Q1 Report - An Update from CAC

April 28, 2024

Greetings, Friends of CAC!

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” From ice storms and frozen streets to the arrival of Spring, we remain excited to serve the youth of the Metro East St. Louis community.  On the first day of Spring, our junior entrepreneurs planted new peach and cherry trees in the CAC orchard. The trees were purchased by the funds they raised through their snack shop, with a goal to reinvest in their community. Teaching entrepreneurial skills is one of the many facets of our after-school program.

The need for after-school programs such as the Christian Activity Center remain vital in this ever-changing world. Our goal is to remain a beacon of hope in our community, provide safe and inclusive spaces where youth can be loved, and equip them to be valuable contributors in their communities and beyond.  We can do this work because of you, our prayer partners and financial supporters. 

The first quarter began with a monumental blessing from one of our steadfast supporters: Metro East Industries, which is in East St. Louis.  Their annual Christmas drive for CAC raised over $85,000, which helps fund our mission to broaden the horizons of our youth.

Another core highlight of the first quarter: two of our teens were able to travel abroad to Africa and visit the beautiful culture of Zanzibar, Tanzania.  Viontre and My’Kia were very excited for the opportunity and were overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery and people. The cultural exchange was indeed a great experience for both of them!

Spiritual development is another pillar of our program.  Every Thursday, Miss Lucy and her team of volunteers provide spiritual nourishment along with home delicacies and treats to the delight of our girls.  We are thankful for their dedication in sharing God’s Word and firmly believe there is a connection between biblical truths and social emotional learning. Several of our alumni have mentioned how invaluable the biblical foundation and social emotional learning provided through the CAC has been towards their overall development. One in particular is Monteesha. 

Three years ago Monteesha was piloting a plane with Wings of Hope, six years ago she was teaching dance in Panama, and seven years ago she was serving in Costa Rica - all before graduating high school.  Two years later, she is a sophomore in college and working as a customer service representative at Alaska Airlines! We could not be more proud of her!

Our vision is simple: healthy alumni transforming their communities! We have so many accomplished alumni who are doing great work in their communities. In the coming months we look forward to sharing more of their stories – keep an eye on our social media channels and your inbox!

Stories such as Monteesha’s assure us that our labor is not in vain. We (and I say “we” because it includes you!) are making a difference.  This summer we aim to increase staff, enroll more youth, and provide a lasting experience.  Field trips, swimming, media exposure, aviation, agriculture and more await our youth. Hard to believe that it’s just around the corner!

Be on the look out for information regarding the CAC annual golf tournament, quarterly CAC Tour & Tea, and other development opportunities – and please know that if you are interested in volunteering, you can send a note  to volunteer@cacesl.org for more information.

We say it often, but never enough – thank you for all that you do to support CAC! I hope that this report offered a small glimpse into the impact of your prayer and financial support. As you walk alongside us, know that you are changing the lives of an entire generation!

Dr. Jeffrey Williams

Executive Director