Most of us bought gifts and received gifts. Some only received, from a charity, like “Sharing and Caring Hands”. Sharing and Caring Hands has been active on the west side of Minneapolis for 29 years. It was founded by Mary Jo Copeland and receives no government help (United Way), yet 92% of all moneys raised go to those in need. This past year Sharing and Caring Hands served 240,000 meals (4615/week), many are malnourished children through no fault of their own. They provide 500 people shelter each night, 210 showers/week to people that would go without, eye exams and glasses to 1491 people, many referred by schools for children in need. They provided the funding to buy beds for 2400 people that would be sleeping on the floor, many of them children. The Sharing and Caring Hands mission statement reads: To find the lost. To heal the broken. To feed the hungry. To release the prisoner. To rebuild the nation. To bring peace among brothers. To make music in the heart.
I was at the headquarters of Sharing and Caring Hands one Christmas Eve volunteering, distributing packages to the hundreds in line. I had met Mary Jo Copeland when she spoke at our church in the suburbs. I asked, “where is Mary Jo?” “She is over there”, he replied. I looked over there and she was washing an old man’s feet so his new socks and new boots would fit his new feet. There are saints amongst us. I was lucky to see one in action. God bless Mary Jo and her Sharing and Caring Hands in downtown Minneapolis.
Published every Wednesday at least.
