Christy Sheena (22:36)
with the most was most recently. 2020 was obviously a challenge, but that was another one where I felt like back when I first started, like I just got this energy and this power to say, I'm not gonna let this beat me. We're gonna beat it. And we did. And we were so successful during. We held nine outdoor sports programs. It was challenging. You know, every kid had a basketball or football that matched their jersey number. So that. And they had a. The families didn't get any respite because they came, became their child's playing partner. Instead of having flag football, we did like, you know, an NFL combine, you know, like our own combine program. And they showed off their skills and we did virtual and we did have one class that was face to face through it all. But that was where I really felt the Lord energize me. But the biggest challenge I had coming up on the two year anniversary was in May of 2024. I got a phone call from at the time the maintenance director here at South Lake. So I'm in a former elementary school in South Lake Schools and had been closed for 10 years and became a nonprofit center in 2017. And I was blessed with this opportunity to move here and it really turned kids on the go from what we were just a summer program to a full year academic year program, outdoor space, you know, classrooms, expansion opportunities. And really just a blessing to the organization. It's such a big growth time for us. So now fast forward 2024, I get the call that the building's being sold. And we had always been told that we'll never sell it. You know, it's never going anywhere, you're fine. You know, our contracts were always, you know, renewable. This is kind of this whatever. So really take. I mean I really fell on my knees, I mean literally fell on my knees in tears that day because I had that burden. I get emotional. All those families, what am I gonna do? Where am I gonna go? And lots of ups and downs. And we were told in November it was gonna be torn down. And then In January of 25, United Way said they were gonna save the day and they're gonna take over the building. Cause it needed a new roof and there was no funds to put a roof on the building without kids in the, in the building anymore. So they made a commitment, and then they backed out in May of 2025. May is an interesting year here, a month here. And went through a lot and really was trying to work with the board, the school board, and saying, how can we. What's this business plan? Can we. You know, their superintendents, they're running schools, are not into this business model of what I was looking at and thought we could make a go of it. And just last November, they notified me that they could not keep the building going, that it's. Not only does it need a roof, the hot water's not working in the building. And then I needed to make other plans and that they would renew my lease through August of this year. So started, you know, a capital campaign, a lot of prayer, more ups and downs as it goes, and a challenge here in the. In the. In Detroit. You might know the Archdiocese of Detroit's in a restructuring. There's a lot of great places around me that are perfect, but the archdiocese said no leases right now. So there's spaces with classrooms and gymnasiums that I can't even go into. And I've been called, but I'll give you this much money, because my colleagues and I remember touring the one when this all first happened, thinking how perfect would it be to be in God's house and to run our program and have this one pastor said, I would love to have a center of the corporal works of mercy. And he's got blessings in a backpack and all of this. And. And then they said. And then he said to me, while I'm retiring, and you know what happens when a priest retires? There's no guarantee, you know, this parish is going to stay open. And then with the restructuring, so that was kind of eliminated as every other. I think I must have looked at 30 different sites and not just Catholic churches, but the answer was just no, no. And found a commercial property, which was not my first place to go because there's no green space and the cost. And then I thought I had a large donor. And then that door closed. And I called my board chair, who's very strong in his faith, and said, tony, I don't know what to do. I said, is this God telling me he's closing the door? Is this the time? Does it run its course? Do we look at phasing this out? And he said, no, Christy. And he said, you go knock on another door. And I immediately thought of Father Solanus because he actually woke my grandfather up from a coma. So he is a special person in my heart. And the next morning, my friend Craig from the Catholic Initiative had mailed me a sticker of Father Solanus for my computer. And I opened up my computer with kind of like, all right, let's go open doors. And the first. And he's on my computer right now is Father Solanus. So I've adopted him as my patron saint for this next chapter, as we're calling it, for kids on the go. And another beautiful thing happened. So that door closed, and I met with a local Catholic family foundation, and I reached out and said, I'd like to, you know, tell you a little bit about what's going on with kids on the go. And. And I know you do a lot already for the Catholic nonprofits around us, so you. Sometimes you don't want to knock on their doors too many, right? Too many times. So he had me come in, and we sat down, talk for an hour. And I love when I can talk about my faith journey through all of this. And at the end of the conversation, he said to me, christy, we'd like to be your top donor. And I felt like the story is starting to be told again. And that door opened, and he's. This family is a part of this story now. And that going back to use the word hope in your opening. For the first two years, my word was hope, and I kind of tied it with what our, you know, our archdiocese have been practicing in the Year of Hope and Year of Hope Jubilee Year. And this year, my word turned to trust, and really trying to trust in his plan for kids on the go, and also trying to decipher again, like, what I said, Was this the time to be done with this, or am I supposed to keep going and, you know, lord, open the door if I'm supposed to keep this going. And he did. So it's given me a lot lighter feeling, you know, I think it's a great story to tell people who are really doubting, you know, and trusting. Trusting, as we know, is so hard to do. It's so hard to do. So I actually talked to that donor today. He called to check in on things, and I told him it's gonna be on here. And I told him, I said, you're part of my story. You're part of this. This new beginning and this future and hopefully generations to come.