Written by Derrica McDowell, PT Corps Member at Casa Linda UMC

One of the most surprising things that I have realized in the past few weeks as a PT Corps Member at Project Transformation is the effort that the clergy at Casa Linda UMC put into networking with the parents and extended family of the children in our program. In our first ever meeting with the staff of Casa Linda UMC during training week, they explained to us how they use Project Transformation and our Summer Program to bring people into their faith community and as a result, families grow closer to God. Going into this experience, I knew from the start what an impact this program has on the children it serves. However, I never made the connection between how bringing these children into a safe, nurturing environment, it would in return engage their families in a faith-based support system that benefits both the child and the parents even beyond the Summer Program!