GSS Way Committee’s variety of projects support world’s refugees
“In Christ’s love, everyone is someone,” has long been the ongoing theme for the Good Samaritan Society (GSS).
Now, the GSS is reaching out beyond the walls of its various care facilities to share God’s love to the world’s refugees – with the support of the communities in which they are located.
Last November, the National Campus completed a Mission Project, assembling school kits, personal care kits and fleece blankets for refugees around the world, to be distributed through the ministry of Lutheran World Relief.
Nine GSS care facilities in southwestern Minnesota – including the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake (The Village and The Lodge) – have come together to offer a Project Outreach-Refugee Support pilot program.
A team of eight employees from the local GSS – pulled from all areas of patient care – have organized as the GSS Way Committee Project. Team members include Pam Radtke (Activity Department), Barrie Wright (Dietary Department), Mary Lopez (Nursing Care Department), Heather Fredericksen (Nursing Care Department), Alyssa Nesmoe (Front Office), Sue Larson (The Lodge Housing Director), Reva Hulebos (Human Resources) and Anne Reese (Administrator).
The goals of GSS Way are to share God’s love in word and deed, to provide assistance to those in need, to support those who serve, to enable those they serve to also serve others, to host activities that reach out to families and the community and to recognize goodness in their own care centers.
The GSS Way is another vehicle through which to recognize and help those ministries involved in refugee relief. These include Samaritan’s Purse, Lutheran World Relief, Voice of the Martyrs and GEM – Greater Europe Mission – all with the assistance of Thrivent Action Teams.
The Mountain Lake GSS Way Committee has tapped into two current projects supported by Lutheran World Relief – fleece-tied blankets and personal care kits.
Says Reese, ‘There is truly no place like home. And no one knows this fact more than refugees who have been displaced from their homes by conflict or catastrophe. While we cannot fix all of the problems they currently face, we can reach out in compassion and share the love of Christ in tangible ways. Something as simple as a towel and a bar of soap can help a hurting person know that he or she is not forgotten – and that someone cares.
“And,” Reese stresses, “When we help others, we are also giving to Him who said, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.”’
The GSS Way Committee is looking to include community involvement and support to complete these projects. “We are just the ‘keeper of the materials’ for the projects,'” Reese explains. “If God puts support of this effort into one’s heart, there are several ways to help; through volunteering time, providing product or donating money.”
Even the nursing home residents (The Village) and the assisted living tenants (The Lodge) will be getting involved in support of the projects – fulfilling one of the committee’s goals – enabling those they serve to also serve others. They will be the ones – with the assistance of staff and any volunteers – to tie the fleece blankets. Donations of fleece material to make the blankets is accepted These blankets should measure 58′ x 80″.
The personal care kits being compiled – achieving another goal from the list – that of refugee relief by providing assistance to those in need – are packed with one towel, two bars of soap, one toothbrush, one comb and one set of nail clippers.
In addition, the Mountain Lake GSS Way Committee will be supporting Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers who are assisting asylum seekers arriving on Greek soil. A contingent of area residents – Tim Swoboda, GSS Administrator for nine care facilities in southwestern Minnesota; Mike Nelson and his daughter, Ashton Nelson; as well as Lori Golinghorst ;Kurt Jahnke; Eric and Anita Schlabach and their son, Leighton Schlabach; Jason and Laura Penner; Beth Lohrenz; Gary Poortvliet; Jason and Mikayla Clipperton; John Niessen and Shane Toutges, left Mountain Lake on Saturday, February 20, and will be working with Samaritan’s Purse until Sunday, March 6. To learn more about the service of Samaritan’s Purse, go to: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/voyage-to-a-second-life/
All items for these projects are due on Friday, April 15. On Saturday morning, April 16, the blankets and kits will be packaged for shipment to refugee centers by anyone wishing to volunteer. Time of packing is yet to be determined.
But successfully fulfilling that pair of projects will not be the end of the story.
Beginning in May, new projects will begin as the circle of hope continues – and could include the creation of baby care kits and school kits, perhaps involving the Mountain Lake Public High School and Mountain Lake Public Elementary School Student Councils.
