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Keeping up with RCS

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how to use RSS

how to use RSS

This is a PICTURE of the symbol for RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication.

That's just a fancy way of saying that you can get "Feeds" for this website delivered right to your mailbox or favorite reader. You have seen Feeds before even if you didn't realize it. Think of the news that streams along the bottom of the television screen when there is important news or severe weather that the station wants to keep you informed of without interrupting your program. That is a "feed". A continuous stream of updates.

A "Feed Reader" is very much like a mailbox where all the things you want to read, get delivered to you as soon as they are updated. But instead of you giving out your email address or having to bookmark all the things you want to read, they are delivered to you in one very convenient place.

Feed Readers are FREE and available through most ISP's and email providers like Google, Yahoo, AOL, etc. When you click the RSS icon, it will take you to a page where you can select where you want your updates to go. If you don't already have a "Feed Reader" setup, don't worry. When you choose the type of reader (for example Google), you will be redirected to a page where you can enter your account information OR setup a new account.

If you prefer to get your updates by email, just enter your email address in the space provided (above where you see the mail icon) and click subscribe.

You can also get just the comments updates. This works the same way as the RSS button.

What are you waiting for? Give it a try! Even if you don't want to use it, you'll at least know what it is when you see that symbol everywhere online.

Stories from Shelter Guests

“CK” came into the Shelter as a homeless single female. Our family Shelter was occupied at the time, however, that family was scheduled to depart later in that week.  “CK” indicated that she had left a living arrangement with a family member that was just not working out.  In addition, she had two sons who were in school here in Craven County and were staying with their father on a temporary basis.  He had remarried and could not provide a permanent residence for the boys.  When the family room became available, “CK” moved into the family room and her 2 sons also moved in with her.

The boys were able to stay in their assigned school and were excellent students there.  They both had above average grades and participated in extracurricular activities after school.   “CK” was initially working at a local restaurant, but was unable to attain significant work hours to produce enough income for her to obtain her own residence.  She would be scheduled for a full day shift, but then sent home if business was slow after only a couple of hours.  She stayed with this job steadfastly while looking for other employment.  Finally, after several months of looking and seeking, she was able to secure a full time job at a local retail store.  Based on her now having a steady and verifiable income, she was able to qualify for an “income based housing unit” in a newly built apartment complex.

The “K family” was able to have the safety net of the RCS Emergency Shelter to provide a place for them to stay for the time it took for them to get back on their feet and become self sufficient.  The family was blessed with an outpouring of donations for their new apartment through the efforts of a teacher who had taught both boys in prior years.  The family was assisted financially by one of the extracurricular groups the boys participated in.  The family received gifts at Christmas in the form of funds to be held in trust for their new apartment.  The “K family” was one of the pearls that we at RCS were blessed to find during our past year of service to the community.  “CK” wrote the following note after she and her sons were established in their new home:

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“There are many reasons why you might lose the ability to maintain a residence.   There is only one reason why we’re here:  we did.”

“In my case, on my way to RCS, I was at the end of a weak rope.  Many things had happened in my life, and I was not very hopeful.  When I got here I found food, clothing, shelter and a staff intent on helping me regain my footing, from personal counseling , information on community resources and job search tools, to financial aid and getting medication needed.”

“Though it is not easy in these economically challenged times, my faith in God sustains me.  With encouragement from RCS staff, I continue the search for any gainful employment, with a mind towards a brighter future.  I am truly thankful for this place and the people here.”

Jeff

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The Shelter Life by Misty

When I fihomeless shelter day roomrst went to the shelter and seen all these new faces around my kids I said to myself “Am I making the right decision for my kids?”  Me and my mom had a disagreement because I am 31 years old and I didn’t feel like I could abide her rules.  It was not only affecting me, but my kids also.  So the best thing I thought I could do was leave.  So when I got to the shelter people that I didn’t know was being very nice to me and my kids and I said to myself “OK, what do these people want from me?” and they wanted nothing but to help.  After about two weeks I finally stopped wanting to be to myself.  I needed someone to talk to but I didn’t trust nobody, but I met people and they made feel at home.  Ever since then I opened up my world to the people that was around me and that’s when I realized that everybody in there had a story of their own and some was worse than mine.  It didn’t make me feel happy that someone else was doing worse than I was but it gave me some understanding of why God put me there and he did it for a reason.  He was sitting me down to show me that I knew better, and the people that was there knew better.  Also it was just that sometime God puts you in a certain position to show you where you went wrong in the path that He has for you.  If it wasn’t for the shelter and Mr. Mike’s Bible study I don’t think I would be the way I am today.  I don’t think I could have made it through because you have all kinds of different personalities in the shelter life, but it’s all up to God and you to get where you need and want to be.  You know what’s best for you and the people that’s there are only trying to help you get to where you are trying to get.  I wish I could show everyone there how much they meant to me and my family.  The ones in the office that help us and is there for us when we need them and watch over us at night when we sleep.  The people that cook the nutritious food for not just us, but people off the streets that don’t have food, and all the volunteers, and mainly the good people in the main office that always greet you with a smile.

To the people that donate clothes and food to the shelter, please keep doing what you do because you just don’t realize how much you help and how many smiles and happy tears you make.  Thank you!

CONTACT RCS

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