Author Archives: Amy Zuck

Christian Opportunity Center (COC) offers services to over 200 people with disabilities, supporting them in living, working, and worshiping in the communities of their choice. COC cannot do this alone. COC partners with many local employers, churches, and organizations to help the people COC supports reach their full potential. The Knights of Columbus (KoC) is one organization whose support has allowed COC to further its mission for several years. 

The Pella KoC has been a champion for people with disabilities for the past 24 years. The Pella KoC recently held its annual Campaign for Individuals with Disabilities (CID). The CID starts with the famous tootsie roll drive, but for the 2nd year in a row, the Pella Knights of Columbus took a unique approach to expand their efforts by hosting the very successful Pellathon Variety show, meeting their goal of raising $60,000 for individuals with disabilities in the Pella area.  

Last week the Pella KoC offered donations to the Pella Community Schools Special Education programs, Pella Christian Schools Special Education programs, Iowa Special Olympics, 818/Forward with Faith, and Dollars For Scholars. The Knights also blessed Christian Opportunity Center with a donation of $34,221, the largest KoC donation to COC.  

“The Knights of Columbus in Pella held an extraordinary fundraiser in support of people with disabilities in Pella. Their generous donation will enable COC to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to provide transportation in the Pella community,” said John Eilers, COC Executive Director. COC is thankful to the Pella Knights of Columbus, along with all our community partners, for their ongoing support of individuals with disabilities and for continuing to support the mission of COC.

For more information on the Pella Knights of Columbus, visit http://iowakofc.org/ or connect with Pella Knights of Columbus #12334 on Facebook.

Christian Opportunity Center (COC) proudly announces that Tina Comstock has accepted the position of Spiritual Services Facilitator. COC’s Spiritual Services program works with people with disabilities and the COC staff as a resource to help them grow in their faith. Participation in the Spiritual Services program is voluntary for staff and the people COC supports. The Spiritual Services Facilitator is also available to offer guidance and comfort to the COC community in times of crisis and personal need.

Comstock began her journey with COC in 1998 in Oskaloosa when she worked in COC’s former Facility-Based Employment program. She left COC to raise her two children and run a daycare business in Oskaloosa. During her time away from COC she also worked at the Nazarene Church in Oskaloosa, gaining valuable experience in church operations and youth ministries.

In 2016, Comstock returned to COC to work in the Life Skills program, first in Pella and then in Oskaloosa, until recently, when she accepted the Spiritual Service Facilitator position. Some of Comstock’s new duties will include encouraging spiritual growth and facilitating church attendance for people supported that desire it, leading spiritual retreats for staff and people supported, and helping the Friendship Ministries Bible Study groups. These Bible studies are held in local churches and offer times of fellowship, learning, and participation for people with disabilities. 

When asked about what she looks forward to in her new position, she said, “I am looking forward to getting out there and meeting with people and local churches.” She continued,“I want to help staff and the people we support to experience how close and approachable our God is.”

Comstock lives in Oskaloosa with her husband Jason and their two dogs, Hemi and Dempsy. Together they have two children, Jarod (21) and Jana (19). Both children also live in Oskaloosa.

Christian Opportunity Center (COC) selected Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School’s Carson Setter as the 2022 Sarah M. Braun Memorial Scholarship recipient.

Named in honor of the late daughter of former COC Executive Director Rod Braun and his wife Robin, a current COC employee. This scholarship is made possible by the COC Foundation Fund. The $1,000 scholarship is presented to a high school senior pursuing an academic focus in human services.

Setter plans to major in Psychology at Wartburg College beginning in the fall of 2022, pursuing a future in human services. He hopes to break the mental health stigma and make mental health care more accessible. Carson says, “I hope to be able to be a voice for those who can’t be heard. I want to be an ear for those who feel they are unheard. I want to be able to be a person who can make a difference in this world. I want to be able to use my time to help benefit those around me, and I think the way that I am to do that is through human services.”

Son of Stu and Wendy, Setter achieved a 3.98 GPA during his high school career and received  accolades, including the Governor’s Scholar Award and Top 5%. Setter was also involved in Mock Trial, Theater, Academic Bowl, Student Council, Speech, Band, Choir, and FBLA.

Criteria for the scholarship include academic performance, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and personal character and personality. Applications for the scholarship are accepted from all COC service areas.

For over 30 years, Christian Opportunity Center has offered services to people with disabilities in Mahaska County. COC supports 240 individuals living, working, and worshiping in communities like Oskaloosa. Making meaningful connections and friendships is essential but challenging for the individuals, COC supports. They are often seen as different and not fully contributing members of a community; this can often lead to isolation and loneliness. The COC Spare Some Time Bowling Fun-Raiser is an event that helps build bridges between people with disabilities and community members and raises funds to support the work of COC.

The COC Spare Some Time Bowling Fun-Raiser was held on April 10th in Oskaloosa. Statesmen Lanes and Event Center hosted over 80 bowlers who came together for an afternoon of fun and fellowship. The bowlers consisted of the people COC supports, businesses, league bowlers, and volunteers from the Oskaloosa High and William Penn Bowling teams. 

The weeks leading up to the event were celebrated by challenges focused on bowling, friendship, and community. These challenges included drawing a picture of what friendship means to me, creating your own bowling alley, and Karaoke with a bowling twist. Winners were chosen weekly.

The event also included a silent auction and a raffle. Statesmen Lanes and Oskaloosa True Value donated raffle items, and several local businesses donated silent auction items. The afternoon’s competition was intensified when an anonymous donor pledged $1 for each strike. At the end of the event, all bowlers stacked up 190 strikes!  

Each person supported was awarded a medal for their participation in the event.  The medals were provided by Tony Witt, the manager of Statesmen Lanes. COC would like to thank all sponsors, Statesmen Lanes and Event Center, Manager Tony Witt, the bowlers, volunteers, and persons supported for making it an event to remember.  

Christian Opportunity Center (COC) will host Spare Some Time for COC, a bowling FUN-raiser and silent auction, on Sunday, April 10, 2022, at Statesmen Lanes and Event Center from 2–4 pm. Doors will open at 1:30 pm for the silent auction. 

COC hopes this event will encourage positive social interactions between people with disabilities and community members. Social interactions for people with disabilities can be limited due to a lack of opportunities to meet others outside of their family, work, or church life.  Spare Some Time for COC is an opportunity to create and foster new friendships and to focus on all the people with disabilities have to offer. 

“There is so much research on the benefits for people with disabilities to have positive friendships, including a longer lifespan. But it is what people with disabilities can give back to the community that is so amazing to me. Each individual we support has so many gifts to give back. I want everyone to have the opportunity to see all they have to offer. These relationships can change lives for the better.” Said Amy Zuck, COC Public Information Director.  

This year we will be adding to the FUN by including a few new ways you can participate in Spare Some Time! We invite the community to join in weekly challenges leading up to Spare Some Time. Weekly challenges and prizes will be posted on the COC Facebook page, beginning March 14th.

Community members are encouraged to come out and bowl with COC on Sunday, April 10. Individual bowling tickets are $20 per person, and this price includes bowling, shoes, and an event t-shirt. The T-shirt guarantee is March 29. A team/family rate of $70 is available for groups of four. Tickets for Spare Some Time can be purchased online at https://one.bidpal.net/sparesometimeforcoc22/welcome. 

If you aren’t able to bowl but would still like to support COC, event t-shirts are available to purchase at

https://cocbowling2022.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

All proceeds of this event will support the programs and services COC provides to people with disabilities in Mahaska County.