02-14-25 Update from Mary

Friday, February 14, 2025

Happy Valentine’s Day to all, especially those who follow Jesus with loving care for others. The so many thoughtful surprises of this past week have become wonderful blessings for many. During Lutheran Schools Week – the week starting with January 26 – Student spirits were high as the St. Paul Lutheran Student Body and Staff collected 1022 items for Hunger Ministry/SPL Hunger Warriors. In addition to gathering these items, the students sorted the items between out-of-date, no date, and good to go to homes as they packed the wonderful gifts into boxes and bags that were not too heavy and loaded them into waiting hunger transport vehicles. These activities were totally full of love and selfless mercy for others. Our prayers are for continued Blessings on the students and staff of St. Paul Lutheran School.

Another Surprise Gift came from the Clever Girl Marketing (CGM) Team that developed and keeps this splhungerwarriors.org web-page up-to-date. The thoughtful gift was a Valentine Basket full of Dewzies Chocolate Layered Cookies, Moravian Sugar Cake, and other chocolate treats from deweys.com. The CGM Team card stated, “And we’re so inspired by the difference you make. Thanks for letting us be a part of your story.” An amazing gift from a dynamic and creative Clever Girl Marketing Team.

Then my post card/paper collecting friends Jack & Deb FitzGerald sent a fantastic leather post card from Lisboa, Portugal during their recent travels. Praying for, thinking about, and sending out the traditional Valentine greetings to the homebound was a challenge this past week due to all the black ice and extreme cold weather conditions. It is so refreshing that many more people are trying hard to assist Hunger Warriors in its work of being a beacon light sharing the love of Jesus Everywhere.

May the Lord Bless and Keep You Safe. Recall that Hunger Warriors can also utilize greeting cards, stickers, address labels minus your address (we will even cut your address off), empty plastic containers, twisty ties, gently used toys and games, clothing and any other items you no longer need…Please note once again – 37th Annual Hunger Walk & 5K Run at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025, with Mary “Cares” Much & Chico as the Presenting Sponsor. Bless your day as you celebrate Jesus, Mary & Chico

St. Paul Lutheran Hunger Warriors still need Food Donations throughout the summer months; so, let us all try to bring one or two food items when we are able to attend Church this summer: peanut butter, GRAPE JAM, Stew, Corned Beef, WIDE NOODLES, tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, canned vegetables, CANNED SLICED PEACHES, CEREAL, oatmeal variety packs, SPAM, canned Chicken Breast, RAMEN NOODLES, snacks for children. We need the above food items by Thursday, June 20, for the Immanuel Hunger Program Delivery. Bless you for putting the needs of others as a priority.

SPL Hunger Warriors needs food item donations. Please click the button below to see what else needs to be donated!

• January – Immanuel, Redeemer, Trinity
• February – Parma, Trials For Hope, Church of the Ascension
• March – Calvary Lutheran, New Covenant, St. John Nottingham Food Programs
• April – St. Philips Our Daily Bread
• May – Lorain Cooperative Ministry & Redeemer & Immanuel
• June - Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland – 36th Annual Walk for Hunger – Zoo
• July – Lakewood Community Service Center & North Ridgeville Community Care
• August – Westlake Assistance Program & Faith Lutheran
• September – Parma Hunger & Our Savior Mayfield Heights
• October – Royal Redeemer & Zion Painesville & Christians In Action Olmsted Falls
• November - Redeemer, Immanuel, & Trinity
• December – Christ/Our Savior, & 300 each Center (Which Means that we need $7900 in December)

Bless your Day as you pray, “So for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray, But Keep me, Guide me, Use me, Lord, Just for Today.” Much Love, Mary & Chico