Planting flowers around New Holland--The Hollanders 4H Club in New Holland planted flowers around town.
The flowers were planted in honor of the late Francis Ritterbush.  For many years Francis beautified the town by planting flowers and the club wanted to keep her tradition going.

Painted the radio station--On May 12, 18 people participated in improving the radio station.  Siding was replaced as needed and the radio station was painted.

Genesis Ministries--items purchased were used in four different areas, in conjunction with the volunteer work done by the Lincoln Christian College students during "The week of E". This year's group had 16-20 individuals help daily from March 29-April 4.  The first was used on supplies for the finishing of the apartment for the resident "house mom". She is now living on site and her residence is finished. The second was used for supplies (demolition items), for the gutting of the second wing which is necessary for the beginning of phase two.  This will eventually be the main housing for our future residents.  The third project was the cleaning of the kitchen.  Considerable effort was given in the organization and the removing of unnecessary equipment.  The Thrivent funds helped with the cleaning supplies and paint through  out the whole week.The last area was the front office. Genesis purchased the electrical supplies for this room.  The wiring, outlets, and lighting were installed.  This room is not complete yet.  Six Thrivent members and families provided lunch for the group on that day.   Genesis will be residential home for troubled women who need counseling and help to improve their lives.  They are now taking applications for residents.

Fraternal benefit societies are membership organizations that offer life insurance and other financial products to their members, who are organized into local groups called lodges or chapters.  As not-for-profit organizations, these societies have a strong societal impact--providing hundreds of millions of dollars annually to support and create outreach programs that enable members to build better communities through volunteer, educational, social, religious, patriotic or benevolent activities.  Millions of volunteer hours are donated annually by members of fraternal benefit societies--improving the lives of those in their communties through grassroots action.  For more information, visit www.joinhandsday.org and www.nfcanet.org.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is the nation's largest fraternal benefit society.  Working with and through its members, Thrivent Financial creates and supports volunteer activites tailored to meet needs with in local communities.  For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its members have been strong supporters of Join Hands Day since its start in 2000.  Last year, Thrivent chapters conducted nearly 3,000 Join Hands Day activites nationwide, resulting in nearly 600,000 voluteer hours of service. When thousands of volunteers join hands across the nation on one day, it sends a unified message that volunteerism can--and does--make a profound impact.

JOIN HANDS DAY is a great opportunity to not only tell and show others what we do, but have them experience it as well. Please consider volunteering for a JOIN HANDS DAY activity next year.  If you have any project that could benefit from JOIN HANDS DAY money, please bring it to the Logan County Chapter Board next year for consideration.