Can you believe another month has passed us by? So far, to date, we have introduced two of our many stellar USA office volunteers. This month, we would like to highlight another one of our amazing volunteers. Our volunteers often assist us with various tasks and projects in the office as well as joining us at various events and conferences. They have such a servant’s heart and always come prepared and willing to help.  Thank you to all those who have volunteered for ZOE!  Our heart is that as you read this article, there will be a tug in your heart to have the desire to use the skills and talents that are within you, whether it be for our organization or for another wonderful organization.  Those skills and talents were place inside of you for a purpose!

Name: Vicki

How did you find out about ZOE?
My friend, Sharon and I went to a Human Trafficking Awareness conference at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA and we wanted to do something to help, to get involved.  Sharon searched for someplace to get connected but could not find something local.  Then she heard a spot about ZOE on KKLA.  She told me about it and the rest is history, as they say!

What made you want to volunteer?
I wanted to volunteer because I had a heart that wanted to be obedient to God.  This is an atrocity that breaks the heart of God and I believe He wanted me to respond

How long have you volunteered at ZOE?
13 months as of April 2012

What type of tasks do you do at ZOE?
Short Term Missions booklets-printing and preparing for binding, various mailings, brochure stuffing, Kids Helping Kids packets, inventory of paper/brochure items, filing and assisting at the ZOE booth at an event.

Tell us about your overall experience in the office?
It is a joy to be with the staff.  Everyone is so kind and very appreciative.  I am so impressed with the integrity of the organization as a whole.  Everything is done with love and the utmost attention to detail.  As volunteers, we are treated with respect and really as a family!  It feel honored to be a part of the ZOE family.

Have you learned anything new while volunteering?
The atrocity of trafficking children and adults breaks the heart of Almighty God.  His hand is with ZOE in provision and mighty power to address this abomination.  I have learned that this is rampant and serious than I ever dared to think.  I have learned that there is a handful of precious saints with a deep passion to help those who can’t help themselves.  They are precious to God, as are the children they are helping. 

145 million orphans on the earth today!  True and undefined religion is this, to visit the widow and orphan in their distress.  Hundreds will gather on May 2nd and 3rd at Saddleback Church for the annual Orphan summit put on by Chirsitian Alliance for Orphans. Attendees come from all over the world to share, learn and mobilize the church to answer the call to care for the orphan. 

ZOE’s own Michael and Carol Hart will be sharing at one of the workshops at this years conference.  Those who attend their workshop will learn how human trafficking and modern slavery are both cause and effect of the global orphan crisis, and what can be done about it. The Harts will join a panel of orphan care leaders engaged in working to protect and liberate orphans from trafficking.

An attendee from last year’s summit shared the following:

“Being with people whose hearts are lit up for Christ and the fatherless is amazing. They glow with warmth and light. So being with 1,500+ such people from 46 states and 7 countries in 1 place for 2+ intense days…well, it’s breathtaking.”

If you are interested in being a part of this gathering in Southern California, CLICK HERE to visit the Orphan Summit website.

As Americans continue to face challenging economic circumstances, stories of corporate greed and injustice seem to dominate the media. This, however, is not one of those stories. This is the story of corporate generosity and social responsibility, wherein two successful business partners team with their employees to extend much needed help to children.

Current ZOE Children's Home on the right. New boys home will be on the same property to the left.

Ron Regenstreif and Michael Goldstone, co-owners of Regency Lighting, a nationwide business based in Chatsworth, CA, built their business on ideas of integrity and honoring relationships. Their steadfast commitment to these ideas has garnered them success, as they now operate 78 locations nationwide. In conjunction with “honoring relationships,” Regenstreif and Goldstone believe that business owners hold a social responsibility to those less fortunate, and they contribute a sizeable portion of their annual profits to those in need. Regenstreif was searching for their next philanthropic endeavor when Vickie McCoy, Regenstreif’s and Goldstone’s long-time employee, returned from a trip to ZOE Children’s Homes in Thailand and reported ZOE’s need for additional housing for rescued boys. Without hesitation, Regency Lighting committed to funding the project.

ZOE Children’s Homes is a Santa Clarita, CA based non-profit organization that cares for orphans and rescues children from human trafficking. Currently, ZOE’s work is focused in Thailand, a region where human trafficking crimes are prevalent. Once children are under ZOE’s care, ZOE remains responsible for them through adulthood by providing a safe and loving home community. Currently, boys and girls are housed on separate levels of the same building at ZOE. However, because there has recently been an increase in the number of boys being rescued, the ZOE staff believes building a separate, 9,000 square-foot home for the boys would not only ensure the healthiest possible living environment for everyone, but it would also provide more space for ZOE to rescue more children. Upon hearing of this need, Regency’s executive team authorized McCoy to commit Regency Lighting to funding the $250,000 project and to extend the effort to Regency Lighting employees as well.

McCoy and committee have since organized fundraisers, whereby Regency Lighting provides supplies and their staff makes donations for events such as Root Beer Float Fridays. McCoy’s next project allows staff and other ZOE supporters to fund the facility by donating $27 per square-foot.  If you’d like to join Regency Lighting by purchasing a square foot of the boys’ home or by becoming a ZOE supporter, visit www.zoechildren.org.

THANK YOU REGENCY LIGHTING!