2010 Flood Recovery Launches!

Today's Shopping Trip with the Penn State Fans officially kicked off our summer of flood recovery.

My heart picked up a few beats as I rocked back and forth from my heels to my toes in the entryway of Wal-Mart in Northeast East Cedar Rapids. I was anxious to meet Glenda and Shirley, two ladies responsible for cooking and tending after a crew of 23 big-hearted people from Pennsylvania. More than anything, today's meeting symbolized First Lutheran's official kickoff to 2010 flood recovery.

We were blessed this year to receive a grant from the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation to financially support 6 groups coming from out-of-state to stay at our church and do flood recovery work. Finally Glenda's broad smile and pleasant voice ended my anxious wait as she approached me. "Pastor Craig?" "Yes, Glenda!" I replied and our work was quickly underway. We shopped for all kinds of goodies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next five days with one exception...eggs. Glenda and Shirley carted six dozen eggs across five states in a cooler in their backseat. Apparently someone from their church donated them and the ladies wanted to honor that. So every day they will wake up with Pennsylvania eggs in Iowa!

If you are looking for a way to support these groups, we could use your help with BBQ and party from 5-7 p.m. each Thursday night we have a group here. We are planning our first cookout this Thursday. There will be another one next Thursday as well. Please Contact Pastor Craig to see how you can pitch in.