Inspired by the ways the Holy Spirit has touched each of our lives, we sent the money in some different and personal directions.

We had heard of the concept of spreading love and goodwill to others by randomly paying for someone else’s order in the drive-through lane of a fast food restaurant. It appealed to us because the exchange is such a real-life example of the way God’s grace is given and received. The gift has a cost, but it is freely given, and the recipient happily receives it without needing to earn it. We also liked the thought that we were not choosing who would receive the gift, and were actually leaving it up to God. We can’t know how the recipient will react to this gift, but we hope that they will read the included note and receive a reminder of how God’s love works. A portion of the Gods Grace Your Hands money has been given this way.

Through a friend we had also heard about the Mentoring Plus program in Northern Kentucky. This faith-based organization chooses those youth who are the most needy and provides guidance, help, support and love. We knew they would help many disadvantaged youth and their families with GGYH gift money.

Another portion was given to the International Help of Missionaries organization. This organization has grown out of one man’s desire to help missionaries in Africa and his impressive ability to make things happen. A few years ago this organization was referred to Mark for a simple website to explain how people could help. IHM has paid to drill water wells, they started a school and a health-care clinic and helped in countless other ways. Through some unusual circumstances and chance connections and the Holy Spirit, they were able to completely fill the clinic with medical equipment from a phased-out clinic in New York. Right now they are trying to source an ambulance to support the clinic. For the people near the clinic, it will be the only medical help they will ever receive. IHM received a significant portion of our gift to carry on their good work.

After careful consideration of many organizations that do so much good in our world, Danelle’s thoughts turned to MOPS International. A friend had introduced her to MOPS when our first child was about a year old, and MOPS provided her with information, support, friendship and spiritual growth for the next 8 years and more than a few significant life events. Out of appreciation for the impact that MOPS had on our family and a desire for other mothers to benefit from the support they provide, we chose to donate a portion of our gift to MOPS International.

Our family has participated with many outreach opportunities through Good Shepherd to improve the lives of those around us. The experience of re-giving money from Good Shepherd was unique and moving. Since we as a family deliberated and chose the gift recipients ourselves, we felt God’s Grace flowing through our hands and into the lives of people we knew would really benefit from receiving them. God’s love touched us in the giving as much as it touched those who received.

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When we originally received the check from Good Shepherd we were awestruck. We had never experienced that type of generosity. Both Wendy and I knew that we wanted to use this opportunity to support individuals who are quietly helping in the local community with little recognition and without publicity. After a lot of soul searching and prayer, we decided to give the money in the form of cash and gift cards to the staff of the Deer Park School District. The teachers there frequently encounter students that come to school hungry and having nothing to eat for lunch or dinner. So a gift card to Kroger or IGA is a true blessing to these young people. Shoes and clothing are often issues as well. So a percentage of the money went to purchase items for their clothing room where the students can come with their parents and pick out items they need without embarrassment. The staff at Deer Park Schools who help these families are truly ‘unsung heroes’ and we feel blessed to be able to help them.

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We are giving our check to Matthew 25: Ministries and our family is planning to participate in the The Hunger 5k Saturday, November 5th. Proceeds benefit Matthew 25: Ministries’ work with the poorest of the poor and disaster victims in Greater Cincinnati, throughout the U.S., and around the world. The race also kicks off the Hunger 5k Food Drive, which raises food products for local pantries and shelters.

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I was very happy to be able to give my gift to an organization called Urban Success. Urban Success is committed to the rescue of women and children who are living in an environment of abuse, and women who have been placed into human trafficking. Sometimes these women escape with only a bag of personal things or nothing at all. Urban Success receives donations from many sources. They get things like beds, furniture, and appliances. Urban Success helps these women find housing and helps provide them with the basics like food, clothing, household items, and other things they will need to survive.

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I decided to give to one of my favorite charities - Freestore Foodbank. I tried to think how this gracious gift would do the most good. I decided that since one cannot have good health without good food, I would give to the Freestore Foodbank where they provide three meals for every dollar. So the $250. would turn into 750 meals. The Freestore Foodbank also helps to provide some of the food for the Taft Elementary School food pantry of which Good Shepherd supports.

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Feed My Sheep, Inc. Liberty The following article appeared in the September newsletter of the Liberty United Methodist Church, Liberty, Kentucky. We want to give a shout out to Good Shepherd Lutheran in Cincinnati for recognizing the need in Casey County and donating a hundred dollars to further our mission. As we continue, we appreciate your donation and need your prayers: "And he said into him, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said into him, Feed my sheep." John 21:15 The Feed My Sheep, Inc., Liberty is in its sixth month of operation and we are blessed by the outpouring of donations to the food deprived in our country. Not only are we serving meals once a week, but we also provide a food (grocery) box once a month for folks who desperately need an extra boost to make food last until the end of the month. Churches and businesses united to contribute food or monies to buy food for the needy. Our church chose to donate canned chicken and every month; the bin of chicken is collected, taken to City Hall, packed by the Ecumenical Council, and distributed to needy families. Currently, we are preparing 30 boxes. The food box includes canned chicken, peanut butter, canned tuna, crackers, canned soup, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pinto beans, cornbread mix, cereal, oatmeal, canned spaghetti and ravioli, and protein bars. The food box is truly a lifesaver for single or disabled parents, elderly people, and alternative parents (grandparents who have found themselves on a fixed income and have custody of grandchildren due to parental neglect or addiction). It is heartwarming and heart-wrenching to drive up to a home, see a little child run out to the car, grab the bag (always say he can carry it), and tear into a box of cereal like it's Christmas. I implore you to take a look, a real look at your neighborhood, your street, your town, your county! We have food poverty in this county. Our children are the most likely to suffer food insecurity and from what we have witnessed, our elderly come in a close second. The food deprivation in this county has tragic effects for all of us. Most of us have no concept of abject hunger and its resulting hopelessness. Let's not forget the social aspect of food delivery: we are the only people who visit these folks, the only people who seem to care about their welfare, the only people who are checking on them! LUMC did our second service at the soup kitchen on August 2nd. We prepared, packed, served, and delivered approximately 400 meals of pork burgers, chips, fruit snacks, peanut butter and crackers snacks, and cookies. We need your participation, your prayers, and your help! All effort is voluntary and every dollar goes for food. Please bring in the chicken and be aware that as cold weather comes closer, we will have a fundraising event, an opportunity for you to support this outreach program. For an opportunity to serve, please call Brother Kevin (606) 448-9746. You can bless someone and be blessed by your service to others. --

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We gave to the Wayside Inn in North Vernon, Indiana. "The mission of Wayside Inn is to embody the love of Christ by feeding, sheltering and empowering homeless adults and families." Suszane's granddaughter (my niece) and her family have been instrumental in organizing and maintaining this facility. We were thrilled to be given this gift from Good Shepherd that we could share with those in need. Please find out more at: www.waysideinnshelter.com or on Facebook.

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Dick and I feel strongly about reducing hunger, especially given the high level of hunger affecting children in our community. For that reason, we considered organizations that work in this area. Last week, after a visit with our adopted classes at Taft Elementary, I was given a tour of the local food pantry at Taft. Freestore Foodbank provides the wonderful variety of food for this pantry, which services families in the neighborhood. It is staffed by GSLC members, led by Bill and Kathy Shuman. When I saw this facility, I decided our gift should go to support the efforts of the Freestore Foodbank.

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We thought long and hard about our responsibility to share this gift and try to make a difference in our community. All the big charities go to a good cause but would be pretty lost in the large volume of donations they receive. We finally decided to go to our local fire station to see if there were any fire fighters in our area that needed a helping hand. The Anderson fire fighters have a foundation to help with memorials and aid for fire fighters that need help with food or rent right here in our home area. The whole station was outside training when I walked up and explained what I was there for. They all were grateful and appreciative of our gift and we feel it will go to the right people's needs.

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My daughter and I received the $500 check from God’s Work. Our Hands 2.0 - God’s Grace. Your Hands. What a surprise! This is how we used the $500 gift... First of all, my daughter wanted to donate money to her 92 year old grandfather to use towards his medication and groceries for this month. In addition to donating money to my daughter’s grandfather, we donated to The Whole Foods School Supply Program for local schools in need; The Cure Starts Now; The Cornell Lab of Ornithology; and The American Lung Association.

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We are acquainted with a man named Lawrence McNickles who is a full time pastor at a local church near Colerain Avenue and also a full time therapist for Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services. Lawrence lives the mantra every day , between his church and job: God's Grace, Your Hands. When we were given the opportunity to offer this gift to someone we both thought of Lawrence and his church. Here is the letter that was enclosed with the check to Lawrence's church:

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