LOVE INC LINK

LOVE INC LINK
Love INC of Central Lane County
WE HAD A BIRTHDAY!
Spring 2015
ORIENTATION AND
TRAINING
PLEASE contact us if you
are interested in joining our
team of amazing servants.
HIGHLY NEEDED:
Licensed Car Repair
Movers
Folks to give rides
Call 541-653-8537 for more
information and to sign up.
REQUIRED FOR ALL
VOLUNTEERS
STATISTICS for
308 Clients’
Households in
our First Year
Appliance
repair
7
Car Repair
39
Can I start out this letter as I did the last? Glory to God
in the Highest is what I want to scream out yet again.
SO much has happened since the December letter that I
don’t know where to start. We began the new year with a
BIG change in the office staff. By God’s grace and
through the generosity of HIS people we were able to
hire two more on staff. Both Sandy and Melanie wer e
dedicated Clearinghouse volunteers who felt that God had
Love INC staff: Heidi Bolz , Executive Director
more for them to do at Love INC. Sandy works 22 hours
Melanie Gee, Volunteer Coordinator
Sandy Baer, Client Care Coordinator
per week and Melanie works 15. Their addition to staff
has made such a big difference! On top of that, on April
22nd we celebrated our first birthday...one year of having our call center phone lines open.
We try to keep good records and statistics, but sometimes the calls are coming in so quickly and
the needs and requests are so varied that we are unable to keep track of everything happening.
What we KNOW is that we opened 308 client files in those first 12 months. With most homes
having more than two people in it, that means we have been able to show Christ’s love through
prayers and practical assistance to 600-700 people! That doesn’t count the caseworkers from
whom we have received many clients seeing Jesus’ hands and feet in action. PLEASE check out
the third page of this newsletter to see a summary of ALL that God has done through HIS people
in the past year. It is awesome to look back. If God weren’t orchestrating all of this, it would be
overwhelming to look forward!
Would you please pray as you read this newsletter, asking God if He might have planned “good
works” for you to do through Love INC? Just since our birthday we have had two days with 7
new clients apiece. We broke our record of the number of intakes twice in a week. This could
become a trend. We have found amazing favor with the social service/help agencies in town. It
is my desire for clients and caseworkers alike to see Christians loving as Jesus loved.
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. We are hoping that it will help you understand exactly why we are so excited about this past year. God is transforming the lives of our
clients and volunteers alike. Might He be calling you to Love INC? Our staff and volunteers are
having an affect on His reputation in Central Lane County.
In Christ’s Name and Service,
Heidi Bolz, Executive Director
Giving their Time, Talents and Treasures
Financial
Referral
85
Food/Staples
9
Furniture
28
Home Repair
10
Household Items 7
Move and/or
Pack
33
Transportation
30
Other
94
We are being blessed by the time, talents, and treasures of many men and women from at least 14
churches. Christians in our community are reflecting God’s image, following Christ’s example of
loving ALL people and making certain not to forget the poor. THANK YOU! Could you please help
us show gratitude to the businesses below? We are grateful for their partnership with us.
6th Street Grill helped us with our second “Food 4 Funds” event. $300 was gifted to us, helping us
provide gas cards to some of our volunteers giving rides to medical appointments and such.
Top Flite Automotive in J unction City and Monroe Auto Repair in Eugene ar e helping our
clients with auto repair needs. Interested in finding a Christian mechanic for your car? More
Mechanics are needed!
Teen Challenge Thrift Store (555 River Road) is giving some of our clients a chance to “shop”
with a Love INC volunteer. They have also been so helpful as we have worked to get our clients onto
a mattress for a night of good sleep. Can you bless the store with donations?
Individual Donors have been calling us as they have fur nitur e, mattr esses and linens they no
longer need. God continues to provide the clients for us to bless at JUST the right time since storage
space is something we do not have.
American Mattress “worked” with us to help us provide rebuilt mattresses for clients in deep need.
Has God brought to your mind a treasure you have? Maybe something you no longer need or use?
LOVE INC LINK
MINISTRY SUPPORT
Would you consider giving
a donation or making a
pledge to be a monthly
donor? Our website can
direct you to setting up
online giving to become a
“Foundation Partner” or
help us receive donations
from Fred Meyer or Smile
Amazon.
Checks can be put on auto
pay by your bank or can be
mailed directly to:
Love INC
PO Box 23452
Eugene, OR 97402
Page 2
Client & Caseworker Comments
Thank you for helping our family with firewood and the extra food you delivered to us. We really appreciate the help you have offered to our family. My husband just had his surgery and will be off work
for a couple of months. The help you provided us is amazing and we really love praying with you. You
are a true blessing to us! Thank you. ~ A , client
When you first came to help me pack up my house I was afraid that you were going to “hit me over the
head” with talk about religion. You didn’t do that. You just lived it. ~ D, client (Then she started asking
our volunteer questions about Jesus!)
The clients that I work with have that been receiving your services have all expressed their gratitude for
the help that you have been able to provide them. Whenever I make a referral to your organization I
stress that the services that you are able to offer are all volunteer based and that your availability to
provide certain things is dependent on the time and energy of your parishioners. The help that some of
my clients have received, especially in reference to car repairs have allowed them to pursue employment
opportunities that would otherwise be denied to them, literally allowing then to remain in their housing.
~ E, caseworker
Volunteer Viewpoints:
Other ways to support
Love INC:
Small Community Groups
-consider helping us bless a
family transitioning from
homelessness with food
staples or collecting some of
the items on our needs list
-consider helping Love INC
with a move once a quarter
Garage Sale Season
-if you are having a garage
sale, check our needs list or
give us a call to see if a Love
INC client could be blessed
by whatever doesn’t sell.
Remember, we have very
little storage space, but God
does an amazing work of
matching client needs with
donor generosity quickly.
We are on the move. Our team of movers,
dubbed the “Super Movers” by the office staff,
have done an awesome job since we opened a
year ago. In the first quarter of 2015 alone they
have moved 13 households. The moving team
of 15 faithful volunteers with Bill Russell as the
fearless leader have logged 107 hours. They
are not only moving household goods but they
are also moving our clients’ hearts toward God
through prayers and by showing Christ’s love.
Some clients have called or written notes of
thanks for the tremendous help
they have been given. Bill, a volunteer and Board member says
“Thanks ever-so-much to all of
those volunteers who are so graciously willing to help!”
Dave and Mike at Top Flite Automotive did a
repair for a man, not a Love INC client. On the
bike ride back to pick up his vehicle, the customer had a flat tire so Dave went to pick him
up. The man noticed Air1 playing on the radio
and asked if they were
Christians. As they
talked, Love INC came
into the conversation.
After the customer had
paid his bill, he asked
Dave to hold out his
hand, trying to give him
a $100 bill. Dave said he couldn’t accept it.
The man said, “OK. Hang onto it for the
next Love INC client’s cost for parts.”
Sweet gift! Thanks, Lord !
One volunteer said, “It’s hard to hurt when
you help someone less fortunate than you
are. I find myself helping people without
even thinking about it, something I never
would have done before.
Prayer Matters
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Pray for increasing numbers of volunteers as our calls and client load
increase. This is a VERY REAL and DEEP need. Praise for those serving now.
Pray for an increasing number of Partner Churches. Praise God for those we
have.
Pray for us to find and encourage the ways that clients can contribute and
participate in the help they are receiving.
Pray for our volunteers to clearly see the opportunities being presented to
show Christ’s love as they help with rides, meals, moves, and packing, etc.
Pray for more Foundation Partners, committing to monthly pledges for
continued support for staff and increasing office expenses.
Praise God for opportunities to present to caseworkers and staff of many
agencies. Pray for the building of relationships and for Christ to be seen in
us.
Because Prayer Matters
loveincclc.org
PO Box 23452 Eugene, OR 97402
News of NEEDS
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Licensed Car Repairs
Licensed Plumber
Moving Team members
Small electric kitchen
appliances
Silverware
Pots & pans
Towels
Toilet Paper
Toothpaste
Laundry & dish soap
Bright street cones for
moving team
“Like” us on Facebook!
Love INC of Central Lane
Check out our website!
www.loveincclc.org
[email protected]
541-653-8537
LOVE INC LINK
Page 3
AT A GLANCE: the First Year of Love INC of Central Lane County
FINANCES:
~Church and Individual Supporter have allowed us to pay every bill on time and purchase supplies and
equipment needed to start ministry!
~Online Giving was set up as we established “Foundation Partners” to form a solid base of monthly
commitments of any amount.
~We were able to move to a new location tripling our square footage and making it easier to talk to clients.
~Through a fund that was formed from a special donation 12 of our clients now have a mattress and get better sleep.
~Two “Food for Funds” restaurant fundraisers began providing finances for gas cards for some of our volunteers giving rides to clients.
~Two checks came from Fred Meyer Rewards card holders who have selected Love INC as their choice for a Fred
Meyer non-profit donation.
~One check was received from Smile Amazon from online shoppers selecting Love INC to receive a percentage of
their purchase amount.
CONNECTIONS:
~Clients who have been touched through prayers and care feel relationship and call simply for prayers now!
~Churches are referring clients to Love INC.
~Referrals have come to us from Catholic Community Services, Direction Services, Dept. of Human
Services, Eugene Mission (sent us our first client), First Place Family Center, Head Start, Red Cross, Saint Vincent
DePaul, Senior & Disabled Services, Shelter Care, Whitebird Clinic.
~The National Love INC office sent two representatives who were excited to see what God has done here.
VOLUNTEERS:
~Eight Volunteer Training/Orientations have been held resulting in 110 volunteers.
~Volunteers used gifts and abilities in the office and “in the field” with our clients. Other than the list on pg 1 of this
newsletter, they have helped with housecleaning, mowing, shopping, packing, cremation referrals, companionship, dog
walking, wood, fallen trees, baby items...to name a few.
PARTNER CHURCHES
Camp Creek Church
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do
good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10
Christ’s Center, Junction City
Church of God Seventh Day
Church of the Harvest
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Steve Bilynskyj
Board Chair
Eugene Vineyard Church
Steve Buss
Vice Chair
Fairfield Nazarene Church
Aaron Stansbury
Secretary
Verne Whittaker III
Treasurer
Emerald Bible Fellowship
First Baptist Church of Eugene
Garden Way Church
Grace Community Fellowship
Hosanna Christian Fellowship
Living Hope Church
Valley Covenant Church
loveincclc.org
PO Box 23452 Eugene, OR 97402
Roger Bascue
Bill Russell
Tom VanMeter
Heidi Bolz
[email protected]
Executive Director
541-653-8537