Hello friends,

This morning, Justin and I had an opportunity to go watch the first few pages of the book printed off. It was unbelievable to actually see and realize the whole thing is almost done. And we can hardly wait to share it with all of you! 

It will be here by the first week of June. And we’re in the process of setting up a release party right now so you can come out, pick up your copy, and celebrate the immediate impact we’re making on Iowa’s shelter system.

Which brings up why I’m writing. The book will end up being 88 pages long. This is about 25 pages longer than we originally planned. Adding this many pages, allowed Justin, Wesley, and Nicole to produce the beautiful art complimenting each written story. Adding this many pages also cost about $2100 more. 

If you want to help us get the book to you, your pre-order of the book would be much appreciated! Plus, it’ll save you $5. Order here: http://www.shriekingtree.com/growingcommunity/.

I’ll keep you posted about when and where the release party will be.

Much thanks,
Danny Heggen

Hello Friends,

So sang the sign on CROSS Ministries door this morning: “Temporarily out of funds”. 

What does this mean? CROSS is supported by a series of grants and donations. Each month they are alloted a certain amount of funds to give out. When this runs out however, all they can give to those who stop by are rations of food and hygiene products. 

Check out more information about this here: http://www.crossministriesdm.org/

This also means no one was outside this morning. 

How can we continue to help? CROSS is run on donations. And the ultimate goal of our taking breakfast to those standing in line is to increase support and larger community awareness. With more community awareness, more support of the ministry itself can be achieved. 

And how awesome would it be to see another counselor hired over there, resulting in an increased number of those who can be helped each day? 

It is possible. It just needs to happen. 

Check out the website. Let me know what you think we could do. Let us be the hands. 

Also, send it to someone else today. You never know what could happen.

So be it.
Danny

Hello friends,

Your help yesterday was outstanding! I have to admit I was caught off guard by the sudden response and helpful hands that offered assistance. 

By the time the day ended, there were 8 grocery bags full of breakfast food on the bench in our front entryway. Thirty-seven boxes of granola bars/pop-tarts/nutri-grain bars were donated! This means there will be enough for at least the next two weeks. We also had a friend donate coloring books and crayons. 

You’re all so awesome. And you’re all completely welcome to keep dropping things by the house.

This morning I took our first delivery of food over. There were a dozen adults standing outside the church and two children. They were all conversing in the slowing rain. Those who couldn’t fit under the over hang had their hoods up. As I approached, I had no idea how I was going to get any of their attention. 

Walking down the sidewalk with bag of bars in hand, the crowd parted to let me through, probably thinking I was just a usual passerby. But I stopped when I reached them. And I held the bag open, offering all I had, asking if anyone was hungry. A woman asked if they were for free. “Of course,” I said. 

And the kids got one. I told their parents to take more for them. Someone asked why I was there. So I told them that I was a neighbor and had gained the support from a bunch of friends to bring food by in the morning. 

They told me to send a thanks.

I had the opportunity to speak with a Sudanese man named Peter. He moved to Iowa in 2003 and had been working for a business in Ankeny until recently. When he was fired, he was left to figure out how to not only support himself but his daughter. His daughter, who was now running around the parking lot with half a granola bar in her mouth, smiled when she heard her name spoken. And then the granola bar broke in half. Her eyes started to well up when she saw it on the ground. But I pulled out another and told her it was ok. We had more than enough. So she grabbed it and got back to running around.

Peter told me how he’d shown up late yesterday – too late to receive any help. The line had started at 7am. He’d shown up at 9am not knowing there were this many people who needed help, too. Department of Human Services had turned him to CROSS, as with these others standing in line (he guessed). He needs help paying rent this month. 

He also told me he’d woken his daughter up at 6:30 this morning. Bundled her up for the rain. Jumped in the car with his appropriate papers. And neither of them had eaten breakfast. “Yesterday we ran out of food,” he said, “but today we’ll be ok. We’re early enough to get help today.” I gave him another granola bar before I left. It was all he’d take.

So this is who we helped today. If you want to help, please keep getting in touch with me.

So be it.
Danny

I’m starting tomorrow. 

I don’t have enough funds to run this every day myself, so if you’d like to donate fruit or granola bars, you’d be blessing a dozen kids with breakfast tomorrow or all the days you want to help out. Or if you want, as Tracy suggested, you can donate coloring books, bus tokens; ANYTHING. Because it’s going to help them all immediately. 
So be it.

Danny