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We Can’t Say Thank You Enough! Although I would like to be, I am not privy to every single person who stops by, gives to this ministry or sends donations. This is a testimony to how many generous supporters we have in this community. In fact, there are so many people who stepped up from our Grand Opening of Peggy’s House 2018 to Christmas 2019 that it’s almost a guarantee I will inadvertently forget someone. If this happens to be true, I truly apologize from the bottom of my heart. Thankfully God knows your hearts and acts of service. I strive to be grateful in life and I find it is important for us to publicly thank all of you in the Flathead Valley for coming through and helping us assist 71 families with dinner and presents through our ‘Adopt a Family for Christmas’ program. It was not only a blessing to witness people’s desire to give but to see the humble appreciation of those receiving. It was truly a splendid sight, and we are so proud we could help facilitate this event. So bless you and thank you for those who opened up your wallets and hearts to give to strangers in need. Also praying for blessings over the families who had the courage to seek assistance; may you reciprocate the love you received, in order to pay it forward to others in 2020. I would also like to express appreciation to the following: Heavenly Father, we would like to thank you for your love, patience and allowing us to serve you. Bob & Peggy Christensen, thank you for creating a refuge that allows us to reach the tired, lost and lonely and to introduce them to our Savior. There were also those of you that financially supported us. Those funds went to buy gifts and dinner for those we weren’t able to match with adopters for Christmas. As well as continuing to help us fund this ministry and help people who want to help themselves have a better present and prosperous future. Thank you for picking us worthy of your charitable donations and we appreciate your continued support! We also want to make sure we thank everyone who took the time to pick a Wish off the Giving Tree at the mall and those who donated gifts directly to the women, children and men living in our shelters. It allowed us to ensure each guest had gifts with their names on them. It truly was a special Christmas. One of the ladies actually stated, “This was the best Christmas she has ever had”, as she grew up with parents who were addicts. So many people donated to our Thrift Store throughout the year making this one of the best Christmas shopping seasons we have ever had. We thank everyone for thinking of AROH and your generous giving. Dave E. and Thad because of your guidance the store looks amazing as well. To the very special lady who made sure the men in Helmville had a great Christmas, we want to say thanks, you are truly what this ministry is about. Your selfless generosity, your sweet spirit and the hours you volunteer remind us to treat strangers like family. It’s what the Lord asks of us, to slow down and take the time to think not of ourselves but what can we do that would be a hand up to someone else. We also appreciate our Hope Thift volunteers Debbie and Jo Scott as well as Arvid who greets customers coming in and out of Hope Thrift. Volunteers! Volunteers! May the Lord bless you for donating your time. Amy and your sweet boys, you blessed us and others by shoveling and wrapping presents. Thanks you all so much! Marcella and Nikki your generosity truly blessed others this Christmas. An enormous thank you to Mrs. MacGregor’s class at Trinity Lutheran, bless your precious hearts. We are grateful as well to the foreign language students from the high school who shopped for families. Linda and Kathy we thank you for always making A Ray of Hope a priority and dropping by much needed donations. Dan, thank you for Walter’s new oasis. Sherry and Bonnie we appreciate your prayers and support. Thank you to Dave, our Director and Tom, our Office Manager, if we could all have the God fearing, generous hearts you both have, we would truly be blessed! I am grateful to think of all of you as friends. To Betsy and Central Christian Church for putting on your annual Christmas dinner with ambiance, it has become a cherished annual event. And to Lois for your dedication to feed us once a month, we appreciate you and pray for a speedy recovery. We’re grateful to the egg lady, dessert lady and Farmer, for always providing us with farm fresh eggs, fruits, veggies and desserts. Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Ottey and Carol at Trinity Lutheran, we had the best flower gardens on this side of town. For those who bought bricks, our entry way into Peggy’s House is full of praise, prayers and remembrances. Bricks are also still available to be purchased as well, for those who thought they missed the opportunity. Thank you to the Senior Center, the Linus Project and all the churches and organizations who brought blankets, hats, gloves and more for our guests.
“To the anonymous giver who provided both shelters with a fantastic Christmas dinner, we appreciate your spirit of giving. Bless you!!
Target, thank you for the baby start bags. Thank you to Badger Excavating, LHC and Montana CAD for the rocks! You guys rock! To Claire Fraser and Jeanne Floyd, you were behind the scenes ensuring this Christmas was special for everyone and I appreciate how much you continuously give back for what you have been given. I appreciate the men at the men’s shelter allowing me to come over and put up lights and a tree at your house. No bah-humbug for you this year. Thanks Wayne & Scott for always keeping it real! We are so grateful for an amazing team of board members and Trustee’s who truly care about the vision and future of AROH. Thank you Dave, M., Glenda and Dorothy for morning Bible Study and helping us to arm ourselves with the Holy Spirit at the beginning of our day. For the guest’s who have passed through our shelters and the one’s yet to enter our doors, you are prayed for. For those who attended the Grinch Fest it was quite entertaining. We would like to thank Tiffany Crystal Photography, Jodie Cross from your 406 Dream Team at Keller Williams Realty and Red Lion. This was a great event and as a bonus, raised funds for renovations needed at our men’s shelter. Bill McGuffie is amazing and has so generously picked AROH to be the nonprofit beneficiary for his ‘Annual Catfish Fry & Gatherin’ for the last 6 years. We also couldn’t raise funds for our fundraisers if it wasn’t for the generous spirit of the organizations eager to help out with donations to our silent auction and raffles. Your help truly makes a difference! Volunteers! Volunteers! May the Lord bless you for donating your time. Amy and your sweet boys, you blessed us and other by shoveling and wrapping. Thanks you all so much! To those organizations that approved funds for grants, you ensured our doors remained open. Thank you especially to the Denny & Phyllis Washington, The Whitefish Community and the Gianforte Foundations. I couldn’t close without a special gratitude to my husband for loving me even when I am undeserving and choosing to live with a house full of ladies and children, so that I can do what I love to do. Thank you dear! With your support, we hope to continue to do God’s work and serve those in the community with nowhere to turn. To provide them a safe harbor and by God’s grace the opportunity for a different future. We look forward to continue serving men, women and children throughout 2020 and partnering with you again next year. God Bless!