Minnesota: Tiny Moose Lake church shows it has a big heart

[Stan]

The Christ Our Righteousness Seventh Day Adventist Church of Moose Lake – population eight families – decided they wanted to do something for the community this holiday season.

By: Wendy Johnson, Pine Journal

The Christ Our Righteousness Seventh Day Adventist Church of Moose Lake – population eight families – decided they wanted to do something for the community this holiday season.

“We wanted to teach our kids about giving,” explained church member Renee

Kinley.

It wasn’t long before the ideas began flying, but when someone who had received a much-appreciated holiday gift last year from the Outreach Center in Cloquet told them the gift-giving program would no longer be offered due to lack of volunteer fundraisers, the decision was an easy one to make.

“We talked with [Outreach Center director] Ginger Spiess and told her we would like to ‘adopt’ 10 people and buy gifts for them for the Outreach Center Christmas party,” said Kinley. “We wanted them to write down their wish lists for us to put on the Christmas tree at our church, and members will draw those names, buy gifts and we’ll deliver them to the Outreach Center in time for their party on Dec. 23.”

The Outreach Center, according to Spiess, is operated through the Human Development Center (HDC) as a drop-in center for residents of Carlton County who are dealing with mental health issues.

“It provides a safe place for them where they can feel comfortable and we can provide for their basic needs of socialization and nutrition.”

The Outreach Center is open seven days a week and provides meals twice a week as well as offering such activities as bingo and crafts and referrals for whatever community services the clients might need such as food and housing assistance.

Spiess explained that up until this year, the HDC spearheaded an “adopt-a-family” campaign to try to secure funding through the community in order to get a gift in the hands of each person who attends the annual Christmas party at the Outreach Center. Though she said the number of clients varies from year to year, the population has reached as high as 70 people.

“Unfortunately, that program will not be happening this year,” said Spiess, “and with the Salvation Army maxing out this year [for the number of applicants it can serve], there are a lot of people in our area who are facing the possibility of going without a gift this Christmas.”

Kinley’s phone call to the Outreach Center last week was understandably a cause for excitement, said Spiess. Since then, the generosity of the Moose Lake church members has begun to spur others to step forward. One of the staff members at the Outreach Center has pledged to donate toward gifts for five more individuals, and one of the past clients to receive a gift through the Outreach Center has signed on to donate a gift as well.

Spiess said some 50 gifts will be needed this year if everyone at the party is to receive one, adding that some children sometimes accompany their parents to the party as well.

“If we can get enough financial funding,” she said, “we may try to purchase some certificates for food as well.”

The Dec. 23 Outreach Center Christmas Party will include a free meal, visits with Santa and a holiday sing-a-long. Entertainment is still needed.

Anyone willing to donate toward gifts or provide entertainment is encouraged to contact Spiess at 218-393-2778.

In the meantime, the folks at Christ Our Righteousness Church put up their “wish tree” on Tuesday and their families will soon begin shopping for gifts.

“Everyone in the church has been very supportive of this effort to provide gifts for people at the Outreach Center,” said Kinley. “In fact, we’ve since decided 10 wasn’t enough – and have decided to ‘adopt’ 15 instead! We’re blessed just by being a part of it.”