Welcome Back to Fortress

Families wait in line to cash in their points for new school supplies.

It's back to school time in Texas! And y'all know what that means -- it's also Back 2 School Bash time at Fortress YDC! This year, Fortress opened its door and invited the whole neighborhood to come enjoy food and games on a hot summer evening last Friday, August 21st. We welcomed 200 people onto our block for a night of fun and celebration!

Kids were given activity cards that they had to complete by playing games, like digging for buried treasure and carefully (or not so carefully in this heat!) tossing water balloons, and fun things like dunking various Fortress staff members in the dunk tank, face painting, and taking pictures in the photo booth. There was also a scavenger hunt to identify the different staff members at Fortress, from the Big Boss (hint: Terri) to the only man on staff (hint: Ethan).

Each completed activity was worth points, and the points could be redeemed for school supplies, generously donated by Wells Fargo Dealer Services Fort Worth office, Legacy Church of Christ young professionals, The Hills Church singles group, Michele and Ed Newmeyer, Carrie Dressler, Connie Blaylock, and Leslie Cave. At the end of the night, all of the kiddos attending Fortress this year were also gifted with brand new backpacks full of grade-appropriate school supplies from the good folks at Lakeside Church of Christ so that they would be all set to start school the following Monday. Families were also given tickets when they signed in that they could exchange for all kinds of yummy things like sno-cones, Raising Cane's chicken fingers, pizza and popcorn. 

In addition to all the hard work by the dedicated Fortress staff, the event was a big success thanks to several volunteer groups. A HUGE thanks goes out to the Gary Patterson Foundation for underwriting the cost of the event, and to the many groups who took the time (and in some cases, made quite a drive!) to bring food and man our carnival-style food booths, including the youth groups from St. Jo, Decatur and Henrietta Churches of Christ, our friends at Wells Fargo, the always amazing grill master Spencer Thompson, our faithful friends Linda and Everett Hoover, Legacy young professionals, The Hills singles, our neighbors Mrs. Renfro's Salsa, the generous and friendly folks at Raising Cane's, and our 2015-16 team of Junior League Fort Worth volunteers who jumped right in to their first event of the year. We hope all of our friends and neighbors had as much fun as we did and that everyone's first day of school was a blast! Welcome back to Fortress Youth Development Center for another great year!

It was a gorgeous evening for an outdoor event!

Ta'Niya shows off her brand new backpack.

Jocelyn and her daughters, all Fortress students, posed for the photo booth

"I pray the lessons we learned . . . continue on well past today" by Cori Pequeno - lead intern Summer JAM 2015

This is it, we've reached the end of the summer. Reflecting back on the summer, it was one of transition, flexibility, and new and old friends. The 90 plus children that walked through the Fortress door this summer all felt the special touch that Summer JAM 2015 brought.

Fortress not only welcomed 90 plus children, but 11 or so youth groups from across Texas and Arkansas. The middle school and high school teens, sponsors, and youth ministers all brought their own offerings of self-sacrifice and love to our kids and staff this summer. They made impressions that will hopefully stay with our kids for years to come.

This summer we loved, we cried, we ministered, we thought, we listened. As Summer JAM reaches an official end today, I pray the lessons we learned and the love we all felt continues on well past today and into the school year. 

"I'm really glad I've been able to come here . . ." by Lauren Hampton - Highland Church of Christ

I really enjoyed this week because of how much the young kids got into every activity throughout the day. There was no judging or shying away from silly actions and that is something rarely found anywhere else. My little buddy Janyiah was really sweet and sassy when she opened up to me. She was also very flexible, as evidenced by her gymnastics display for the talent show. I'm really glad I've been able to come here for the past three years and wouldn't give up my experiences here for anything in the world. I hope to work with Fortress or an organization similar to it in the future.  `

"The smallest things can make all the difference . . ." by Darcy Todd - Woodland West Church of Christ

Out of all the trips I've been on this summer, Fortress definitely ranks first. My time here has been a very unique experience that has taught me many valuable lessons. I had three amazing buddies who made this week worth remembering. Working with all of the kids and having the urban experience has really opened my eyes to the real world. I am extremely lucky to have all that I do, and these kids deserve all the love and respect I can give them. They are extremely blessed to have such incredible staff members to run Fortress. The smallest things can make all the difference in these kids lives, even if it's just a few encouraging words. I never realized how much I had until I met these kids. And since God is the only thing that can never truly be taken away from them, Fortress is an immense blessing. It has been my privilege to work here and share the love of Christ with these kids.

"This is an experience I will never forget . . . " by Dustin Bentley - Gateway Church of Saline County

Words cannot describe the experience that I have had this week at Fortress. My kiddos were amazing! The first day was a little crazy because we were new people, but by the end of the day everyone was wanting to be with their buddy. The urban experience was nothing like I had imagined. The amount of people that were in a time of need really took me off guard. Another thing that took me off guard was how kind and giving someone with nothing could be. I witnessed a woman that was obviously very hungry, share a box of food and water with another person. It just makes you think how much we really have when we complain about having nothing. This is an experience I will never forget and I plan to come back again. 

"This trip really opened my eyes..." by Caleb Lony - Henrietta Church of Christ

My time at Fortress this summer was fantastic. I had so much fun getting to know my kid and some of the other kids. I came here really not knowing what to expect; however, now that I've done it and gone through the program, I see that it's more than what I expected. The staff was amazing and did a great job with the kids. I saw the connections they had with the kids and it was just incredible. I can't stress enough how much Dani and the Fortress staff do for these kids. It is really inspiring. Through urban experience, this trip really opened my eyes to other people's hardships and situations. It showed me that a simple water bottle or small conversation can go a long way.  It really made me appreciate what I have and inspired me to do more for those around me. Overall, I rate my experience a 10 out of 10. I will definitely be returning. 

"God is working through this program..." by Katie Anne - Westgate Church of Christ

My week at Fortress has been filled with unimaginable amounts of fun and blessings. I have learned so much not only through the kids but also through urban experience as well. While at times chaotic, these kids were so loving and sweet. God is working through this program in so many ways. My youth group and I are very thankful to have played a role at Fortress this summer. God bless!

"I believe that there are treasures only little children hold the key to." by Lindsey Froneberger - League Street Church of Christ

One thing I loved about Fortress is the amount of love being poured into the children that attend. As I sat and helped my buddy color her worksheet, I thought to myself: Have I ever been closer to Jesus than in this moment? And I don't think I have. I also felt like I was in the very middle of the heart of God. In the midst of the chaos of free time, there was a sense of quiet and serenity that I know only comes when Jesus is present. I believe that there are treasures that only little children hold the key to. I am thankful to Fortress for the opportunity they've given me to access these quiet and heavenly moments with His adored and wonderful children.

"...Fortress changes the lives of kids for the better." by Parker Pruitt - West Side Church of Christ

   People often say if they have a great new experience that it was life changing. Many people fail to realize though that every experience and action is life changing. Some actions may be as small as making a child laugh or helping him wash his hands. These small experiences are hopefully positive on both sides. There is pain and bad experiences in every life however. We realize that the children at Fortress have a difficult life ahead of them, but it is our goal, and Fortress' before us, to make it better even if it’s simply by making a kid smile.

     My buddy's name is Trent; he's a second grader this year and has been going to Fortress for at least a few years. I go around with him throughout the Fortress program and help him stay focused, sometimes a difficult task. Trent is one of the brightest people I've ever met. He's hilarious and makes up jokes that he finds especially funny. He's wild and he loves to run around and dance. A lot of the time he reminds me of how I used to be when I was his age.
     Another thing we do during the Fortress Summer program is go into the city of Fort Worth for urban experiences. The first urban experience I went on was the prayer drive where we visited many parts of the surrounding community and prayed for their specific struggles. The second day we gave out water bottles to the homeless that were on Lancaster Street. Some of them stopped to talk to us and tell us their story, while others seemed to be busy. All the water bottles we handed out were accepted graciously. Today I will be going on my third urban experience to buy and cook dinner. We will be allowed a small budget to buy food for ourselves and the rest of the youth group volunteers.
     There is no doubt in my mind that Fortress betters the lives of children in a thousand small ways. And a thousand good experiences are all life changing things; Fortress changes the lives of kids for the better.