In a land not so far away, known as the grand state of Illinois, where the mighty Mississippi River dances with the sunlight and the iconic city of Chicago sings a song of hustle and bustle, there lies an extraordinary group of kiddos. They're not your ordinary bunch, oh no! They are the Reading Rangers of Illinois, the heroes of the storybooks, the conquerors of words! These Reading Rangers have an insatiable curiosity and an unstoppable imagination that can journey through realms of fantasy, adventure, and mystery without leaving home. Each day, they embark on an adventurous quest, armed with words, sentences, and paragraphs. They dive into books in the bustling libraries of Chicago, in the calm corners of Springfield, and even under the vast starry skies of Shawnee National Forest. Leading this brave group is our cool, imaginary character, outspoken and mischievous BookBug, a talking bookmark with spectacles as thick as the Chicago-style pizza, and a cape as long as the Mississippi River! BookBug, with his knack for turning pages and spinning stories, navigates the Reading Rangers through the jungle of alphabets, rescues them from the quicksand of confusion, and fights off the dreaded monster called Boredom. Each day, BookBug and the Reading Rangers laugh in the face of the impossible words, wrestle with tricky phrases, and make friends with letters big and small. They solve riddles, crack codes, and unlock secrets hidden among the pages, all while having a bellyful of laughs. In Illinois, reading is not just an activity, it's a roller coaster ride of fun, and the Reading Rangers are the most fearless riders!
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IN 2001, THE LORD BEGAN TO MOVE IN ORDER TO MAKE A DREAM BECOME REALITY. AN OPPORTUNITY AROSE FOR A MINISTRY TO PURCHASE A PARTICULAR PIECE OF LAND OWNED BY THE DUPONT CORPORATION. THIS FORMER DUPONT POWDER PLANT SAT ON APPROXIMATELY 1,200 ACRES OF LAND NEAR GARDENDALE, ALABAMA. IN SPITE OF SKEPTICISM FROM PEOPLE, GOD HAD PLANS FOR THIS LAND. IN 2008, THE MINISTRY WAS BLESSED WITH THE FULL 1,200 ACRES OF LAND AND IT IS NOW KNOWN AS CORNERSTONE RANCH. At Cornerstone Ranch, God was faithful and true to His purpose. Starting in 2001, He began to move and create an opportunity for a dream to become a reality. The Dupont Corporation owned a former powder plant which sat on 1,200 acres of land near Gardendale, Alabama. Despite people's skepticism, God had His own plan for the property. In 2008, the ministry was blessed with the full 1,200 acres and with God's grace, the dream became a reality. Cornerstone Ranch stands as a testament to God's faithfulness and grace.
At Northbrook Community Synagogue, we are committed to the emotional, physical, and spiritual health and comfort of our entire community. We strive to provide a warm and welcoming environment for all Jews regardless of affiliation, commitment, or background. Our synagogue is dedicated to our youth and teen programming, as well as providing education for all ages, and we value enriching the lives of the elderly, home-bound, and those with physical and developmental challenges. We also proudly stand with Israel and make it a priority to support the Jewish state.
The Friendship Circle goes beyond providing a service and becomes an extended family for those involved. Not only do the children benefit from the relationships they build with the volunteers, but the teenagers also grow from the experience. They learn to appreciate life's challenges, how to accept and appreciate those who are different, and how to approach life with a positive attitude. Through this organization, both the children and their families are able to find understanding, acceptance, and joy.