Spring has come, along with April showers

Spring has come and the showers have started. What comes after showers,[ May Flowers] flooding. Many people are effected by flood water every year. Who is there to help them? We are one of several agencies that are here to help. We help with food and clothing. We also help with rent assistance and utilities. Christmas is a busy time for us, but the spring is when we see needs peek. We raise money during Christmas to help us through out the year, but by the end of spring it is all but gone.

Your help has been great and we thank you. If you find that you can help again please do. You financial help keeps our doors open and the assistance we give going. We have been serving the Lafayette. IN area for 114 years this May and wish to continue to do so. God has blessed us by calling on you to help.

Receive a blessing for Him today.

Major Nelson De La Vergne, Corps Officer her in Lafayette, IN

Spring has arrived and Easter is this Sunday April 4Th.

Spring brings rain and growth of flowers and grass. The budding of leaves on trees. Then the sounds of people working in there yards. The joy of spring is in the air.

Easter brings the Son who die on a cross and on the third day rose from the grave. Giving a promise of life renewed. Free of death, free of illness, free of the hurts of this world. Life that is pure with out a speck of sin.

We think of spring and Easter as a time to start again. Time to plant new flowers and plants, time to put on a fresh coat of paint on the house and fence. Time to restart the fitness program to lose weight. Time to look to God for His Grace so rich and free as it is written in His word. Time to call upon Him to refresh us with a clean start, new life. Yes, Spring and Easter is a good time to restart, but shouldn’t we just keep in His light all the year long and then be refreshed on Easter.

Don’t forget to go to the Easter service this Sunday. It can be a new start for you.

Nelson De La Vergne, Corps Officer of the Lafayette, IN, The  Salvation Army

Homeward Bound Walk Is Coming Up Fast

Yes, the Homeward Bound Walk is coming soon! It will be held on April 10th, 2010 at Riehle Plaza here in Lafayette, Indiana. Registration starts at 9 a.m. then at 9:45 a.m. there will be a time of Greetings from our area dignitaries. Next, at 10 a.m. we will step off for the walk.

If you would like to be a part of this fundraiser you can go to the Homeward Bound website (www.HomewardBoundIndiana.org) to register. I would ask that you choose The Salvation Army of Lafayette as your support agency. You can pick any of the agencies listed. So come out and join us – rain or shine!

Money raised through the walk will go to help local agencies that work with the homeless in many ways. I look forward to seeing you there!

Major Nelson De La Vergne

Go Fly a Kite – A Story From Haiti

Richard Deris and Wasnel Samuel Guirand are living temporarily in a tent outside The Salvation Army Haiti Divisional Headquarters in Port-au-Prince.

It’s a breezy day in Port-au-Prince, and its boring in their tent. For centuries a breeze anywhere in the world has attracted children and their kites, and these kids are no exception. But, Richard and Wasnel had no kite and no money with which to buy one.

So, they made their own.

Using a discarded garbage bag, strips of cloth salvaged from the near-by trash canal and stripping the middle spine of a coconut palm leaf, they fashioned small kites that catch the wind and provide hours of play and relief  from the boredom of their present circumstances.

What a simple, beautiful way to remind oneself that in the wake of a terrible natural disaster, joy and a little fun can still be found in the sun that continues to shine and the breeze that continues to blow.

RESPONDING TO HAITI DONATION REQUESTS:

Bulletin Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 12:47:04 PM CDT

Source: Jeff Curnow,

Public and Corporate Relations

The Salvation Army USA Central Territory

10 W Algonquin Road — Des Plaines, IL 60016

W: 847-294-2046 M: 847-571-1868

jeff_curnow@usc.salvationarmy.org

RESPONDING TO HAITI DONATION REQUESTS:

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THE BEST WAY TO HELP

The most effective way to help is through a cash donation. Cash can be sent efficiently to Haiti and used to help those in need while giving a much needed boost to the local Haitian economy. The Salvation Army pledges that 100% of donations received for disaster relief will be used for that purpose.

BY PHONE:

Those wishing to donate money by phone can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)

BY INTERNET

Those wishing to donate online can go to

BY MAIL:

Those wishing to send donations by check (please make sure to write “Haiti” in the memo field) can send that check to:

The Salvation Army World Service Office

International Disaster Relief Fund

PO Box 630728

Baltimore, MD 21263-0728.

NEW—BY CELL PHONE!

Donors can now send the word “Haiti” to 52000 via text message on their cell phone. A $10.00 donation will appear on their next cell phone bill. The donor’s cell phone carrier may charge them the standard text messaging rates.

The Salvation Army cannot accept the following for Haiti at this time:

Requests to Volunteer:

At this time we have no way to send volunteers to Haiti from the MidWest. We truly appreciate your willingness to help, but the situation in Haiti is very dangerous and fluid, and there are no facilities to house Haitian survivors or injured. It would be impossible—at this point—to be able to host volunteers.

Donations of Goods:

We have received no requests for donations of goods, furniture, clothing or other material gifts. Gifts of in-kind materials are always needed by your Salvation Army thrift store to support the work in your local community. If you wish to donate to your local thrift store, please call 1-800-95TRUCK or visit http://www.satruck.com Please keep in mind that acceptance of material goods for “disaster survivors only” is not possible, as the logistics and added expense for transportation of these items is not practical.

www.salvationarmyusa.org and click on the “Haiti Earthquake Relief” graphic.

UPDATED 1/14/10

About The Salvation Army:

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to

www.salvationarmyusa.org. To donate, please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY or go to www.salvationarmyusa.org

Happy New Year

It is a Happy New Year. We made the goal for the Red Kettle Campaign 09. The goal of $325,000.00 has been reached. Now to pay the bills from Christmas and be able to assist in the needs of 2010. We know that the gas prices have gone up again and heating homes is high as well. Right now heat is a must with temps at 5% and sometimes even lower. We are pleased that we have made our goal. Now will it take us through until our next fun raising cycle. We have seen more people in need these last few months compared to the last two years. With the loss in funds from United Way and other smaller granters we will need to do even more to raise the dollars needed for this year.

With that said we thank all who gave this past Christmas to help us get a good start to the new year. We wish each and every one a great year of peace and joy in the days to come.

Major Nelson De La Vergne

Corps Officer of The Salvation Army here in Lafayette IN

It Is Almost Christmas!

It is just two days to Christmas. Shopping is almost completed and Christmas baking is almost done too. What would we do without the word (almost). I can tell you that we are about there. Where you say. To the goal of $325,000 we have about 20% to go. Kettles are doing great with one more day to go. You can still send in your donation by mail or through the on-line kettles. I am so glad to say we are ALMOST there.

 I also want to thank our community for help out in time of need. Many families will receive assistance with (Food , Rent, Utilities, Clothing and Shelter for those families that need it for a short time).

I look forward to seeing and hearing from many of you in the New Year. May your hearts be open to the blessing that God has for you.

Major Nelson De La Vergne

Corps Officer of the Lafayette, IN ( The Salvation Army)

Thank You, Lafayette and Tippecanoe County.

We want to thank the people of Lafayette and Tippecanoe County for stepping up to help The Salvation Army of Lafayette IN meet the Christmas request of almost 500 families. We asked and you gave, thank you. What this means is we will be able to  use the dollars raised in the Red Kettle Campaign for services the next six months. We still have a ways to go to meet the $325,000.00 goal. We are half way there and we thank you for that too. It is a JOY to live and work here in Tippecanoe County because of the caring people that live here as-well. I believe that our heavenly Father will bless this community for its caring and sharing with others. Thank you again.

Major Nelson De La Vergne

Commanding Officer of the Lafayette Corps.

Less than Ten Days until Christmas

Yes there is only about ten days until Christmas. Christmas is a fun time of the year and a very busy one here at The Salvation Army. Some times we get so caught up in the business of buying that special gift and making sure the house looks just right for the holiday. We forget about those that are lost in the darkness. Let me tell you about a call I received this year. It was from a grandmother who was going to have a party for her two grandchilrens birthdays, they talked about the needs of others and what gifts they would like. The two children decide they wanted to have a party where all the  gifts would go to a needy child for Christmas. I was invited to this party and when I got there they had a bag full of gifts. You should have seen the proud face’s on those seven year olds. I thank them and told the message of the gift of giving. Others is the theme of Christmas. Our giving helps others. You can have proud face’s too, use your gift of giving this Christmas. You will be blessed and bless others too.

Thank you.

Major Nelson De La Vergne, Commanding Officer of the Lafayette, IN, Salvation Army.

Christmas Is Getting Closer

Yes, Christmas is just around the corner. Have you completed your family shopping? If so how about your gift giving to others? What better way to give than in the Red Kettle of The Salvation Army. You that your donation is used not just at Christmas, but through out the year. It is great to receive gifts under the tree at Christmas, but what a gift itis that keeps on giving through out the year. We serve all year long people in need of assistance. At Christmas you see us most, we will assist around 500 families from the Lafayette, IN, Tippecanoe County area. Many more through out the year. We need you to keep the smiles on the faces of those we serve and yours too. To know that you have helped a family stay warmthis winter and have gifts under thier tree brings a smile to all. I pray that when the Red Kettle Campaign is all done I can have a big smile right along with you.

Thank you all for giving and caring for Others.

Remember the CHRIST of CHRISTmas.

 

Major Nelson De La Vergne

Corps Officer of the Lafayette, IN (The Salvation Army)

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