|
click here for past entries |
|
LUTHER VILLAGE: GIVING CHALLENGE 2022 |
The "phone a thon" portion of the Giving Challege is completed and a huge thank you for everyone who was able to answer the call and talk to our volunteers. Many things happened, you donated when we called, we left you a message and we also have sent out pledge cards and envelopes to hundreds of past campers and donors.
In whatever way we connected with you (maybe it was just through this email) we want you to know that we value your support of Luther Village, in the many ways that comes, donating, volunteering, gift in kind donations and your thoughts and prayers too
This is a friendly reminder that the Luther Village Giving Challenge goes until the end of the year
This is our biggest fundraiser of the year; lots of donations have started coming in and we are so very grateful for your support, we are getting close to the halfway mark of our goal, which is fantastic but means we still have a long way to go!
These are much needed funds to help keep camp open, safe and operational, staffed, clean and in good repair. Just to name a few things your donations help support.
Our goal this year is $40,000 and we can only get there with your support!
Now more than ever, your support is essential!
Reminder to get a tax receipt for 2022 donation must be received by December 31st, 2022
There are many ways that you can donate:
-online by clicking the donate NOW button below etranfer to lv@luthervillage.ca
-cheque mailed to 211 Kimberly Ave. Winnipeg MB R2K 0X3
-making a donation though CANADA HELPS
-make a onetime donation this year for the Giving Challenge and then sign up for monthly donation on PAR going forward.
Donate to the Giving Challange 2022 today!
Contact us for more details:
LV Winter Office (mid-Oct to mid-April)
211 Kimberly Ave
Winnipeg, MB, R2K 0X3
Phone: 204-783-3337
A lot has happened at Luther Village this Spring, Summer and Fall.
We’ve heard about the work being done to create a new and improved Dining Hall, but there is much more being accomplished in terms of infrastructure.
Our focus on Maintenance and Improvements relies on information provided by Co- Executive director Ad van Dijk:
“…this was a very busy year as far as improvements go; camp needs a lot of work maintenance wise just to bring the buildings and infrastructure back up to par…”
These repairs, renovations and improvements include:
Rebuilt the main sewer trunk line from lower campground to behind washrooms
Rebuilt the main water supply plant in the summer shop- ensuring safe drinking water.
Cleared and cleaned SAWMILL Road to allow for easy access to boat trailer storage
Safe removal of some "danger" trees located around camp
Replaced the retaining wall with blast rock and repaired part of the lower campground road which were damaged due to rapid snow melt with massive water runoff.
Repurposed and painted the old sailboat near entrance to camp- filled with plants, flowers and a Canadian Flag
Renovated Moose Pasture cabin to make available for rental purposes.
Renovating Elk Haus to be completed Spring 2023
Demolished the old “seasonal docks” and installed new to LV seasonal and main docks. Creating additional dock spots for all our campers/ cottage owners. Thanks to the owners of Andy Lake for the tractor to help move the docks from the ballfield to the lake.
Built a new fire pump house located on the beach
Provided fire training and drills for all staff and seasonal campers
Lifting and levelling Robin's Roost cabin.
The Winter shop and surrounding yard were emptied, cleaned and re-organized. This includes the removal of 2–40-yard containers of garbage/ junk. All metals / batteries were taken to recycling plant in Kenora. All used lubricants/ chemicals/ paints were safely disposed of at the Kenora transfer station. Upgrades to the "Winter Shop" included installation of new LED lighting and repurposed old generator rooms - one for chemical and fuel storage and one for mall engine repair shop complete with shadow boards.
The Summer shop needed to be saved from slowly shifting into the lake. This involved jacking up the building 18” to bring it back to level, replacing 4 of the support beams. To protect from future water shed damage, a trench was dug in the front of the building, filling it with weeping tile and rock to channel the water away from the new support posts.
Losing this building would mean the loss of the drinking water supply plant located inside.
Winterizing of the camp is complete and camp is closed for the season.
" I am grateful for all the help I received on so many of these projects. Obviously, I was not able to do all this by myself, huge thanks to Nathaniel, Johnny and Joe, our 2022 Maintenance staff, Karl and Trevor our property board chairs, countless volunteers and seasonal campers during May work weekend and throughout the season. Without your help, love and support of Luther Village so much of this would not be possible, you are helping build Luther Village for the future. “Ad
Camp also needs funds to continue to improve, repair and renovate for the future
Please consider a donation to Luther Village.
LUM (Lutheran Urban Ministry):
November 2022 News from your Ministry Manager
Who are the people who are a part of our Lutheran Urban Ministry community?
• The families: single Moms, single Dads, Moms and Dads, Grandparents with children and grandchildren who live with them, and Grandparents with custody of their grandchildren;
• Young men and older men who live in a few group homes nearby within walking distance;
• Some live with mental health issues such as PTSD, FASD, anxiety, depression, bi-polar, etc.;
• People without a home of their own and currently sleeping on the sofas or floors of relatives or friends;
• Some are homeless (recently or chronically) and struggle with mental health issues and/or addictions, or a job loss, or a relationship break-up - and they walk with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness; • People living in poverty - unemployed, working poor, or on disability and struggling with the food insecurity of rising grocery costs: long walks to the nearest grocery store without the luxury of price shopping at multiple stores - sometimes coupled with disabilities and walking with a cane or walker in the winter;
• People struggling with housing insecurity: vulnerable families who are forced to compromise and rent from price gouging landlords when looking for a decent house to rent and often reduced to living in substandard housing; people looking for work; and people who used to work and can no longer do so;
• 80% of our Urban community are First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Some came to Winnipeg from First Nations reserves, looking for a new life in the city - and deal with loneliness, poverty and marginalization;
• Many live with pain, grief and loss from the intergenerational after-effects of residential schools or the 60s Scoop. They have incredible inner strength as they do their best to navigate through this life;
• Single men and women looking for a better place to live than where they presently reside: searching for the stability of a safe, clean and affordable apartment block or rooming house; and,
• Elders/seniors who are struggling with loneliness, poverty, grief, loss, worry, and often disability as well.
Pandemic Notes: Pandemic worries are not yet over in Winnipeg and the Urban continues with the following:
Until Further Notice: the Urban is continuing the suspension of all regular programming (coffee hours, sharing circles, men’s group, worship services, etc.) in the lower level of Lutheran Church of the Cross, due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Struggling and vulnerable single people and families (in the same numbers as pre-pandemic times when we were open downstairs) are continuing to come to the Urban - bagged lunches 4x/week are distributed outside (Wednesday men’s lunch, Wednesday & Thursday supper times and Sunday lunch). Our meal teams are happy to help us in this way and we are so very grateful for this. Our website calendar shows available dates for meal teams. Fellowship is happening briefly in the parking lot as long as weather permits! Worship services and sharing circles will resume when the pandemic is over.
We have changed our pre-pandemic emergency food bags to an equitable “one food item” (if enough in our pantry) per person (two items if a family) once or twice each week during the distribution of bagged lunches. Gloves, socks, seasonal jackets etc. (and weekly bread/pastries) are also distributed outside.
Masks and 2 m social distancing continue to be mandatory on the church sidewalk and parking lot. The line sometimes overflows to the city sidewalk if necessary and all current gathering sizes are enforced as per provincial regulations. The Urban provides a disposable mask if needed.
Our website: www.theurban.ca. Please keep our vulnerable Lutheran Urban Ministry community in your prayers. Please contact me: rhonda@theurban.ca for additional information, or to have your meal team added to the calendar.
Kind regards,
Rhonda Gorham,
Ministry Manager, Lutheran Urban Ministry Corp.