SL&H April Update
April, another month that showered blessings on SLH! God is so good to provide for us.
SLH started out April with a very special donation. The 6th Grade class of St. Mary’s Catholic School of Alexandria collected pennies during lent, and SLH was chosen as the charity that they wanted to give to. The kids came and presented a check of $1,210.59…now that’s a lot of pennies. Thank you so very much!! The St. Mary’s Faith office also made a food donation to help us in our pantry.
“Difference Makers” this month, who once again have made such a huge difference in helping us,
–Laura & Bob, Colleen D , Ruth S., Jeanette M., Keith S., Chad & Sheila S, Dave H.
–Our Minneapolis Helping Hands have been busy too. This month they sewed and delivered 40 lap blankets in bags, 40 neck pillows, 40 port pillows, and sewed 80 Cardiology pillows for St. Cloud Cardiology. Thank you for being the hands and feet for Jesus!!!
–Thank you to our seamstresses who are helping us so much by sewing Pillowcases, Teen Challenge Bags, Activity Bags, etc. last year we had 2 of us sewing, this year we have 9!! Annie has been keeping track of the pillowcases she has made (they are absolutely darling), and hit the 200 mark. I wish we would have kept track of how many each gal has sewn…just amazing.
–We introduced 2 new stuffies this month which will go to Children in hospitals and Ronald McDonald homes. We now have a “Rosie” (named after our niece), and a KB Frog after our Sister In Law (I hope she still likes us). Each of our hand sewn stuffies have a name of a family member and a special little card of encouragement. Sorry Family!!
–Keith and I were asked to make a presentation to the Ladies Mission group at Zion Lutheran. The ladies there, did a “Cereal Drive” for SLH, and collected 49 boxes of cereal for our food pantry. We thank them for their love and for being “Difference Makers” in our community,
–Alan Iverson of Thrivent and Dave Holm presented us with a $250 gift card to be used for materials for Teen Challenge. We were fortunate that Rons Warehouse had a fabric sale, so we were able to purchase fabric for many bags which will welcome those who come to Teen Challenge. This month we delivered 10 welcome bags to Teen Challenge.
–SLH had extra diapers, wipes, and sheets that we were able to donate to Youth 4 Christ, Safe Families . We will no longer be having a supply of those items on hand, so we are happy that they can be used.
–A group of 9, from 1st Lutheran and Federated Churches of Morris came to SLH to help us one afternoon. The group filled snack bags for our pantry, and assembled gift boxes which we will fill with snacks and deliver to area veterans for a thank you for your service on Memorial weekend. It is such a blessing to connect with those we know from Morris. Thanks to you all for such a fun time. Good job Bob Dalager and Dale Peterson in making the boxers.
–The Adult support group had their last session until Fall. Thank you Bridget Joos for heading this group up.
–The Hancock Food pantry and SLH both received a wonderful donation of a refrigerator for the pantry. This donation came from Horizon Public Health. If any of you gardeners have extra produce this summer, we would love to offer it to those who visit our pantry.
–April showered us with Manna! The Midwest Food bank sent a semi of food up to The Storehouse in Hancock. We were very thankful to get 10 pallets of food for our pantry. A couple of weeks after, Eagles Healing Nest was given 5 semi’s of freezer food, and another 2 loads of shelf stable foods. Ruby’s pantry closed this month, so the trucks of food came from their North Branch area. We thank Steven and Guy Koehl for answering the call and making the trip to North Branch with their semis.
These are such a blessing for SLH food pantry, as each month we see an increase with food needs.
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed” Proverbs 19:17
In His love,
Keith and Lois
SL&H March Update
Greetings from SHARING LOVE AND HOPE! I’m kinda wondering if Spring turned us around and took us back to the beginning of March. Writing this on Easter weekend, and the snow keeps coming down.
So many times we use the term Volunteers for those wonderful people who come in and help us at SLH. I think we need to add …..
“ Difference Maker”–a term used for a dedicated person who can make a big impact even with just a small action or a few words. Someone who makes a difference in the lives of others.
SLH has been blessed with so many “Difference Makers”. I would love to name them, but I’m afraid of leaving someone out. Thank you all so very much, we couldn’t do it without you.
We enjoyed St. Mary’s School (Alex), 6th grade students, Principal and Teachers when they came and helped us by packing for 3 different projects. To the young boy and his mom who came back after school and gave us a donation of money, Thank you!! What a group of “Difference Makers”
Our Easter Bunny bag numbers doubled in the past year. This year we sewed 500 Bunny bags, and filled them with activities/candy for several different organizations.
SLH Sent:
– 100 – Easter bunny bags to Stevens County Human Services
– (70) Bunny bags and 70 Day brightener bags to Ronald McDonald, Rochester.
–(50) Bunny bags to Mpls. Children’s Hospital, and (30) to St. Paul Children’s Hospital.
–(30) Bunny bags to Centra Care Peds in St. Cloud
–(70) Bunny bags and (10) Welcome bags to Teen challenge in Alex.,
–Other Bunny bags went to those in our community that have a need.
–Alex Infusion (10) neck Pillows, (10) lap blankets in bags, and (10) port pillows
–Lake Region Cancer Center. (10 ) lap blankets in bags, (10) neck pillows, and (10) port pillows
–Alex Dialysis. (15) lap blankets in bags, (15) neck pillows,(15) port pillows
–Giving Grace Youth Center, Alex 4- Twin fleece blankets, (8) hygiene bags
Our Mpls. Helping Hands sewed and delivered:
–Maplewood Cancer Center, (40) Neck pillows, (40) Lap blankets in bags, (40) port pillows.
–(80) Pillows for Cardiology
–AND looking ahead they have sewed 60 Christmas stockings already..
Carol Ann sewed a large amount of Fleece lap blankets which will go to Childrens Hospitals, and Ronald McDonalds.
So Thankful for their hard work, and service…once again “Difference Makers”
We now have 10 ladies that sew for SLH. These ladies are picking up projects at SLH and taking them home to sew….Difference Makers:
SLH has a new website, and we invite you to take a look. We had it created by ‘’ //do better guidance’’, and are very happy how it turned out.
The food pantry in Alex is being used very heavily and we fill 4 times a day. Hancock’s Pantry is also growing. The need is certainly not going away. God Bless those who are dropping off food, home made breads, and cookies….very much appreciated. Difference Makers for sure!
March Adult Support group met with Bridget Joos. This group is really enjoying Bridget and has been learning tools for life’s challenges. Difference Makers for sure.
We appreciate prayers, donations,(both financial and items). With your help SLH can continue to help those in our communities.
Be a Difference Maker!
“The Greatest example of Love is service to others.”
In His Love
Keith and Lois
SL&H February Update
February is known as the LOVE Month. This scripture comes to mind:
“And above all put on love which binds everything together in perfect Harmony” Colossians 3:14
February 1st is also the 2 year anniversary of SLH moving into our “Uptown” building. Waters of many blessings, experiences, heartaches, joy and love have washed over SLH these past 2 years. We pray that God will continue to show us where He wants SLH to be.
Our food pantries continue to be busy. This month we saw an increase in our Alex food pantry of those in need. We are thankful to the Thelma Wilson family for donating an upright freezer to the Alex pantry. Hancock Food Pantry is open and growing too. Shane kept busy by putting up more shelves for food storage in the building of the pantry. Both pantries have had donations of food, which we are thankful for.
SLH sent out this month to:
Ronald McDonald – Rochester
-We sent, receiving blankets, lap and twin fleece blankets, sewn animals, valentine activity bags, and day brightener bags.
Note: If you are looking for a family or group activity, the kids at Ronald McDonald have mail boxes, and groups are encouraged to put day brightener items in a plastic bag, so that the volunteers can surprise the kids with them when they come to get their mail. Call us if interested–320-304-2860
Centre Care Cancer Center – Alexandria:
–Neck pillows, port pillows, lap blankets in bags
Lake Region Healthcare Cancer Center:
–Neck pillows, port pillows, lap blankets in bags
Alomere Hospital O/B:
–Scentsy pillows and receiving blankets
Centre Care Peds – St. Cloud
–Twin fleece blankets, receiving blankets, toys, surgery caps.
Teen Challenge – Alex
–20 Welcome bags and valentine bags with candy and fidgets
The Minneapolis Helping Hands group sewed and delivered 80 pacemaker seatbelt pillows for Jamie Pelzi, Centra Care Cardiology. Carol Ann was busy sewing lap blankets for us to give to Children’s Hospitals and Ronald McDonald. Thank you so much!
We are so thankful for our volunteers, and are so grateful that God keeps blessing us with not only the ones who come regularly, but the new volunteers He Keeps adding.
“Volunteers do not neceyssarily have the time; they just have the heart”
March 19th was the monthly Adult Session Group with Bridget. So many blessings come from that evening…Thank you Bridget!
Quote: “We are all like one-winged angels, it is only when we help each other that we can fly” LC
God Bless,
Keith and Lois
SL&H December Update
“The magic of Christmas is not in the presents, but in HIS presence”
….…And HIS presence was felt very strongly this month! God has opened up so many doors, and brings the right people to SLH at the right time. SLH looked like a “Jesus” Christmas workshop all month, and we pray that those who received any donation from SLH, will be blessed.
Our total Christmas Stockings; sewn and filled were 500, as vs. last year of 250. Our volunteers also filled 320 Christmas treat bags. Thank you to Our Mpls. Helping Hands who sewed the stockings and bags for us, and had all of these sewn for us before summer arrived. We are so thankful for them, and all of the amazing volunteer groups that came and filled them for us. The list below is who SLH sent the stockings and bags to:
100 – Stevens Cty Human Services
65—-DAC
200 –Love Inc.
75 —Teen Challenge, Alexandria
135 – Kids at St. Paul Homeless shelter
25 – Centra Care Peds, St. Cloud
The Mpls. Helping Hands kept busy in December by sewing and delivered to cancer centers the following:
80 – Pacemaker pillows
80 – Blankets in bags
80 – Neck Pillows
Thank you so very much for all you do for others!
The need has been so great. Keith fills our free food pantry 2 – 4 times a day with food. During the cold snap we put out blankets, stocking hats, and mittens. The thankful comments we receive from those that use it just helps us see that it is truly needed.
*** Our total pounds of food given thru our pantry this month is: 4,885 # !
We had so many blessings of donations this month, money donations, donations of time, and donations of other needed items. We had a donation of approx. 500 pairs of new pjs from Target ,given to us by a lady who lives by Henning. She has online sales and had too many. They were all new with not a price tag on them yet. Thank you Momma J!
Keith delivered food for 80 food bags to Hancock School, and delivered two times to West Central Community Action. We are thankful for the Outreach food shelf in Alex who has helped us by sharing bread, milk etc., when they have an overstock.
Thank you Kaitlyn Westerman and Students for filling Christmas treat bags, and helping us with some other projects. The bags went into the gift bags that we took to Eagles Healing Nest in Sauk Centre for their Christmas dinner party.
Other organizations that SLH was able to help:
–Henning Hope with Christmas gifts
–20 Welcome bags to Adult/Teen Challenge in Alex.
–3 students in Parkers Prairie who didn’t have snowpants
–Homeless couples, and others in need of hygiene, blankets etc.
–Centra Care Peds, in St. Cloud, we sent an assortment for the kids, blankets, toys, Christmas Stockings, receiving blankets, teethers.
–St. James Methodist Church in St. Paul
Thank you to Dieckman Jewelry for the donation of a Christmas tree, and all the trimmings. WCA had a young lady that was in need of it, it was so neat to have her come in and get it. She was so excited , and offered to come and help us.
Our December Adult Support group with Bridget met on the 18th. As usual it was a very good session, and is neat to see the trust level that those who attend feel toward Bridget. Bridget had purchased ‘’Jesus is Calling’’ books for each one, and left us with 4. Bridget, they are totally gone! My heart just tears when we hear some of the stories that people have lived through.
We are so thankful for Eric and the Life Right guys. They spent an afternoon and helped build shelves so that we can put all the food on for the food pantry… we now have some organization, and it is just great!!
We appreciate those who come to help us do packing, filling, cleaning up etc. This month was fun to have some former Morris people who have moved to Alex and retired…Bob and Laura Griffith, Chad Swanson, Johnita Luthi, and Jeanette who has been our faithful sidekick. Life sure comes full circle. Hope we didn’t sound old as we reminisced riding the school bus together.
At the close of this year, we want to thank each and everyone for your continued support. We have appreciated your prayers, your donation of money, and your donation of time to help SLH! God’s richest blessings to all, and know that God will provide the strength and courage to face this new year if we keep our eyes on Him.
“Its not what we have in life, but who we have in our lives that matter”
Our Love,
Keith and Lois