I graduated from Rockford High School (RHS) in 1981. A beautiful small town with hardworking, great people. The school system had students from Rockford, Greenfield, Corcoran, and many of the other surrounding communities. Like many who have come from this area I have always had pride in my heart for my hometown. I always hoped that I could find a meaningful way to give back to the community that gave so much to me. I have literally watched so many people coming out of the Rockford School system become very successful with their families, careers, and faith. It is still an amazing place to be.

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The Rockford Area Breakfast Club (RABC) project has been inspired by many things, over many years. RABC was founded in 2023 with a simple goal – to create a space for area youth to start their day with a meal and a faith- based message. Today’s youth are facing so many issues inside and outside of school. Personally, my parents were divorced when I was at a young age. Gordy Schmidt, one of my teachers and my wrestling coach helped so many kids. For me, what really made a difference was that he would say a prayer at practice or before matches and he did a simple thing, he looked at my report card. That seed of faith was planted and has inspired me and guided me to this day.

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Another major inspiration for the project was the STMA Breakfast Club; an amazing story of how it was founded by Jake and Christy Vanada. Living in St. Michael, I had heard a lot about the breakfast club. I first realized the impact the Breakfast Club had on the community when a close friend’s daughter tragically died in a car accident. When I watched how the kid’s from the Breakfast Club helped the grieving family and community, the silent impact the Breakfast Club had on them was evident. I decided then that I wanted to help start a similar breakfast club in Rockford.

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I was introduced to Chad & Melonie Robran of Rockford. Chad went through similar struggles as a teenager but always relied on his faith to bring him through each challenge. He and Melonie are already actively helping kids hear the word of Jesus and have fully partnered with us on this project. Meeting Chad and Melonie was a blessing to the project.

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We simply love this opportunity that God has provided and hope you can join us. We believe planting a small seed of Jesus in a kid’s heart will not only help them through school, but the rest of their lives will be impacted.   

 

 - Steve & Saysong Berhow               

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