Feburary 2024 Newsletter!

February 2024 Newsletter

As we look toward Spring, I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming events for CAST Students, particularly EPIC. Historically, EPIC has been an incredible weekend for our students and we are SO glad to be attending again this year. And, I am grateful for the unwavering support and generosity that make these events possible. It's through the collective effort and kindness of individuals that we're able to create enriching experiences for our students.

I encourage everyone to explore the serving opportunities available on the CAST website, as there's no better way to actively contribute to the vibrancy of our community. Additionally, be on the lookout for the CAST Blast Save the date, this year’s celebration will be a special one as we honor ECHS! Together, let's continue to make CAST events memorable and impactful experiences for all involved.

With gratitude,

Sonja White

Executive Director

CASTkids Updates!

Early College Award Ceremony

One of the best parts of being welcomed into so many different schools is being welcomed into the celebration of so many wonderful students! One of our recent CAST meetings at Early College was full of excitement as student after student walked in with awards showcasing their academic achievements on the Honor and Merit Roll. Our #CASTkids are rockstars both inside and out of the classroom and we could not be more proud of how hard each and every one of them works.

EPIC

We are stoked for EPIC 2024! This March we are taking 9 students, 5 girls and 4 boys to the EPIC Retreat. This is a weekend for our students to step back, have fun, and learn about the love Jesus has for each and every one of them. Jesus is the cornerstone for all that CAST does and to be able to spend a whole weekend sharing his love with students...we can only imagine the seeds that will be planted.

A huge thank you and virtual hug has to go out to everyone who so graciously donated towards our EPIC Fund over this past month! It is because of you finances will never stop a student from experiencing Jesus this month at camp.

It costs a total $135 to send a student to EPIC. If you would like to sponsor a student to attend please utilize the button below to make a donation.

Donate to the EPIC Scholarship

STEAMM Academy CAST

When January rolls around our #CASTkids move away from Christmas cookies and Christmas Jars and we jump head first into blanket making during our CAST meetings after school. This January our #CASTkids at STEAMM opted to donate their finished tie blankets to their school to benefit students and families within their own school community. Little did these students know just how needed these blankets would be that very weekend.

"The students did an awesome job working together to create these beautiful blankets. I was waiting to find just the right home with the family that would need them most. It was not long before I learned of a family who lost the heat in their home on one of the coldest weekends of the month. I was able to drop the blankets off at their house along with some food. The family was thrilled"-Linda Costello, STEAMM Academy CAST Advisor

No School Serve Day at the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank

Our most recent "No School- Serve" day was on Feburary 16th at the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank. During this time our #CASTkids helped to package 8,336 meals! Talk about an impressive morning for a small crew of students who opted to trade in a day off to make a tangible difference in their community.

This is no joke...our next "No School-Serve" day is April 1st at the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank from

1-3:30pm. If you would like to volunteer alongside this crew of students please click the button below to sign up with Taylor.

I would like to join the No School Serve Day!

Jackson Bear Hugs

Please consider supporting our community partner and their important work at this super-fun fundraiser taking plave this Saturday, March 2nd.

Habitat 2024!

Building alongside Habitat is something that we look forward to, time and time again! CAST is excited to announce that we will be participting in the 2024 Faith Build alongside Habitat for Humanity and local Churches! Stay tuned to our newsletter for more information to come in the following months.

Click here to read RippleFX's Newsletter!

Zaryiah's "Ripple Effect" in Aliquippa!

Last May we had an amazing opportunity to kick off our summer of service by taking a missions trip to Alliquippa, PA. During that time we had the opportunity to lend a hand and build a relationship with a sweet lady, Mrs. Annette. Zaryiah who is now one of our sophomore leaders in Early College High School had the opportunity to form a meaningful relationship with Mrs. Annette..so much so that when she returned home she started to fundraise, in hopes of purchasing and gifting her a new patio set of furniture. Our friends at RippleFX did a wonderful job highlighting Zaryiah and the 'Ripple Effect' of her big heart in a recent newsletter. We have linked that newsletter here...we encourage you to take a couple extra minutes to read RippleFX's newsletter and see just how God is moving through our students.