Carrollton Leader > News
Giving a CARE provides real home for all
By J. David Barron
Amidst the tsunami of overwhelmingly depressing news of late -- slumlords waiting weeks to fix their residents' AC problems despite potentially fatal consequences ("Who cares," they say), belligerent politicos dissing one another with slang that includes every word but "homey," suspects pursued upon being spied trying to stuff a corpse into a SUV, husbands killing wives and wives ka-powing! back at husbands, and, perhaps most distressing of all, Big Brother not-so-subtly infringing upon our dearest inalienable civil liberty of all -- the right to be wrong and stupid as often as we please (Big Gulp, anyone?) -- comes a ray of real sunshine. Or is that Sonshine?
It ain't a pigmy with a flashlight.
You may no longer be able to choose whether or not you want to insure yourself medically, but you can still choose to make a difference right where the rubber meets the road. Introducing CARES by Apartment Life, as unique a take there is on a concept as old as Deuteronomy. It's called treating your neighbor like you want them to treat you. And in return, you can get your apartment rent paid.
Or, as caresteam.org puts it, "You provide the heart, we'll provide the apartment."
DFW-area Pastor Stan Dobbs and Christian businessman Paul Schultheis, from Phoenix way, began sharing a vision in the spring of 2000 to foster a sense of what they determined real community should be all about. Dobbs and Schultheis opined community meant having neighbors who care, especially evident whenever life fires a curveball and a helping hand and/or listening ear is sorely needed.
Dobbs and Schultheis concluded community also meant fostering relationships, underscored by people who rolled out the "Welcome Wagon" to new neighbors as they moved in next door or down the block, or hall.
The two visionaries also fancied community meant enjoying being around your neighbors. And, Viola! With those prerequisites, the vision gave birth. As a result, the baby is an on-site CARES Team all over apartment communities with one coming near you.
The primary function of each local CARES Team is to plan social events that connect neighbors with one another and to help join like-minded residents. And it's the CARES Team that is rewarded a free apartment in return for spearheading the movement to make an apartment complex a community of friends who share a sincere sense of neighborhood.
All you have to do is give a rip. Well, you are required to do it while committing to serve at least two years, have three years work experience or a college degree, pony up a small monthly financial investment to help underwrite the non-profit operation, and have a couple of other foundational prerequisites in order. In doing so, qualifying couples or families (or two single adults) are also expected to devote an average of 15 hours a week as the CARES Team. Those 15 hours are generally spent welcoming new residents, planning social functions, hosting community events, and serving residents when they need it the most.
North Dallas dwellers Zack and Melanie Binns were newlyweds who one day woke up relocated to new jobs in the area. Melanie said CARES provided just the tonic for what they wanted.
"When we started we both had the desire to serve and love our neighbors as a married couple," Melanie related. "And CARES provided the perfect venue for us to do just that.
"We in no way anticipated the depth to which our lives would intertwine with the people we live around," she continued. "We've attended high school graduations and given countless rides to school. We've also been on the receiving end of some delicious BBQ that our neighbor-friend brought over because he knew we'd enjoy it!
"The CARES program is about doing life together and creating a community atmosphere," Melanie added. "The CARES program has changed our lives, and I don't think we'll ever be the same. When we move on from where we're serving as a CARES team right now, we know we will carry the lifestyle we've lived here on to our next apartment or neighborhood."
So, there you have it. According to at least one testimony, CARES is good for everyone! What a concept.
Right now, the CARES program operates in about 20 major cities. None are further north than Flagstaff, Ariz., except Denver and Colorado Springs, though plans are to expand all the way up the Eastern Seaboard and in most of the major cities in the Midwest. Sometime in the near future, Seattle, Sacramento, San Jose and San Fran should be up and running way out there in left field. In addition to the Metroplex, CARES is currently available in San Antonio, Houston and Austin for its Lone Star bases.
Which means it's available right now for you, if perhaps you feel the call and may have the need.
Go ahead. Give us some good news. It's a choice we can all live with.
J. David Barron is a staff columnist for Star Community Newspapers. Reach him at dbarron@starlocalnews.com
It ain't a pigmy with a flashlight.
You may no longer be able to choose whether or not you want to insure yourself medically, but you can still choose to make a difference right where the rubber meets the road. Introducing CARES by Apartment Life, as unique a take there is on a concept as old as Deuteronomy. It's called treating your neighbor like you want them to treat you. And in return, you can get your apartment rent paid.
Or, as caresteam.org puts it, "You provide the heart, we'll provide the apartment."
DFW-area Pastor Stan Dobbs and Christian businessman Paul Schultheis, from Phoenix way, began sharing a vision in the spring of 2000 to foster a sense of what they determined real community should be all about. Dobbs and Schultheis opined community meant having neighbors who care, especially evident whenever life fires a curveball and a helping hand and/or listening ear is sorely needed.
Dobbs and Schultheis concluded community also meant fostering relationships, underscored by people who rolled out the "Welcome Wagon" to new neighbors as they moved in next door or down the block, or hall.
The two visionaries also fancied community meant enjoying being around your neighbors. And, Viola! With those prerequisites, the vision gave birth. As a result, the baby is an on-site CARES Team all over apartment communities with one coming near you.
The primary function of each local CARES Team is to plan social events that connect neighbors with one another and to help join like-minded residents. And it's the CARES Team that is rewarded a free apartment in return for spearheading the movement to make an apartment complex a community of friends who share a sincere sense of neighborhood.
All you have to do is give a rip. Well, you are required to do it while committing to serve at least two years, have three years work experience or a college degree, pony up a small monthly financial investment to help underwrite the non-profit operation, and have a couple of other foundational prerequisites in order. In doing so, qualifying couples or families (or two single adults) are also expected to devote an average of 15 hours a week as the CARES Team. Those 15 hours are generally spent welcoming new residents, planning social functions, hosting community events, and serving residents when they need it the most.
North Dallas dwellers Zack and Melanie Binns were newlyweds who one day woke up relocated to new jobs in the area. Melanie said CARES provided just the tonic for what they wanted.
"When we started we both had the desire to serve and love our neighbors as a married couple," Melanie related. "And CARES provided the perfect venue for us to do just that.
"We in no way anticipated the depth to which our lives would intertwine with the people we live around," she continued. "We've attended high school graduations and given countless rides to school. We've also been on the receiving end of some delicious BBQ that our neighbor-friend brought over because he knew we'd enjoy it!
"The CARES program is about doing life together and creating a community atmosphere," Melanie added. "The CARES program has changed our lives, and I don't think we'll ever be the same. When we move on from where we're serving as a CARES team right now, we know we will carry the lifestyle we've lived here on to our next apartment or neighborhood."
So, there you have it. According to at least one testimony, CARES is good for everyone! What a concept.
Right now, the CARES program operates in about 20 major cities. None are further north than Flagstaff, Ariz., except Denver and Colorado Springs, though plans are to expand all the way up the Eastern Seaboard and in most of the major cities in the Midwest. Sometime in the near future, Seattle, Sacramento, San Jose and San Fran should be up and running way out there in left field. In addition to the Metroplex, CARES is currently available in San Antonio, Houston and Austin for its Lone Star bases.
Which means it's available right now for you, if perhaps you feel the call and may have the need.
Go ahead. Give us some good news. It's a choice we can all live with.
J. David Barron is a staff columnist for Star Community Newspapers. Reach him at dbarron@starlocalnews.com
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