SERVICE
Sisters in Service
By Alyssa Miles
E
agle Child Development Center in Parkers Lake, Kentucky is dedicated to serving children—an integral piece of the CAP mission. Tucked out past the Cumberland Falls, Eagle is located on a beautiful piece of land. Even more beautiful are the women who make the center a possibility: Manager Brinda Campbell; Child Care Workers Sharon Patrick, Andrea Warman, and Phyllis Ridner; Cook Donna Ridenour; and CAP Volunteer Kate Biegner. For women who have been unable to see their own worth in the past, the center has meant so much more to them than a place to get a paycheck. Brinda, manager of the program, has had the privilege of seeing each of these women reach her potential through working at the center. When asked how CAP has impacted her life, each woman was able to agree on one key element: empowerment. Sharon shared that prior to working at Eagle she was struggling both financially and emotionally, and dealing with a lot of issues with which she wasn’t ready to cope. “When I had my breakdown, Brinda was there,” Sharon shared as she and Brinda held a momentary knowing glance. “Once she was directed to the right help, [Sharon] realized she was a lot stronger than she thought,” Brinda explained. “I think the breakdown empowered her to reach for help and realize she could handle this.” Andrea, whose daughter now attends the center, is very familiar with Eagle, as she attended preschool there as a child. When she was younger, Andrea said that she always wanted to work there, and now she has achieved that dream. Aside from working with the children, she is also going to school to become a preschool teacher. Brinda
noted that she sees Andrea empowered to be a wonderful mother to her little girl, using the childcare techniques she learned at the center. Being an employee at the CAP center has helped the women with more than just career goals. Phyllis was going through a personal tragedy three months into her tenure at Eagle when her son was killed in a drunk driving accident. She referred to her colleagues at the time as her family, helping her get through this horrific event. “God brought us all here for a reason,” she said with a smile. Brinda encouraged Phyllis, saying she could tell that Phyllis had much greater confidence now, and she was proud of her. “That’s why it’s the perfect place to work. We could find jobs anywhere, but you can’t find a job like this,” said Phyllis.
When asked how CAP has impacted her life, each woman was able to agree on one key element: empowerment. After speaking of each of these women, Brinda glowed with the pride of a mother seeing her children overcome major challenges. Of Donna, Brinda shared that Eagle is what built her trust in people. Donna confirmed, saying that it has helped immensely in building her confidence and self-esteem. She is now able to instill these in her daughter, CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | FALL 2013
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