Women come to another’s rescue

Marianna Lewellyn of Kokomo sends this Cheer to two women at Marsh:

“Cheers and a thank-you to the two ladies, Sandra and Karen, who came to my rescue at Marsh when I was fainting in the checkout line.

“They arranged to get me home and later brought my car and groceries. I pray you had a Merry Christmas and you’ll both have a prosperous new year.

“Thank you so much.”

Gregg Lucas ‘has heart of gold’

Sue Comerford of American Legion Unit 6 sends this Cheer for Gregg Lucas at Moore’s Pie Shop:

“Gregg Lucas and his staff have given hundreds of pies this past year to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 6 to take to CAM (Coordinated Assistance Ministries), Family Service Association, Gilead House, Rescue Mission for Women and Children, and Howard Haven. We made a special delivery to CAM right before Thanksgiving to make sure it had dessert for dinner.

“These organizations are always so thankful when we show up with pies from Moore’s Pie Shop. I can’t thank Gregg and his staff enough for providing pies for the less fortunate. He has a heart of gold.”

Gifts tell recipients they are loved

Van Taylor, executive director of the Kokomo Rescue Mission, sends this Cheer:

“The Kokomo Rescue Mission exists to proclaim the Good News and demonstrate the compassion of Jesus Christ to the homeless, hungry and hurting. The Red Ribbon Christmas deliveries are a major part of demonstrating that compassion, especially to children, this time of year.

“It is no secret that Christmas time invokes a desire in children to receive a special gift. Not only because new toys are fun to play with, but because of the message a gift sends to a child. Gifts communicate an unspoken language of love that everyone can understand, even a small child. Without saying a word, a gift tells the recipient they are important, that they matter, but, most of all, that they are loved. In fact, love being expressed as a gift is what Christmas is really all about. God wanted to show us just how much he loves us, so he gave us the only gift we ever really need in Jesus Christ our Savior. The familiar verse of John 3:16 sums it up beautifully: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ God loved, and so he gave.

“Giving is exactly what all of you have done. You love, and so you give. Thanks so much to each and every one of you for sending an expression of love to so many men, women and children this year. Thank you for giving your time, your money and many other resources to communicate a message of hope and love. May God bless you for letting your light shine before others.

“The Kokomo Rescue Mission would like to extend a special thank-you to our friends involved with We Care for funding for Red Ribbon Christmas; to GMCH for providing warehouse space; to Syndicate Sales, Guyer the Mover and Roger Miller for providing trucks and drivers for out-of-town deliveries; Eikenberry Trucking for providing a refrigerated trailer; to KRM’s amazing Christmas volunteers who work year-round, and finally the countless volunteers who worked during the Christmas season to make it happen.”

Baby University to begin again

Jeff Newton, executive director of Kokomo Urban Outreach, sends this Cheer:

“Since the first session of Baby University in 2007, nearly 500 parents, grandparents and caregivers of young children have participated in Baby University and its extended family programs. Twenty-one of those proud parents graduated just a few weeks ago. Baby University, a program of Kokomo Urban Outreach, is a series of practical workshops offering parents the opportunity to become excellent parents. They are learning new techniques and discovering various options for handling common, everyday parenting problems and household management issues. This program is especially designed for parents or caregivers of infants and toddlers up to and including 4 years of age.

“KUO partners with many community organizations to provide the nine weekly workshops.

“KUO would like to thank those who partner with us to provide Baby University: Howard County Family Services Association, Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, Pregnancy Resource Center, Purdue Extension, Child Care Solutions, IU Kokomo Center for Early Child Care Education, First Steps, Piecemakers Quilting Guild, Outback Steak House, United Way of Howard County, Parr United Methodist Church, Family Piece Counseling, Bona Vista, St. Joseph Hospital, Susan Maxson of Ivy Tech, Southside Christian Church, Chapel Hill Christian Church and Main Street United Methodist Church.

“We would also like to thank the Piecemakers Quilt Guild, whose members have just donated 120 handmade quilts. These quilts are given to each child in the Baby University program. The Piecemakers have partnered with KUO for several years, providing more than 600 handmade treasures. The children and the parents especially love the quilts. One mother was so excited about the quilt for her child she shared that the quilt would ‘become a family heirloom that would be passed on to her babies’ babies.’ Not only that, every time she looks at the quilt she will remember all of the lessons learned from Baby University.

“The next sessions of Baby University will start on Monday, Jan. 28 or Thursday, Jan. 31. For more information or to register, please call 765-457-1983.”