Under the direction of Barbie Doten, we are offering an opportunity one evening per month for parents of children with special needs to have a respite time with confidence that their child will be cared for in a safe and loving environment.  There is no fee, but registration is required (by contacting Barbie directly). This is open to the entire community, not just Woodridge Church. Here's a ministry report from our Respite Care Director:

Woodridge’s Respite Care has been a ministry that the church has offered since May 2008. God had been working on preparing people for this ministry for many years before it became a reality. By joining God in serving families of children with special needs, the volunteers have been blessed by loving these children and in seeing and hearing the thankfulness of their parents.

The Respite Care ministry provides one Friday per month from 6pm-9pm where families that have a child with special needs can bring that child, as well as siblings, to be cared for in a loving and safe environment. The parents then have the chance to relax, shop, go out on a date, or do projects during these 3 hours. The schedule during the respite care allows for play time, occasional crafts, and performances designed and put on by the children. Volunteers spend time coloring with the children, reading to them, or playing games with them. A lot of laughter can be heard in the halls of Woodridge during the evening. A curriculum has purposely not been provided, as these children have just completed a fairly structured week at school.  There are 6-7 families that bring their children each month. It is fun to see how these children have become ‘family’ for this one evening per month. One child that comes keeps track of who is there for the evening (volunteers and children), and goes through the list of those missing, wondering where they are.

As Jesus’ hands and feet in Medina, we are called to reach out to those in need and to be a community that cares for others.  Respite Care has been one of the ways in which our church has shown Christ’s love in our community.

Serving in this ministry can be done in a variety of ways, and new volunteers are welcome! There are volunteers who have chosen to serve each month, and others serve as their schedules allow. We have had volunteers also come for one evening to prepare and assist in a special craft. God has been faithful each month in providing the right amount of volunteers to the number of children that have signed up. We see this ratio of volunteers to children as a confirmation that God is at work in this ministry.

If you know of families from Woodridge or in our community that have a child with special needs, please encourage them to consider bringing their child to Respite Care.

If you are interested in helping out as a volunteer or would like to have your child/children come to Respite Care, please call Barbie Doten.

Contact Barbie Doten for future Respite Care dates at Woodridge.

E-mail Barbie or call her at 763.479.2486 for more information and to register.