Salvation Army Donation

God turned the $20 tithe I was given into $470 given to the Salvation Army. All praise, glory, and honor goes to the one true God and his son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Reaching out...

My wife, daughters and myself are actually members of St. Matthews Lutheran (WELS) in Spokane, but nevertheless, we participated in your $20 Project, which we thought was a great idea.
One of the many things I do is run an Animaland (same a Build-A-Bear) event program through the schools in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City, Nevada. I set aside the $20 for the purchase of skins and outfits at my cost to use with the schools that I work with in Nevada.
After I ran the designated event (which was actually in Susanville, CA) that I had set aside the $20 for, I took all of that profit as well as the original $20 and donated it to the Spokane Crisis Shelter. My wife also dropped off a women's study bible, a teen bible, and a children's bible at the shelter.
We felt blessed to be a part of the Redeemer $20 Project even though we are (WELS). Maybe our two synods no longer fellowship, but we are all still brothers and sisters in Christ.
My family has chosen to worship with you this Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas,

Did you see?

Did you see the story about the $20 Project in the Spokesman Review?  If not, you can find it HERE.  There is still time to send in your $20 Project stories.  Email us at 20dollarproject@redeemeralive.org.  

Lynda, Rustin and Joseph Hall display the partially completed gingerbread castle they are making for Christ Kitchen’s annual Gingerbread Build-off. They took on the castle construction as part of the $20 project at Reedemer Lutheran Church in the Spokane Valley.

Our Family Project

Our families elected to combine their $20 Project funds ($120 total) and use them to support "The Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive" a program that matches donated pajamas with a new book from Scholastic Books. We advertised and then collected new pajamas from Preschool families,. Movie Night attenders, and Keller-Williams realtors. Our pajamas became 51 pairs and 51 new books to be combined with 6,402 pairs already collected as of 12/07/2010. These will be distributed to abused or abandoned children, many never able to enjoy the comfort of having a mother or father to tuck them in at bedtime. We thank God for programs like this that provide a warm and cozy Christmas for vulnerable children both here and around the world.

Getting Children Involved in the $20 Project!

It is important to us that our family's $60 went toward something or someone that personally affects our children.  Even though there are so many wonderful nonprofit organizations out in our community and world, we wanted our money to go toward a cause that would leave our kids with an emotional connection.  We noticed that at our regular grocery store, Barney's Harvest Foods, on Dishman Mica, that one of our favorite staples, Teri, is going through cancer and the store had a fundraiser bake sale and raffle to help raise funds.  When our kids found out that a person that brings such joy to us every time we enter the store is going through such a hard time, in less than 10 sec. the decision was made to donate the money to her.  The monetary donation is so much more than just a dollar amount.  It's that little piece of love, hope, and the feeling of "I can help her this way" that we want our children to not only remember, but carry on in their lives as they grow up.

My $20 Project Story...

I spend a lot of time at Barneys, our local grocery store.  I learned one day that a checker named Terri, who has been there many years, was recently diagnosed with cancer. The employees of Barneys were advertising a bake sale that they were planning for Nov. 20^th to raise money for Terri and her family. I used my $20 to purchase ingredients to make a case of “bars in a jar” (layered ingredients for bars in a quart size mason jar). All the jars sold! My $20 was more than tripled and all the proceeds went to Terri. I felt so blessed to help with this community effort.      

Helping Local Teens

We received $20 from Redeemer on the $20 Project Sunday.  We decided to add an additional $100 of our own money making our total $120.  After much thought, we decided to use our money to help local homeless teens through the Cross Walk organization.    We discovered that Cross Walk cares for approximately 450 teens and children per week.  Cross Walk volunteers walk the streets at night giving out small necessities to kids on the street.

We took our $120 to the Union Gospel Mission thrift store to purchase hats and gloves to donate to Cross Walk.  While there, we told the story of the $20 Project to the employees.  Upon hearing of this amazing project, the UGM employees agreed to give us an additional 80 hand-crocheted hats and neck warmers.     After the trip the UGM thrift store, we had $40.00 remaining.  We went to Costco and purchased candy bars and energy bars.

We took all of these items to Cross Walk.  As we were leaving on that cold day, we saw several young teenagers entering.  All of them were cold and none were wearing warm winter clothing.  We felt so blessed to have been able to help such a wonderful organization.

May God continue to open the hearts of the community to keep the vulnerable members of our community warm and well cared for.

Founded in 1985, Crosswalk is an emergency shelter, a school drop-out prevention program, and a group of lifesaving and life-changing programs dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth homelessness. In an average year, Crosswalk serves more than 1,000 youth. Emergency shelter is available 365 days a year and all services are free and voluntary.

Most Crosswalk kids (ages 13-17) have complicated personal histories that include:

• family conflict
• lack of education
• substance abuse
• mental health issues
• high risk for depression and suicide
• sexual abuse or rape
• parental substance abuse

Crosswalk restores hope and encourages personal responsibility among homeless youth, including those who eventually return to their families, by providing:

• family reconciliation services
• clothing, showers and personal hygiene products
• employment-readiness program and job-placement assistance
• independent living training including life-skills and self-sufficiency classes
• attachment and bonding classes for young mother and fathers
• on site Head Start program
• medical and mental-health care
• school drop-out prevention program
• substance-abuse treatment and prevention
• tutoring and enrichment activities
• college scholarship opportunities (donor funded)
• transportation 
• access to our transitional housing programs

Run by a small professional staff, Crosswalk relies heavily on the generosity of churches, service clubs, families and businesses who provide daily meals as well as community volunteers who provide tutoring and enrichment activities and donors who provide financial support, in-kind services and scholarship funds.

Another great story!

Our family received $40 for my son and I from the $20 Project.  We took the first $20 and saved two lives with the Lutheran Malaria Initiative Fundraiser.  We took the second $20 and purchased food for the Cub Scout Food Drive.  My son picked both causes and was very proud he saved lives and helped people have food for Thanksgiving.  Such a great experience for him.

What a great idea the $20 project is!!!!   Thank you Redeemer!!!

Multiplying Servant Leaders

I love Jesus’ examples to us of Servant Leadership.  He willingly gets down on his knees and washes feet, welcomes children, touches hurting people and serves humankind with humility.  I was honored to be asked by my friend Logan to speak to the Leadership class at University High School.  I couldn’t help but speak about Servant Leadership.   The students shared their stories of people in their lives that have demonstrated Servant Leadership to them.  They told of brothers and sisters that had cared for one another when no one else seemed to care.  They spoke of grandparents that loved without conditions.  They shared about friends that were there for them in times of hurt and need.  They pointed to teachers that gave more than expected.  They pointed to Servant Leaders all around them.

God blessed me to be a part of Redeemer’s $20 Project.  I was able to give the students that shared their stories of Servant Leadership gift certificates to Subway, Starbucks or Cold Stone Creamery with the agreement that they would take the person who demonstrated servant leadership to them out for a treat and tell them how valued they are to them.  Jesus’ example of Servant Leadership is multiplying throughout the Spokane Valley.

Drive for Dollars!

My $20 was added to many more donations from members of the Washington State Society of CPA's at a recent "Drive for Dollars" event. I, along with many other CPA's, stood on the corner of Monroe and Main street with a bucket and a sign soliciting donations for Second Harvest. It was very rewarding to see how many generous people contributed! My $20, added to many others and multiplied into $13,100 collected for Second Harvest in one day!!

A Creative Spin on the $20 Project!

We love to cook and entertain our friends and family.  What better way to combine that with the $20 project.  We decided to use our combined $40 and provide a dinner for friends with the stipulation that this was a fund raiser for our two projects: Union Gospel Mission Thanksgiving Dinners and Spokane School District 81 Lunch Box Donations.  We decided that our donations would be split between our two causes.  Invitations were sent out for a dinner with a Free Will Offering Donation for Dinner.  Our kind friends enjoyed a lasagna dinner and fellowship while helping us raise $260.00  for our two projects.  My husband worked for a manufacturer of licensed children's dinnerware and is now working for a school district.  The employee sale at the old job gave him the opportunity to purchase 175 children's lunch bags (which usually retail for up to $1500-2000 total) for 25 cents each.  Our five cartons of  lunch bags in our garage as well as needed school supplies will be going to children of Spokane School District.  My husband spent $72.00 for the lunch bags and school supplies and I took checks totaling $188 to the Union Gospel Mission to help feed people on Thanksgiving.  UGM says they can feed these meals for $1.79 each so I assume our donation will cover around 105 meals. 

We thank God for the opportunity to share this bounty with his earthly children.

Lessons for Children...

Our family received $60.00.

My wife and I took $40.00 that we were given and added another $60, and sent it to the local chapter of Susan G. Komen.  $75 will stay locally  to help women and their families that need assistance will their fight against breast cancer.  The other $25 will go to the National Susan G. Komen research fund.

The remaining $20 we gave to our 2 boys.  One son suggested giving it to Tom's Turkey Drive.   On the way to Rosauers, we stopped at the bank so our sons could cash $25 birthday checks.  The teller asked one of my sons where he was going to spend his birthday money and he told her that it was going to Tom's turkey drive.  She said great and informed us that she was headed to Rosauers after work to be a volunteer for a few hours at the turkey drive.  On the way out of the bank, a gentlemen stopped us and asked if we were headed to the turkey drive (he had obviously over heard our conversation with the teller).  We told him "yes", and then he handed us $8 and asked us if we would donate it for him.  This was the best part of the whole "turkey drive" trip because my kids got to witness a stranger trusting us with his money to donate to a worthy cause.  We then headed to Rosauers to donate the money/buy turkey dinners.   Bottom line:  $20 (from Redeemer) + $45 (from our boys) + $20 (from my wife and I) + $8 (from the man at the bank)= $93 to Tom's Turkey Drive.

When we were leaving Rosauers, I said to my boys, "Wouldn't it be great to be a millionaire and be able to give  money away all the time?"  When I looked at them, they both agreed and had big grins on their faces.

Thanks for a great experience, Redeemer!

Cool Water Bikes - A great local cause!

This is a great idea from a member of the Redeemer Cycling Group!  If you're still looking for an idea to multiply your $20, this is a great local cause! 

I have personally been inspired by the creativity of several people as they extended themselves to try and multiply their $20 gift.  I have selected for my $20  project to support Cool Water Bikes.    Cool Water Bikes is a ministry of " A Cup of Cool Water" a Christian outreach group that targets homeless teens in Spokane.  I encourage you to watch the video on their website.    The bike shop refurbishes used bikes & sells bikes, parts and repair services to the public.  In addition they work with the youth in their program to build up a bike which is then given to the youth for their use.How can you help?The bike shop is in need of things which you may have in excess.  Your old bike, bike parts and any other gear related to cycling.  A cash gift would be a huge benefit to the organization as bike sales can be slow in the winter (go figure).

If you are interested in partnering with the Redeemer Cycling Group on this project, please leave a comment here or email us at 20dollarproject@redeemeralive.org.

Betty's Bed

The Saturday before Redeemer decided to tithe through the $20 project God presented the opportunity to give. The overnight cashier walked into the store and I noticed that she looked tired beyond the usual first day of work tired. She replied, "I'm having a hard time sleeping during the day". After taking a minute to figure out what was going

on- I realized she didn't have a bed.

After hitting the "reset button" on life Betty was just starting over. 

She had her first job in 18 years, an adopted high schooler from a previous rough marriage and no assets. Enter Church.

Her old friend took her in and helped her get onto her feet, an apartment and helped her gain a small  community. Then some extra $$ showed up on a Sunday. Joy, my sister, and Natalie's parents pitched in their $20 totaling $100. I asked a couple people at work to match the project and Natalie and I offered to cover the rest. We went to several places to buy a mattress when Walker's cut us a deal on a $270 adult twin mattress- we got it and a frame for 180 with tax.

We delivered the bed and took Betty to Macys where Natalie and I had leftover gift cards. Betty picked out sheets, pillows, blankets and a quilt. Using our "wedding completion bonus" we got the whole set for under $100. All told we would have spent ~$500 if it had not been for generosity and extra discounts.

The best part was being able to share with Betty why all this was happening. Because a Church decided to give back what God had given. 

We were able to share with Betty that a community of friends and co- workers is pulling for her and that God loves her. After a prayer of thanks Natalie and I left.

This is how $20 turned into a bed.

An Inspiring Post...

This is such an inspiring post of how the $20 Project is being used to help locally!

**UPDATE**  Hi there.

I wanted to update the blog I did.  It is the one with the picture of Hannah and Snow White.......

God has really been amazing!  My mother-in-law and I sold 89 dozen cookies, more then quadrupling the $80 for Make a Wish foundation.

Praise God!!!!

Can't wait to see what God has in store for us! My family received $80 from Redeemer for the $20 project.  Not knowing what to do with it, I put it in our safe.  A week later, at my older son's soccer game, my wonderful mother-in-law tells me she sold some of my cookies.  That day we decided to bake and sell my awesome cookies. 
It took another week before God put it my heart to give the proceeds to Make a Wish Foundation.  My best friends daughter, Hannah, was a benefactor of this great Foundation.
Hannah was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, which is an underdevelopment of facial bones and muscles.  Hannah has a tracheal tube for breathing and a feeding tube for nourishment because of these underdevelopments.  Hannah has many challenges that lie ahead, including surgeries that can be life threatening.
It was just before Hannah's 3rd birthday that Hannah's parents learned about an anonymous letter that was sent to Make a Wish Foundation.  Exactly one year later, Hannah and her family spent her 4th birthday at Disney World.  Hannah got to be a princess!
So my mother-in-law and I have our game plan.  To this date she has sold 32 dozen of my delicious Raspberry Almond Shortbread cookies.   We are also having a Christmas goodie bake sale on December 5th between services.  My dear friend, Hannah, and her family will be joining us at the bake sale.

Taking It To Work!

We love to hear that individuals are not only working with other Redeemer members, but also taking the $20 Project into their offices!  Here is a great story...

I just wanted to let you know that Laura and I, who both go to Redeemer, pooled our $20, and went to our workplace and challenged everyone to step up and feed a family for Thanksgiving.  We ended up turning our $40 into $265 with the help of our  co-workers!  We will now get 2 families, buy the food and deliver Thanksgiving dinner! 

Here is one more:

My husband took his $20 to work. At his safety meeting he talked about how lucky they all are because they are working(the costruction trade is being hit hard right now by this economy). He then passed around the hat. He collected about $60 which will all go to the food bank in Ellensberg, WA.

*UPDATE*
I told you last week that my husband took his $20 and made it into $60 for the Ellensburg Food Bank. I lied.....he actually made it into $120. The cool thing is he was telling me that he intends to do this every year now.
What a great idea the $20 project is.
Thanks to the Redeemer Staff.

Another Great Story...

**UPDATE**  An update to the story below:  Our older son was called to be in a movie as an extra, but he had to cut his hair for the part.  He decided not to do it, until he learned they were willing to pay him....  So what is he doing with his VERY FIRST pay check ever?  Donating the rest of the money we needed to finish our $20 project! 



Our family of four decided we would all use our $20 bills for the same purpose and we also decided that the boys (ages 7 and 9) would be in charge of finding a project for which to use it.  Last Christmas we bought some gifts from OxFam Unwrapped for family members and the boys thought that donations to OxFam would be a great use of the funds.

According to their website, OxFam is “an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.”  The boys went searching through the OxFam catalog for the things they thought that a family in need would most be able to use.  They chose a goat, since it can eat just about anything and turn it into milk and fertilizer; a flock of starter chicks, to provide eggs and meat; a sheep to provide wool for clothing and other textiles; and a vegetable garden to put nutritious food on the table.  The additional produce not consumed by the family can be sold to provide income for school tuition, medicine and other necessities.

The combined cost for the four items they chose is $170.  Redeemer gave $80, the boys each put in $5 and the grown-ups matched their $5, plus the grown-ups each matched the $20 that Redeemer gave them, so we are up to $140.  We need to raise an additional $30 to provide the gifts we chose and the boys are praying nightly for help and inspiration in that endeavor.  We’re hoping to use Redeemer’s gift to not only provide milk, eggs, wool and educational opportunity in an impoverished community, but also to encourage thoughtful, sharing hearts in two Spokane boys.

Another great idea!

**UPDATE**  The girls raised $371 through their efforts for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery! 

Look what a group of girls decided to do with their $20!  Way to go girls!!

Here We Go!

 The stories have been trickling in!  We love hearing how you are using your $20 to live out "the Word and healing ministry of Jesus".  Here is just one story of how $20 was used:

"I just wanted to report that I have sent the $20 you gave me on Sunday to World Vision to help fight malnutrition.  They had sent me some information indicating that relentless drought and food scarcity are leading to more child deaths.  Without sustainable food sources, many African families cannot provide healthy food for their children.  They urgently need our help to ease the pain of hunger that so many families face.  The $20 gift will be multiplied 8x to help save children's lives."

$20 Project Success!

A big "Thank You" to everyone who helped us kick off the $20 Project at all three worship services today.  If you missed the opportunity to hear about this project, here is a brief recap.  Redeemer Lutheran Church recently sold a piece of property.  From the sale of that property we felt it was our obligation to tithe on the income we received.  With the Board of Director's approval and with Malachi 3:10 as our inspiration, we choose a rather creative way to tithe.  Each man, woman and child in attendance today received a $20 bill and were charged with giving prayerful consideration to how he/she/they could use this money to glorify God.  We pray that God will multiply this money while we live out the Word and healing ministry of Jesus Christ. 

We would love to hear your plans.  Maybe your family is partnering with another family to serve in a larger way?  Have your children come up with a unique way to help?   How has this project inspired you?  We look forward to hearing your stories!

Welcome to the $20 Project

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse...test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."  

~God

Our Mission...
"The Mission of Redeemer Lutheran Church is to live out the Word and healing ministry of Jesus by calling people to live in community with God and each other."