Those Who Help

Many have a “finger in the pie” of Emmaus House. Below are some such whose names were recorded. Many others have helped us anonymously, or in the hustle and bustle of activity the names were not written down. We thank all who helped us in any way.

• The Saginaw Diocesan Council of Catholic Women brought us paper products, garbage bags, foil, etc. Wonderful!

• The Green House, Saginaw, gave us boxes of over-the-counter medications.

• Schantz Farms invited us to come and pick blueberries. Great experience for all who went.

• Sarge Harvey gave us 8 tickets for “Field of Hope” (9/24) at the Temple Theater. Those who went thoroughly enjoyed the show.

• The Bavarian Inn gave us boxes of blankets and bedding, - just in time for the cold weather.

• Valley Lutheran School invited our women to share at their prayer service on 9/30. A group from the School had come on 9/25 to give us a morning of help, including bringing us many household products.

• Ruth and Dave Buko donated their 1997 Chrysler Town and Country, and Tom Knaub gave us a 1994 Ford pickup truck. Both vehicles are on the road every day.

• Pat Roggenbuck of the Loving Ties Quilters brought us 34 homemade fleece blankets. Think of the work involved. Many thanks!

• Cathy and Bob Wheeler treated our women to the turkey dinner at St. Patrick Church, Ryan.

• In Sessions Beauty School continues to do our women’s hair. Rita Genigeski, beautician, also gave us a day of hair cutting. Ann Lyvere from Hair Happenings donates many hair care products.

• Pat Daley leads a Zumba class for us each week.

• Dentists, Dr. D. Sheridan, Dr. J. Malek, Dr. W. Richter, and Dr. Puszykowski, keep up with our ladies’ teeth problems.  

• Network Services provides our internet service and helps keep our computers (in each of our 12 houses) functioning.

• Jules Brown, job developer, is helping our women be job ready and find jobs.

• Jean and Doug Moore continue to help us in every conceivable way. Doug was last seen putting new batteries in a batch of donated watches. Jean was buying Halloween candy. Every week several days a week, they are doing whatever needs to be done here. All at Emmaus thank them.

  Food has been donated by: the Frankenmuth Lions Club (pork, sauerkraut, milk, etc.), St. Helen Church (canned goods), First Ward Community Center (weekly), Hidden Harvest (prepared food several times per week), St. Anthony Church (leftovers from a dinner), Butter Crust Bakery (all kinds of breads and sweets), the Patisserie (cakes and sweets), Billy Rodriquez, Barb B., Leanne Brown, Sam Loiacano, and numerous other individuals. We are blessed with abundance.

  Rummage and donated goods come daily. In September we had 108 individuals or organizations donate clothing, household goods, furniture, etc. That’s a lot of items. However, also in September, we had 1109 persons come to our free thrift shop. No one left empty-handed. Of course, someone had to deliver all of these things to us, and so we thank our haulers: Lori J. and Ora N. from here, Sona Carruth, Cathy and Bob Wheeler, Tom Valtierra, Joey Cichowski, and the numerous individuals who brought their own donations.

  Special thanks to all of our volunteers. “Their name is legion”. Volunteers assist in every aspect and project of Emmaus House. Volunteer Connie Downing who comes every Wednesday not only helps us but also many others. For her efforts throughout the community she received the Athena Award at the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Awards Luncheon (Nov. 5th). Congratulations, Connie! Bill Schaefer, long time supporter and now volunteer, has been giving us a day each week to do minor repairs. Bill has done everything from fixing screens to putting up a mailbox to stopping leaks. Wonderful help! Barb B, volunteer, comes several times a week and does everything from putting gas in our vehicles to clipping coupons. Volunteers also run our pre-school reading program, our baby bag program, and enable our Morrow Center to function well. And, it was volunteers who made our auction such a memorable event.
  
  To each and every person who contributes/volunteers their time, talent, and effort to make Emmaus live, I – indeed, we - say, thank you and may you each reap the reward of giving/volunteering, soul-deep peace, joy, and happiness.