| An Update From the Director
of Glenmary's Volunteer Office
April 2008
Well this March was rainy and cold, but we fought through it and hopefully now April will be beautiful and dry. A little bit of what is happening from Vanceburg, KY.
A big THANK YOU to the over 100 volunteers who served with us in March
The month of March was a great month for both the Glenmary Farm Managers and myself. Thank you all for sharing with us the joys of constructing new houses and apartments, painting, playing Uno, Skip Bo and Canasta at Comprehend, sliding down the waterfall, singing, praying, line dancing, manure moving, wood splitting, making boxes of food for the hungry, separating clothes, getting hillbilly kisses from Wild Woman and all the other service you provided to those of Lewis County.
So what are you doing this summer?
We are looking for former Glenmary Farm volunteers who are over 19 to help us out as summer staff at the Glenmary Farm from June to August. We look for those willing to help us serve Lewis County and the multitudes of high school volunteers who come to the Glenmary Farm during the summer. You can come back for one week to three months and you do not have to pay! Summer at the Farm is truly a great time as the garden starts to produce fruits and vegetables and the swimming hole is a cool repast after a hard day of service. So, do you what to come back to hang out with Jake and Wendy? If so just drop me an e-mail or call me.
The Glenmary Farm welcomes a third Glenmary Farm Manager
Jason Muhlenkamp a native of Maria Stein, Ohio, has accepted the position of Glenmary Farm Manager. Jason has one sister and two brothers. In the past, Jason has been employed in a variety of occupations, from warehouse worker to account representative. He wants to help others as a way to get closer to God and finds service as a way to grow in his faith. In his spare time, Jason likes to read, surf the Internet, and play and watch sports. He will arrive at the Glenmary Farm on April 14.
Congressman Geoff Davis participates in PSHH ribbon cutting
Over 75 people including members of St. Peter’s Catholic Youth group and the Glenmary Farm Managers attended a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 26 to celebrate the completion of six new affordable rental units developed by People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) at the Katelyn Corner subdivision in Tollesboro.
As the keynote speaker, Congressman Geoff Davis commended PSHH for using a variety of federal funding resources to create a mixed community of homeowners and renters. “The federal government can fund housing programs, but the local community must be able to make the program fit the needs of the community for the program to be successful” said Rep. Davis. “Nonprofits such as People’s Self-Help Housing and Frontier Housing have excelled in making affordable housing programs work locally.”
The ceremony included remarks from several state and area housing officials including Russ Thomason of USDA Rural Development’s state office; Krista Mills, HUD’s Kentucky Field Office Director; Jeff Reynolds, vice president of Housing & Community Development of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, and Mark Offerman, chief programs officer of the Kentucky Housing Corporation.
Local elected officials and area residents attended the event as well as representatives of the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises (FAHE), Frontier Housing in Morehead, Citizen’s Deposit Bank and the Buffalo Trace Area Development District.
Members of the Board of Directors and staff of People’s Self-Help Housing along with PSHH employees responsible for the construction of the duplexes with assistance of volunteers from the Glenmary Farm also celebrated the event.
PSHH Executive Director Dave Kreher thanked local and state housing partners for their partnership and support in making the new rental units a reality for those seeking affordable housing. At the conclusion of the speeches, a ceremonial “ribbon cutting” took place. The six new rental units were open for viewing and refreshments were served.
Wish List
A lot of former volunteers were wondering about the Glenmary Farm wish list, so below is an updated list. Any help would be much appreciated!
- Peace in our world
- Food or funds for food for those in need in Lewis County
- That everyone had a blessed Easter
- Flooring or funds for flooring for a recent burnout
- For an end to hunger and want in our world
- Deck boards or funds for deck boards for a ramp for a homebound individual
- For an end to violence and abuse in our world
- Axes and splitting mauls for splitting wood
- Future Farm Managers
- For ideas and thoughts on how the Glenmary Farm can be more eco-friendly
- For a new sofa and table for a woman who is suffering from depression and is afraid to leave her home.
- Furniture for those in the community who have do not have any
Peace,
Joe Grosek
Glenmary Volunteer Director
jgrosek@glenmary.org
And
if you missed previous Vanceburg Views, check them out.
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