With Gratitude for Boys Town

Erika Thiele

This story of giving is from Erika Thiele

(From a Letter Written to Boys Town)  Dear Reverend Boes, Enclosed, please find a $500 gift to Boys Town. During a recent Sunday church service our congregation learned about “God’s Work Our Hands, God’s Grace Your Hands” and were given checks in various amounts to bless others. This gift was given to me by my church – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, Ohio – to bless someone or some organization of my choosing. Many years ago in January 1965, my husband and I, our 8 year old son and our 4 year old daughter were returning by car from Norton, Kansas where we had stayed with relatives to attend my husband’s cousin’s wedding at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church in the small town of Ruskin, Nebraska. Our son was the ring-bearer and our daughter the flower girl. Traveling back home through Nebraska, we got caught in a bad snowstorm and stopped at Boys Town (photo below). We went to the Sanctuary, said our prayers and intended to travel on as best we could. A pastor approached us and after a brief conversation invited us to have dinner with them. We learned about the mission and work of Boys Town. He subsequently gave us directions to a nearby small motel to stay the night. We were thankful for the generosity and assistance. Through the years we’ve sent in a nominal annual donation to help sustain the mission of Boys Town. Please accept this gift as a token of appreciation for the concern and helpfulness many years ago, as a blessing from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and in support of Father Flanagan’s belief 100 years ago with the founding of Boys Town that children have the right to be valued, to have the basic necessities of life and to be protected. May God bless your organization for your work in support of children and families. Sincerely, Mrs. Erika Thiele