door, these families help make Crossroads a safe and loving place.

"WE LOVE OUR MOORE HEAD START FAMILY!"

the healthier option HOLIDAY SNACKS

Roasted Pepitas

Ingredients 2 cups Pepitas raw 2 teaspoon Olive oil 1 teaspoon salt or to taste US Customary - Metric

▢

▢ ▢

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C).

2. Toss pepitas, olive oil, and salt together so well coated. Layer out your pepitas flat on a lined baking sheet (just so easy for cleanup).

3. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Set your timer for 5 minutes and toss so all sides of the pepitas get toasty.

4. Allow Pepitas to Cool and enjoy. Store in a sealed container or zipper bag at room temperature for up to a couple of days at room temperature. For storage up to a week, place in the refrigerator. You may also freeze the easy roasted pepitas. (However, we have never had these last more than a couple of days)

Air Fry Apple A-La-Mode Ingredients 1 Apple nonstick spray and foil Cinnamon honey to taste Ice Cream of choice

Instructions 1. Core and chop 1 apple and place on aluminum foil 2. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle on cinnamon 3. Wrap foil and place in the air fryer for 13 minutes at 375 degrees 4. Top apple with ice cream of choice

YOUTH SERVICES

FALL FESTIVAL Hello Everyone!!

I just wanted to say an enormous THANK YOU to everyone that came and supported our shelter residents on their carnival night.

They were so incredibly excited that so many came and participated in the games that they led. Because of you all, we were able to raise.... drumroll​ .... $210!!

The kids were able to decide as a group what they want to do with the money that they raised, and they decided to go to Get Air Trampoline Park! They went this past Friday and have their own party room with pizza and drinks. They were so excited to go, We cannot thank you all enough for helping us make this happen, it made their entire weekend.

Have an incredible week!

I NEVER "FELT" BETTER On Saturday, November 13, the counseling team lead a group on ways to deal with feelings and emotions by providing some crafting secrets.

Participants made felt friends using the wool needle felting technique.

The team provided tips to deal with stress and learn how to channel frustrations towards something creative.

Did you know that crafting helps boost your brainpower and improves your mood?

Needle Felting Check out Needle Felting as a stress-relieving activity.

Check out some of our favorite kits and don't forget to use Smile.amazon.com and select Crossroads Youth & Family Services as your charitable organization

Save the Date Saturday, December 11, 2021 1:30-3:30 Norman Central- Pioneer Room Stressbreakers Session 2 Bujo Bliss Journals

Build your bujo mojo with us as we explore the basics of bullet journaling, set up our 2022 bullet journals, and learn the benefits bujos can have for mental health. Materials provided.

Dear Crossroads Family, Thank you for your patience during the transition to a new server system. There are many new features that we will all grow to love.

Thank you for all you do!

We are now using Microsoft 365...tutorials coming soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hoping your day is out of this world!

Annette L 11/02 Jancy J 11/06 Temika B 11/14 Ayla H. 11/21 Robyn C 11/25 Ty L. 11/26 Camrhea S 11/28 Amanda H 11/30

Zon d Jen rea B ni Ann fer C ette 15n L

Kate B 16

HAPPY WORKIVERSARY WORKIVERSARY r ife nn Je F 9

Ka y Jill lee M ion Kr 1 P Ma isti C 1 Va ria D 2 ne s 2 sa G H De ail J 2 sa ra eW2 2

B ce ni Ja 7

Ta He ma at ra he F rJ 6

6

Leslie R 3 Marlou T 3 Charnelle W 3

Community Partnerships Thank you for supporting our mission to close the achievement gap by providing the most well-rounded program for Birth to three in Lawton

Thank you for supporting our goal to reach middle to high school students and provide worthwhile information about mental wellness.

The Wegener Foundation

founded the Wegener Herman and Mary Wegener Foundation in 1958. Thank you for providing funds to reach more youth with mental wellness resources to improve the quality of living and education for people and communities through the Oklahoma City metro and surrounding areas.

Thank you to the Kirkpatrick Foundation for donating to the EPIC Box program to provide students with mental wellness resources. Your work is felt throughout Oklahoma and we are thankful for your support.