RENEWAL CENTER … Gavin Burns, who shared some of his personal testimony with the men, along with Victor and Mary Juarez, and Chad Wieland, Therapist at the Renewal Center.
SERENITY HAVEN … Annette Williams, Jamie Collins, Mary Juarez, Tabitha Kersten, assistant director of Serenity Haven, and Tonya Suffel. Annette, Jamie, and Tonya all shared a part of their personal testimony with the women.
PAULDING OPPORTUNITY CENTER
JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER … Pictured are: Nicky Ferguson, Tonya Suffel, Victor and Mary Juarez of NLG, Treya Brown, and Ashley Rice, teachers at JDC.
PRESS RELEASE – On Monday, December 18, NLG visited the Juvenile Detention Center. The blankets that went to the Juvenile Detention Center in Stryker were Never Let Go blankets in memory of Jacob Kwiatkowski of Delta, an 18 yr. old who lost his life in 2016 to an overdose.
His father, Chad Kwiatkowski donates towards these blankets, along with the Women’s Giving Circle of Defiance County.
The youth also receive a “What on earth am I here for” booklet, along with a Jesus Calling devotional, plus candy cane and story, plus candy, cookies, and pop and other items, including a baggie with a hot chocolate packet, candy and scripture card donated by the Edgerton High School FFA.
Victor and Mary Juarez played Christmas trivia with them, and they received a wrapped gift as they answered the questions correctly.
Victor and Mary also did their NLG presentation before the Christmas party. Nicky Ferguson, liaison for the M.A.N. unit went and shared a little of her job with the youth, and Tonya Suffel also shared some of her personal testimony about choices in life.
On Friday, December 13, Paulding Opportunity Center students received a NLG blanket also, and they received a “What on earth am I here for?” along with the Hot Chocolate baggie, and they also played Christmas trivia, winning gifts as they won. NLG also brought cookies, pop and candy.
For the two rehabs, (women) Serenity Haven in Fayette, and (men) Ohio Guidestone’s Renewal Center in Napoleon, we took Christmas Bags of Hope with many encouraging items, along with a blanket donated in memory of someone who lost their life in an alcohol/drug related death.
The Christmas bags of Hope also included socks donated by Family Farm and Home in Defiance, toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash donated by Bryan Dental Group, deodorant, chap stick, and shower gel donated by Karrie Kimpel and the Confirmation class of St. Mary’s in Edgerton, homemade cards from students at St. Mary’s School in Edgerton., along with cards made by Andy and Heidi Meyer of Edgerton.
Angie Kennerk of Edgerton did a cookie drive donating dozens of cookies from women from St. Mary’s parish in Edgerton, along with Ruth Ordway, and Jane Kaiser donating cookies. The Hot chocolate baggies were all donated by Edgerton High School FFA.
Some of the other items in the bags included puzzles, journals, devotionals, Bath & Body cream for the women, stocking caps for men, coloring books with colored pencils, handheld cross, along with many inspirational prayers and cards.
Every facility received homemade cookies, and NLG also gave away door prizes of NLG t-shirts, and some extra blankets.
Gifts were also given to the Drug Court participants of Williams County along with the treatment team.
Never Let Go would like to thank everyone who donated to this Christmas of Hope, whether it was a monetary donation, or their time, prayers and energy. It is possible because of the generous hearts and volunteers who believe in sharing the gift of Hope.