SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN were collected by St. John’s members. Orphan Grain Train is a Nonprofit Christian volunteer network that shares personal and material resources with needy people in America and around the world. We were able to put together 52 backpack kits! In addition, $440 was donated to help with shipping costs for the backpacks to children in need. We thank everyone that donated supplies and the Christian Service committee for spearheading the project and putting the kits together! Many children will be blessed by this act of generosity!
ST. JOHN’S COMMUNITY GARDEN – Pictures added on August 5…our garden is growing and produce is being harvested! Thank you to everyone that is helping out!
On May 26, 2021 St. John’s members came together to plant a community garden. Throughout the summer, members will pitch in to help with watering, weeding and harvesting when the time comes. Thank you to everyone who is helping with this project and a special thank you to Amanda Meyer for having the vision and initiative to get this organized. Many in the community will be blessed by this act of kindness.
ITEMS FOR NEW LIFE FAMILY SERVICES were donated by St. John’s members. New Life Family Services is a Christian, non-profit pregnancy resource center and licensed adoption agency that helps women in crisis pregnancy situations with counsel and support. Families will be blessed by 52 pieces of donated clothing and 933 diapers (10 boxes). In addition, $363 was collected to purchase more clothes and $250 was given directly to New Life which will help them purchase other needed items. This project was organized by the Christian Service Committee and a special thank you to Kay Narveson and Pam Waugh for doing extra shopping and to Kay for delivering the items! This was a heartfelt and faith-filled response to the Lord’s love!!
ITEMS FOR ROCHESTER COMMUNITY WARMING CENTER (RCWC) were donated by St. John’s members. The RCWC provides emergency shelter for Rochester area homeless adults for overnight stays in the winter months. The clients will be warm and blessed by 189 pairs of socks, 23 pairs of gloves, nine hats and two scarves. Also, a Thrivent Action card along with monetary donations bought hand sanitizer, shampoo and other items. This project was organized by the Christian Service Committee and a special thank you to Kris Henke for delivering the items!
ST. JOHN’S SERVE OUR COMMUNITY DAY was held on Saturday, October 24, 2020. Although it was a chilly day, three yards were raked by 10 members St. John’s. We thank Gary Betcher, David and Emily Fritsch, Ev Giordano, Denise Hatteberg, Bruce Narveson, John Rud, Arleen Shaw, Dave Smidt and Pastor Justin for helping out! One of the homeowners commented “It warmed my heart that St. John’s offered this service.” Special thanks to the Christian Outreach committee for organizing this event.
A “SOUPER” Bowl soup collection for Channel One was organized by the Ladies Aid on February 2. A total of 297 cans were collected with the final count as follows: 49er’s–132, Chiefs–123, Who Cares–42. Although the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, the real winners were the many people who will have hot meals through this act of kindness. We thank Becky and Buck Fredricksen and their grandson, Grayson, for delivering the 270.5 pounds of soup to Channel One.
Wee Care kids get involved in the community! Thank you to the Wee Care students and their families for demonstrating kindness to those in need.
–Wee Care families donated toys to the annual Stewartville Lions Club Christmas Anonymous program.
–Wee Care families also donated 35 sets of new socks to the Kiwanis Club annual “Sock It To Em” sock drive.
Ronald McDonald House Dinners – Members of the JUMP Group (people in their 40s and 50s) periodically prepare and serve dinner at the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester. The dinner program offers children and families staying at the Ronald McDonald House the comfort a warm and delicious meal. The JUMP group prepared the meal on November 18 and will do so again on Tuesday, February 18. They hope to make this a quarterly event. It is a joy to be part of this wonderful service.