Food pack helps many

To the Editor:

Plans are underway for the 12th Annual Martin County Kids Against Hunger food pack, to be held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Fairmont Armory. I invite you to put together of team of friends, family or co-workers and join in the excitement and fun of a KAH food pack.

To look around the room and see the smiles and hear laughter coming from each table is truly an awesome experience.

The day is sectioned off into two-hour shifts, and they are already starting to fill. Over the last 11 years, 1,241,260 meals have been packed and more than $315,303 has been raised to cover the cost of the ingredients and shipping. Meals packed not only help people in Martin County but also people in need around the world.

More information can be found on the Martin County Kids Against Hunger website: http://kahfairmontmn.weebly.com

Won’t you please join me on Feb. 15? You too can be a hunger hero.

Joan Meyer

Fairmont

Thank God for everything

To the Editor:

The calendar says it is that time a year when most of us make a special effort to be with family and friends to give thanks together for each other and what we have.

During this time together, most will at least give some of the prayer or praise to God but few will give all the praise and honor to him. Even fewer will not only recognize that God is the only reason for all we have but also the reason we are able to give to others. God’s word clearly states that this type of generosity brings true thankfulness to God. (2 Corinthians 9)

So are we really thanking God properly if this one day a year we proclaim all glory to God, but the rest of the year revolves around the person in the mirror? (Philippians 4)

While most of us would quickly respond with a resounding no, sadly our actions are getting to be a more of a resounding yes. Many of us will acknowledge there is a God but only acknowledge him when his word agrees to what we believe to be right. Or we don’t care if we lie, cheat or swindle as long as the outcome ends up in a way we believe benefits us more. Or even believe we have no need for God’s teachings and ways anymore, so aren’t ensuring our children even know them.

This casual attitude toward God and his word is causing the downhill spiral away from our Lord that we as a nation are on. We can reverse this course by bringing ourselves and others back to God’s word and start showing him the proper praise, thanksgiving and reverence he deserves.

May this Thanksgiving not only bring you peace with your family but start you on the road to enjoying peace in the Lord.

Anthony Scheff

Fairmont

CREST aids those in need

To the Editor:

CREST in Martin County joins hundreds of volunteer caregiving organizations across the nation in celebrating the month of November as National Family Caregivers Month.

For more than 21 years, CREST has been providing free services such as live-at-home services, caregiver support services and volunteer opportunities in the communities of Martin County to those with chronic care issues. CREST is one of several hundred organizations around the country that offers vital assistance through its leadership as part of the care continuum in the community.

Locally, CREST serves 200 people who are enrolled in the program, including about 60 individuals who participate in caregiver support groups. Thanks to support from more than 75 active volunteers, CREST care receivers have access to a variety of support, including trips to the grocery story, help with light housekeeping, friendly visits, yard work and minor repairs around the house.

CREST was launched in 1998 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Today, hundreds of volunteer hours and volunteer miles have been donated to people in need. The national movement is based on a value system of volunteerism boasting volunteer caregivers who have contributed years of dedicated service. Some of the relationships created through volunteer caregiving go back 10 to 12 years.

The mission is not rooted in medical or personal care, but rather neighborly deeds such as changing a light bulb or doing some friendly visiting — all at no cost to the needy recipient.

In 1998, CREST was a pioneering response to the impending “silver tsunami.” Today, we are quietly going about our mission, and we do this because donors in the community know that we augment critical services that ensure independent living.

The National Volunteer Caregiving Network (NVCNetwork.org) represents independent chapters of volunteer caregiving throughout the United States, from Hawaii to Boston, from Florida to Oregon. For more information, contact your local organization, CREST, at (507) 235-3833 or visit www.crestvolunteers.org to volunteer, donate or inquire about services.

Rob Stauter,

CREST executive director

Fairmont