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Highlands Today

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Manna Ministries

Marlene Christiansen

Published: January 3, 2009

The new year of 2009 is here. Last year at Manna saw a substantial increase in the number of families served, a new director and physical building changes. The one obvious fact that we are still open means that God is still blessing us. He blesses us through our wonderful donors. You have given generously of food, clothing, household goods and funds. I would like to say thank you.
There have been many sad, wonderful and amazing things happen at Manna this year. Some I have shared with you, others God knows about. Recently I had a lady come in asking for help. Her husband's unemployment had run out, she had been laid off from her job and the prospects of Christmas for her three children were slim. She came to us too late for the Toy Store at the church, all the toys were gone.
She told me about crying because she had no money to buy presents for the children, and the oldest had asked why she was crying. She told her that she was not crying but talking to God. While we talked Manna received two boxes of "late" toys from the Chamber of Commerce toy drive. This mother found the perfect gifts for each of her children in these boxes. God knew that she would be in late and had directed the hands of these donors to select the gifts they had bought. What a wonderful God we have to have planned so well for all our mortal emergencies.
Manna will continue, in the New Year, to be open five days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. We need to improve our intake and record storage abilities. Our area is so limited that there has to be a better way. If there is someone with skills in organizing the flow of paperwork and people in an intake area, I could use your help. Please call me at 699-0093 and ask for Marlene. You are always welcome to visit us at Manna. Just drop by and I will give you a tour. You may be surprised and want to stay as a volunteer. We are always in need of food, clothing and funding donations.
Marlene Christiansen
Director, Manna Ministries
Lake Placid