Community Leadership & Development, Inc. (CLDI) seeks to foster transformation and redevelopment in the South Side, Billings’ oldest and most marginalized neighborhood. As part of this effort, our CLDI staff have invested in this community as residents of the South Side to love God, love our neighbors, and raise our families.
For the past seven years, CLDI has facilitated a project called the South Side Christmas Store, an effort to both serve and empower the South Billings community. Six years ago, CLDI partnered with Orchard Elementary School (located in the heart of the South Side) to serve their students and families during the holiday season. Recent data shows that over 90% of the student population of Orchard is at or below the poverty line, thus, 100% of the students are eligible for ‘free’ breakfast and lunch. It is in serving these families that we seek to offer a dignified means for parents to purchase gifts for their children this Christmas season. Through our work we have found that it is a great benefit and far more empowering to assist families in providing for their own needs as opposed to a traditional handout.
Last year we served approximately 400 families, received over $12,000 in donated items that were in turn sold at a fraction of the cost to best support and serve our Orchard families. Leftover items were then used to bless our partner organizations in their ministry efforts. Last year the store grossed over $3,000, providing funds to meet additional needs of Orchard families, as well as provide scholarships for CLDI to send at-risk youth to Young Life camp. Will you consider being involved in one or all of the following ways?
Ways for YOU to Be Involved – CLDI Needs…
* NEW GIFTS (any gift that you think an elementary age student would like – crafts, games, sports equipment, etc.) or MONEY to for us to buy gifts for our Christmas Store
* businesses and churches willing to HOST A GIFT DONATION BOX on their location (CLDI will provide the box and pick gifts up on a regular basis)
*VOLUNTEER to work the store (Saturday, December 3rd, 2016)
*lastly, we need for you to GET THE WORD OUT!
*Gifts must be received NO LATER than Tuesday, November 29th (gifts can be dropped off at Orchard Elementary – 120 Jackson Street, at our office – 109 ½ S. 32nd Street, or arrangements can be made for a pick up)
*Financial gifts can be made to CLDI (Memo: X-Mas) and mailed to our PO Box (gifts are tax-deductible)
Your support and involvement is greatly appreciated! Please call or email our Youth Works Staff if you are willing to help. Thank you for your consideration.
Drew Thompson: 406.366.3886; drew@cldibillings.org
Kaylee Bradford: 971.570.4276; kaylee@cldibillings.org
