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Meet Mari Rothman of Sonshine Haven in El Cajon

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari Rothman.

Mari, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 1991, a friend I walked with told me about the kids at the school she worked at who were “high risk” for not even graduating from fifth grade! The stories touched my heart! A short time later I had a meeting with the school nurse and principal of her school; a month later I was able to recruit five friends and started weekly meetings at Chase school where we taught life skills to 6 girls at a time for six weeks. We realized they needed so much more and began an after-school program called “Sonshine Club” and introduced them to Jesus, the one who’s love and forgiveness was the biggest thing we could ever teach them. At first, we handed out flyers and we would walk the kids to my husbands’ office and use his conference room. The attendance was so great we couldn’t shut the doors of the room and spill into the secretary’s space. Then friends started bringing clothes, shoes, and food for the kids and my husband, Michael had to jump across everything to get in his office. Two wonderful changes happened in the next weeks. First, we were given space by a local businessman to store the clothing, shoes, and food. Secondly, we were invited to hold Sonshine Clubs at the schools’ library! So many lives were changed that.

We started praying for another school and more kids to reach with the Lords love!! Club after club opened so that currently there are 41 clubs reaching approximately 1600 kids weekly and usually at least three volunteers at each school. The clubbers play games, then sing praise songs, followed by the Bible lesson and prayer time. A Bible verse is taught. Next, they play a fun review game and get prizes as well as a treat to take home! It is a busy and fun time.

We have a waiting list of 10 schools if we just had more volunteers!! You don’t have to be a teacher; just love the Lord and love kids!! You will be sooooo blessed!

Has it been a smooth road?
One of our greatest challenges is building big enough teams to cover if someone misses a week if they’re sick or going on vacation…we have a team of 6 for our first club which usually 75 children ages first thru fifth grade. Also, I hate to tell a school where we’ve been before that we don’t have a team for their school! It kills me!!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sonshine Haven story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in after-school Bible clubs usually held in the library or multi-purpose room on public school campuses. We don’t charge for anything we do. It,s a joy to have “life skill” classes during spring and summer vacations; also padre games and camp. I’m proud of all the 250 volunteers that help make this possible and our staff who work for small wages and do such a great job!! We have five part-time staff plus me and the Lord has always provided just enough! He’s taken care of all our needs!

We also choose some of our families to give Thanksgiving and all the fixings to..around 75 families! We literally pray those turkeys in! One year we were 40 turkeys short and were tempted to charge those 40 turkeys but stopped and prayed. Our next phone call was from a lady who used to be a part of a teaching team who said” can you use 40 turkeys? Our church people donated turkeys this Sunday and we have 40 extra and no place to keep them!” She even delivered to the Haven!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think as more people retire, we’ll be able to grow our volunteer base and expand our programs. I’m planning on retiring this year and already praying for where the Lord can use me in North Carolina. I’m not a “sitter” and know how fulfilling it is to be an instrument for the Lord to use. I think a lot of retirees will feel the same way. That is my hope and prayer for the Haven! I have a wonderful staff leader who has been working with me for 19 years who will be taking my leadership role….Dora Breuninger and she’s way better organized than me which is a big plus!!

Pricing:

  • Start new clubs-$100 per school
  • Thanksgiving Dinner in a Box – $60 per family
  • Christmas Gifts and Toys -$100 per child

Contact Info:

 

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