Year End Report

The year 2011 was a busy year for the Reserve.  We helped in 38 cases, up from 27 cases in 2010.
A case is any help from one needed item up to and including a truck full. We had 3 cases for one item and 5 full trucks for total burn downs.  The rest of the work was for something between the extremes.

I want to thank anyone who donated to The Community Reserve during 2011.  Without that generosity there would be no Reserve.  I wish all donors could be on site when people who have suffered disasters receive your valuable donations. The look on their faces is more than words can explain.  Thank you.

Today a young lady from a total burnout received a large donation. Sofa, sofa sleeper, small refrigerator, swivel rocker, 2 toddler beds, play pen, mattress and box springs, and more.  A real blessing to see her and her family get a needed boost after a horrible fire.

Next order of business is, we qualified for MEIJER'S COMMUNITY REWARDS program. They will rebate a percentage of any purchase to the Reserve.  To help us you only need to register using organization number 707220.  Go on line at Meijer.com/rewards.  When you get to the organization name enter 707220.  In a short time your Meijer card and keytag will arrive.  Use those item at the time of purchase and The Reserve will get a rebate.  This program costs nothing just shop as you already do.

For problems call  1-800-962-7011    They do a great job at that number.

We hope to continue this work in 2012

Marv Larue
The Community Reserve

Busy December

We went into a quiet period as we retooled the operation.  One always wonders, when things are changed, if the changes will be correct.   We feel that we are on track once again.

In the last 24 hour period The Community Reserve has helped in 4 needy situations.

Case #1     Because of a divorce this lady needed help and she received a nice donation.  She is trying to help herself by starting a cleaning business. The name is BJ Mag Cleaning Service (Residential and Commercial).  Call 219-575-1971 to give this brave lady a chance to get her business going.

Case #2   Fire victim:  This family had a pickup filled with furniture and bedding.

Case #3   Fire victim:  This family came with a trailor and it was filled as well.

Case #4   This one really touched our hearts.  We had received a like new, modern walker from Hamilton Grove. At the food pantry a lady that had an old-fashioned walker came for food.  She has problems with her legs that make it hard for her to walk and the old walker made things worse.  She now has a modern, nearly new walker. It has adjustable handles, larger wheels that adjust to travel needs, baskets and a seat if needed.  She said that she had wanted one like that but she had no  money for it.

What a 24 hour period.  Several volunteers working in the cold, donations being taken off trucks and going directly onto clients vehicles, prayers being given, and a few tears have been a part of the last day.  This is great work, helping very needy situations, especially during this season.

Marv Larue,
The Community Reserve

UPDATE

The Community Reserve has been busy.  The storage bins are full again and today we have the 32nd client for this year.

We have several agencies that we work with.  The Door Church, Apostle's Feet, The Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Emerge Ministries.(www.emergeministries.info)

Another contact has been made and we encourage going to www.worthyrecovery.org to read about this great program. We met the president, D.E.Sonshine, at a recent event and found her to be a ball of energy. The Worthy Women Recovery Home Inc helps return women to sobriety and healing.

When this recovery home is ready for occupants we hope to help with furniture.  Also, as these women leave for homes of their own, we want to help with furniture as well.

Marv Larue
The Community Reserve

WOW !!!!!

We have been partners with The Elkhart Red Cross since we started The Community Reserve. Mr. Frank Connelly has called several times.  This time The Reserve was able to lend a hand.  Frank received a call from  Emerge Ministries Transitional Care Center, a division of Emerge Ministries. This organization houses battered women and their families.  An unusual situation had developed in that 6 women had completed the program  and were ready to move into new housing.  Never before had so many ladies arrived at that point at the same time.  Frank Connelly called The Community Reserve and today we gave a truck full of furniture.  A 14 foot U Haul truck left filled to bursting with very nice furniture.
6 families representing 25 people received a great start at a new beginning.

www.emergeministries.info   Check out their web: Cora Brown and her staff are doing great work.

We have changed our operation a bit.  Any donation that we give must come through an agency. We can not respond to any request for a person to help a friend. An agency must be consulted.

The Community Reserve continues to grow.  Today's gifts makes the family count 29 to date, 2 more than all of 2010. 

Thanks to all who work and donaate to this work

Marv Larue
The Community Reserve

Collection Saturday

Working in the Community Reserve is like nothing else.  Three weeks ago we made a large donation along with a rather small one and the storage units looked empty.  Forget that.  Today we received donations from three sources.  Now the units are so full that the last pickup had to be left in the truck.
Two sofas, two mattress/box springs, one love seat, five recliners, a coffee table and some smaller items.
So it goes and it has since the venture started.
Thanks to all who give to The Reserve.  We hope you have an idea of how much your donations mean to the people that receive them

Welcome to another new worker, John C. Good job.  During the day we had Frank R, Larry M, Dave K and his brother Mike K..  The group gets larger and larger

Before I end this messsage I want to give a shout out to Mike Garoutte from Garoutte's Garage. We needed our car to be running because of an important obligation in Ohio.  The night before leaving the battery died.  Mike had us up and running before he closed. Great job, Mike, thanks a bunch.

Marv Larue,
The Community Reserve

Fire relief

Thursday, 8/25/2011, with help from the Wesleyan Church and county trustee, Mr. Machalski, a very deep need was identified.  A family from a total burn down was living in a tent at Mini Mountain Campground.  That manager rented a house, next door to the campground, to this family and when we got  to the house we found 7 people sleeping on the floor.
Volunteers were called and the truck was loaded.  Now 7 people are sleeping in beds.  They have a table to gather at for meals.  They have sofas to sit on to relax.  They have a TV and a few dishes and many other things.
From this contact a Reserve worker has helped all 5 children enroll in school
Another Reserve worker helped a shipment of food to be delivered Friday morning.

God is leading this work.  This level of assistance would not be possible without his leading.

We will try to continue this work.

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Marv Larue
The Community Reserve

Hope Ministry

This is why we do what we do!!!!!!
Hope Ministry has a program that helps their residents become self sufficient.  They are lead through this program and when they can stand on their own, Hope Ministries help them find housing so they can live independently.
Today one of Hope's graduates came to The Community Reserve for furniture for her new apartment.
#1 A complete full size bed
#2 TV and stand
#3 Microwave
#4 5 straight back chairs
#5 Sofa sleeper
#6 Coffee table
#7  3 lamps

God is great.  Rev J. Brown said a prayer for the group and hugs all around gave this woman a great start in her new life.

We also have great volunteers.  Bob  and  Mike O. were new today, welcome aboard.  Ron worked on the truck and the improvements were needed, and old standbys Myles, Mike L, Ron were helping as well
God is truly great

Marv Larue
The Community Reserve