I would like to start by apologizing for the lateness of this newsletter! Life has a way of diverting us from our goals. Sometimes I wonder if it isn’t satan himself causing distractions because we are sharing about the blessings God has provided! Again, forgive our tardiness. And without further ado…
WELCOME to the second edition of News and Notes. I hope you enjoyed our first edition! If you haven’t read it, please give it a quick read. We are doing our best to keep you updated on AHH happenings, and our News and Notes is an easy and enjoyable (we hope) way to keep up with AHH current events.
OUR goal is, as you read up, you will also join us in prayer and petitioning the Lord’s Blessings. We want nothing more than to help others find their Forever Home in Christ while searching for their place now in society.
BOH 2025 is all said and done! Thank you,Lord, for blessing us with wonderful donors and great bidders who opened not only their wallets but more importantly their hearts!
AFTER paying off the few expenses from the things needed to run the event, we are excited to say we have a total right around $65,000!
THE original goal was to be able to make enough money to pay for new bunks to replace the old and broken-down bunks currently in use. Our price on the bunks, including shipping, was around $40K. As you see we passed that with a nice amount extra to work on other needed projects around the AHH shelter. However, once again, our Father has come through for us! We worked to establish a partnership with LBCC’s Advanced WeldingClasses to fabricate bunks for us. They will do all the work if we supply the materials needed. We are waiting to see how LBCC can reduce the costs for the bunks! Our prayers are to be able to begin installing new bunks by earlySpring!
PLEASE, join us in praying that this is a doable program share. The less we must spend on bunks the more we can spend in other areas in need. This also a great way for those in the class to get instructed guidance toward a future job.
WHEN is the last time you drove by the houses AHH owns? If it has been a while, maybe take a moment and do that. There are some UPGRADES going on!
During the past few months, our MaintenanceManager, Victor, and his crew have drywalled, painted, installed new fixtures, and spruced up all three of our housing areas. They have been busy bees trying to get things outside done before it gets too wet and cold. Our flower areas and yards look AMAZING thanks to former resident-guest Racey and others putting in some hard work! They are already planning some inside work for the wet season. Thanks Vic and Crew!
A BIG THANK YOU to Kris Schendel for organizing a group from Target Distribution and Fitzpatrick Painting to come on a Saturday. They gathered to help paint the green and yellow houses. With their help we finished, in one day, what would have taken a lot longer to complete. Thank you for taking time out of your own day to spread some love (and paint of course). God bless you for blessing AHH with some free and much needed help.
RECENTLY, the maintenance crew tackled the front porch of our “Green House”. It was rotting under the bottom side and missing some braces. Basically, it was in danger of breaking through or simply falling while someone walked on it.
OUR offices look AMAZING. Our wonderful Maintenance crew and Executive Director David have replaced the UGLY, STAINED,OLD blue (green? Brown? That might have been part of the stains?) carpet in our front offices and David’s office. We have bright, shining, new (to us) wood floors now! This is thanks to God for answering yet another prayer. He sent a generous gentleman who DONATED flooring he had recently replaced. THANK! YOU! Sir! Sadly, we cannot remember your name, but God knows! Troy, our Office Assist, is THRILLED to invite people in now.
BETTER Beef Company donated around TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS of beef! As you may remember we had stopped our agreement with Food Share. God has made SURE we do not go without meat!
OUR garden was plentiful! Fresh veggies almost every day during the tail end of Summer and into early Fall contributed to around 14 THOUSAND pounds of produce! Eggs by the dozens!
As of the day before Thanksgiving, we had received SO MANY turkeys!
ELIZABETH, our Kitchen, Bailey House and Women’s Case Manager, began praying for pies for dessert on Thanksgiving. By Wednesday, November 26, 2025, we had received SEVENTY pies! We had three come in from one gentleman. About 3 hours later we had 67!!!! come in from Target Distribution’s manager Chris Staley. Elizabeth and Troy were explaining to Chris that we are a shelter based on faith. Elizabeth informed him that she had been praying about pies just that morning. Chris smiled and said “I’m a man of faith also! Guess that wasn’t coincidence, was it?” Our God is a God of plenty!
AS WINTER roles in our list of needs expands.There is already a general needs list posted; however, winter brings about some“extra” needs.
WE HAVE space for just over 100 people at AHH, all of them facing their own issues and specific needs. Because we firmly believe that helping others meet not only their most basic needs, but also their spiritual ones, there is no charge for any of our services. We rely completely on donations to support our resident-guests.
AHH does its best to make sure that each resident-guest receives a gift at Christmas. We also purchase a Main Gift for the shelter itself. Last year we bought a blue-ray player and large TV so resident-guests can enjoy movies in the evening. In the past we also provided a counter top electric pizza oven to replace the very old one that had died just a few months before Christmas. Through generous donations, we spread love and bring some joy during the Season.
YOUR TIME! Not just during the holiday season but all year around we would love to have people come share God’s Love with our resident-guests.
MONEY: donated for food purchases, or special needs of guest-residents.
GIFT CARDS: to local stores so staff can purchase needed items for the shelter and kitchen. We often hand out gift cards ($10-20) to resident-guests as “rewards” for finishing projects or going the extra mile.
FOOD ITEMS: contact Kitchen Manager Elizabeth Steele for meal needs.
HYGIENE PRODUCTS: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo & conditioner. All hygiene products are given freely to not only resident-guests but to those in need who remain unsheltered as well.
GOODIES: individually wrapped “fun size” candy is always a hit, home baked treats are also enjoyable.
This is just a small list. Our main list is more thorough and can also be found on our webpage.
BEING UNHOUSED is a difficult place to be no matter what time of year it is. The holiday season brings about a different kind of struggle. Being “alone” and “without” is hard on a person’s emotions and self-esteem.
YOU MAY have heard the terms “street family”and “homeless community”. Chances are if you have heard these words being used, it was by a homeless person. Those who find themselves in a homeless situation often have little or no support from family or past friends.
NOBODY wants to be alone. Humans desire community, family, and deeper connections. The homeless begin to create their own group of people. They begin to see similarities between those they knew and those they are getting to know. Their new group starts to bond on a deeper level. Eventually there is a familial sense that grows. Even so most find themselves longing for a past that is no more.
AHH STAFF are committed to going beyond meeting basic needs. We desire to help our residents grow a loving and intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During the Christmas season we see a need to share even more how to grow closer to God. We don’t want to just celebrate a “holiday”; we desire to celebrate Him all year long. For our resident-guests to know they have a New Family in Christ. That they are never alone again. They will have eternity with their Brothers and Sisters in a Forever Home.
IN THIS section of the newsletter our AHH staff is giving you a chance to get to know them better. They want you to know who you are partnering with in the mission of changing lives.
MEET Trudy Fields. Trudy is the AHH Finance Manager. However, like the rest of us, this is simply her title. She helps in many other aspects of service as well. She is dedicated to serving others and helping those in need find success in life.
“AT THE age of 10, two days after my birthday, the only grandparent I had known, my grandpa, died from Alzheimer’s.” Trudy began her testimony. “The last words he said to me were ‘who are you?’ I was heartbroken! I spent every Sunday with him, making dinner and watching WildKingdom on TV beside him. We played Aggravation on a board he had made. The marbles were antique Cat’s Eye. How could he not know me? I didn’t understand what was going on. My dad, Grandpa’s son, didn’t know how to explain to me why Grandpa had “forgot” me. I talked to teachers, the librarian, friends and anyone I could to see if they could explain why.”
“AFTER the funeral service, the pastor asked dad if there was anyway he or the church could help. Dad said he was okay but that his daughter, me, was having troubles with understanding the death. The pastor asked if I would like to attend Sunday School and Youth Group where he could talk to me and help me understand better. Dad said yes and so the next day, Wednesday, I went to Youth Group. Little by little the pastor and others helped me understand that Grandpa was just sick. In his heart at the time and now in Heaven, he knew me and loved me.”
Trudy continues, “A month after Grandpa died, I asked Pastor how I could guarantee I would see Grandpa again. Later I watched as a friend was baptized.Before church ended, pastor asked if anyone else wanted to invite Jesus into their hearts. I went forward and with my friend and everyone else watching, I invited Jesus into my life. I was then baptized. I have been a believer since that day!
“I CAN’T wait to see you again, Grandpa!”
TRUDY’S favorite verses. Psalm 61: 1-2 “1. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” These are the first verses I memorized- in the form of a song. It is the truth and the way. If I need guidance, I know where to turn always.
IF I COULD DO ONE THING DIFFERENTLY FOR THE SHELTER, I’d be rich- So I could provide more help!
IF I EVER WON 10 MILLION DOLLARS I WOULD help my family, the shelter and help Alzheimer's research.
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE… This is a fun way to get to know someone a bit better. You have them tell two truthful facts about themselves and one lie. Then it is up to you, the reader, to figure out what is fact and what is fiction. The answer will appear in the Spring Newsletter in March.
WE’LL see how Trudy does at deception!
1. I was the first person in my family to go to college.
2. I’ve been to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
3. I have more than one degree.
OUR FALL News and Notes featured Troy’s Lie. If you haven’t read it yet don’t spoil the fun. Read it before you read the answer to his Two Truths and a Lie.
WOW, this has turned into a looonnnggg newsletter! Thank you for reading through it. Our hope, as stated before, is that it is enjoyable and informative.
AS ALWAYS, your prayers for AHH staff and resident-guests are greatly appreciated.
THE AHH Mission Statement: Demonstrating the love of Jesus for people by providing basic needs, encouraging faith and giving hope for a brighter future. Join us in being part of this “brighter future.”
SEE YOU in the Spring with the third edition!
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