New Beginnings, A Well Kept Secret

We've said countless times that -“ if people only knew how much what we do means to our “New Tenants” and what a blessing it can be - there’d be a line of people waiting for a turn to serve!”  It’s  time to share the fun and share the blessings!

Discover

the “secret,” by being an active part of 

New Beginnings!

Could you be:

• A COWGIRL / COWBOY?  
• A SHOPAHOLIC?
• A GIRL(S) FRIDAY (or guys) ?
• A CHUCKWAGONEER or FOOD WRANGLER?
• A NIGHT RIDER?
• A HAPPY HAULER?

Discover the secret by BEING A BLESSING!!

COWGIRL / COWBOY to “ride herd” on the upstairs storage room.  Sort incoming donations.  Size & mark sheet sets, blankets, comforters & towels.  Organize housewares, dishes, flatware, glasses, pots, pans, small appliances, etc.  Could work with “new tenants” by appointment?

Time needed: once organized - about an hour or so per week (depending on amount of donations).

SHOPAHOLIC - be a Dollar Tree regular.  Once a week or every two weeks (as needed).  Shop Dollar Tree for our “Starter Baskets”.  We usually buy enough of about 14 different items to make up 4 baskets.  Then deliver the items to our storage room upstairs at Church. 

Time required: approximately an hour & a half weekly at your convenience.

GIRL(S) FRIDAY (or guys) - help with Data Entry recording info on # of households served, etc.  Record individual expenditures to provide better accountability of cash donations —what’s being spent on different categories. Help with correspondence like thank you notes and tax letters.  

Time required: whatever time you have — the biggest job will be set up and catch up—after that maybe an hour a week?

CHUCKWAGONEER / FOOD WRANGLER - drive your “chuckwagon” out to the St. Louis Area Foodbank, pickup large food order(s) and deliver to new tenant(s).  An SUV, station wagon or pickup truck is needed.   

Time required: pickup between 12 & 2 p.m. then make the delivery—will take most of an afternoon, once a week or once in a while; pick your day.

NIGHT RIDERS - Night Riders travel in pairs to pick up furniture donations from folks who work and are not available for daytime pickups.  Seasonal –would work until the change in daylight savings time. Requires moderate to heavy lifting (sofas).  Don’t worry, we don’t do appliances!

Time required: probably an hour and a half once a week.

HAPPY HAULERS - work in pairs to pick up furniture donations & / or deliver to “new tenants”.  Interesting and rewarding work.  Involves moderate to heavy lifting.

Time required :  2 1/2 to 3 hours on Saturdays (or whichever day suits your schedule).  We don’t do appliances.

Talk to Chuck by calling the church office (314-771-9214) or email.

New Beginnings - Year In Review

Looking Back on 2013

WOW, last year provided so many blessings, so many experiences of God’s wonderful people!  In the last six months of the year the number of new tenants served by NB nearly exceeded the number served in the entire first year of operation. The Veteran’s programs at St. Pat’s Center and the Hope Recovery Center (of the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs) are responsible for the huge increase.

Somehow, through the grace of God, our church family, friends and acquaintances were able to provide the needed furniture and household items.

There are so many people we would like to thank publicly but that would be virtually impossible in such limited space.  We feel compelled, however, to recognize two couples who have been core supporters of the NB effort from the beginning.  Almost from day one, Sonny and Mike Burnside have generously allowed us to use one of their apartments for a storage/holding facility.

Our “new” furniture van

“She runs as good as she looks!” 

The paint job was courtesy of the former owners, Girls Inc.  It attracts a lot of attention and comments.  We love the look on folk’s faces when we mention that “she runs as good as she looks”.  They’re never quite sure what that means.  But it does run well and the more we use it the more we like it.  We’ve been able to make multiple deliveries and/or pickups in one trip.  The enclosed cargo area makes rainy day deliveries possible.  With the 14’ ramp we’ve loaded some heavy pieces we couldn’t have handled with just two men; it’s a great back saver!  Everything works, even the cargo light which is nice on those rare occasions when we’ve run a little late.  Because it’s enclosed we don’t have to unload it every night and we can store some needed items, like linens and such in the overhead compartment.

We still have a ways to go on our fundraising to cover the purchase price.  If you can help with a cash donation it would be greatly appreciated!  Make checks payable to LPUMC with “NB Truck Fund” noted on the memo line.  Thanks & God Bless You.

Ryan Gasser, from The Word at Shaw and NB volunteer Gary Buettner pose after loading furniture donated by the generous folks at TWS.

Looking ahead to 2014

Watch for News of

Happy Haulers – We are forming work crews for Saturday morning pickup and /or deliveries. We have commitments from two 2 person teams who are ready to experience the fun and blessings of working with our new tenants.  If you can spare about 3 hours once a month on a Saturday give Chuck a call @ 618/781-4538  (PS – fear not - we don’t do appliances)

NB Ministry Team – we are in the process of forming a talented team to guide NB through its future levels of growth

Our First Fundraiser – still in the planning stage for February, our first real fundraiser promises to be a lot of fun.  Watch the eNewsletter and church announcements for more information.

A tisket a tasket . . .

. . .check out our “starter basket`

Our new basket offers twelve essential items for new tenants.  Items included are:  toilet paper, bath soap, paper towels, multipurpose cleaner, floor /tile cleaner, dish sponge, dish soap, trash bags,  bucket,  mop, broom, and the basket; all this for only twelve dollars.  Purchased at Dollar Tree, each item costs only a dollar.