FROM MY HEARTMy dear friends,

I cannot believe how fast this year went! We have been able to help so many. Looking back, I have been so touched by the faithfulness of the people who bring and serve meals every morning, noon, and late afternoon. I want to thank all of the church groups, high schools, businesses, and companies who continued to generously come to serve the many people who are going through a hard time. In this Christmas time, I wish I could personally name all of you but want to say THANK YOU and send a hug for your faithful service!

I am also thankful for our Mary’s Place Minute Clinic that opened last year – it is my joy to see it bring so much comfort and security for the families’ health needs. Our clinic has helped people get their basic medical needs met such as flu shots and pain relief. I am also happy to see that there have been more dentists and oral surgeons getting involved to help us meet the increasing demands for extractions, fillings, and other dental services. They are so vital. To all of the nurses, doctors, den-tists, and oral surgeons who have given their time to meet the many medical needs - know so many are thankful for you.

Another need I noticed this year were the many people coming for help because they needed to go to a treatment center or needed help paying their deposit to get into sober living housing. Other agencies and programs are not willing to pay for this kind of deposit. So I have decided that if people are trying to change and live a sober life, I will help pay for their deposit to keep them off the streets and away from their addictions. I will continue to pay for their deposit to get into sober living hous-ing – I want to give them hope and peace so they can have a bright, clean, and sober future.

My dream is to always bring hope and peace to people every day. People’s lives are being changed because they have been given hope and peace. Your support helps meet the people’s various needs – for example, a bus card or uniform for work, eyeglasses for the children and adults who cannot afford them, beds for the many people who would be sleeping on the floor, etc. - I barely have to turn anyone away. In fact, I was also able to do many building improvements this year such as replacing rooftop units, countertops in the apartments, tables and chairs, and repaired our elevators to keep our building safe and secure.

As I end my letter and after 34 years of being down here, never have I gone without help or volunteers or someone coming in last minute to help with what is needed… You all have a marvelous love in your hearts. Please continue to support us during this Christmas season. Hundreds of poor families will be counting on us for a beautiful and blessed Christmas.

May you all have a happy and holy Christmas and a blessed New Year, and be assured of my daily prayers for all of your unspoken needs.

Yours in Christ, Mary Jo Copeland Founder & Director of Sharing and Caring Hands

REGARDING DONATION DROP-OFFS To avoid donations getting damaged/wet by outside weather conditions, please only drop-off donations during the Sharing and Caring Hands open hours of Monday-Thursday 8:00AM-4:00PM and Saturday/Sunday 8:00AM-12NOON. Thank you for your generous giving!

THANK YOU TO CULVERS & TARGET WHO SPONSORED OUR BACKPACK GIVEAWAY

We were blessed by both Culvers and Target who provided 500 brand new backpacks for the children living at Mary’s Place. We used your donations to fill these brand new backpacks with brand new school supplies.

We would also like to specially thank Target for their continued and faithful support of our organization and programs- every year they also award us financial as-sistance through a general operating grant.

We would also like to specially thank Culvers for their continued and faithful support in remembering those hungry- four times every year they also prepare and serve a wonderful meal at Sharing and Caring Hands.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM &VALLEYFAIR FIELD TRIP HIGHLIGHTOver 50 volunteers dedicated their talents and time each week to work one-on-one with over 240 children in our 2017 Summer Reading Program. The children worked on abc/phonics, sight words, and reading picture and chapter books. The 240 children read a total of 37,600 minutes and 2,435 books! This was a new record for our program! The children were rewarded with an end-of-summer field trip to Valleyfair Amusement Park. We could not be prouder of these amazing and hard-working students!

ONGOING NEEDSDo you have any of the following items at home that you are not using? Would you be willing to purchase some items you find on a good deal? Could you sponsor a drive at your church, school, or business to collect some of these much-needed items? Please call 612-338-4640 or email info@sharingandcaringhands.org if you have any questions about organizing a donation drive.Bolded items are current urgent needs!FOOD for those that access our Food Shelf- the items most needed are cereal, pasta and sauce, peanut but-ter, tuna, canned fruit and vegetables, box dinners, soups, and juices.HYGIENE items such as soap, deodorant, tooth-brush, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, feminine hygiene products.DIAPERS (Size Newborn & size 4/5/6), PULL-UPS (size 3t, 4t, 5t), BABY WIPES, BABY FORMULA.HOUSEHOLD items (new/gently used but in excel-lent condition)- dishes, pots and pans, crockpots, glasses, silverware, towels, sheets, blankets, pillows, and small appliances in good working condition.CLOTHING (new/gently used but in excellent condi-tion) for men, women, and kids.CAR SEATS in great working condition (cannot be expired). STROLLERS in great working condition.

HALLOWEEN PARTYWe were blessed by the generosity of Mary Jo’s close friend, Damian Moran (pictured with Mary Jo), who with the help of his family/friends/fellow church members/Cub Scouts, put on an amazing Halloween Party for 600 Mary’s Place residents. Damian per-sonally decorated the building in festive and spooky Halloween décor and everyone enjoyed a pizza party, carnival games, candy, balloons, face painting, a photo booth, DJ/music (by Damian himself!), and dancing! Everyone had a wonderful time! Many of our residents do not get to take their children trick-or-treating on Halloween night – they lack money to buy costumes and lack transportation to a residential neighborhood. It gives our staff great joy to have the ability and opportunity to throw big, fun parties for our residents. The children were running throughout the building, having a wonderful time, and you could see the gratefulness in all of the parents’ eyes. We are so thankful to Damian and his volunteers for helping us put on such an incredible event.

THANK YOU TO ALL CLINIC VOLUNTEERSThe Mary’s Place Minute Clinic has been open for a year and a half and has been a big success. We have 8 volunteer physicians and 8 volunteer nurses who pro-vide comfort and care to the residents. This reduces emergency room visits and improves the health of the residents. This also gives the residents a convenient place to go where they can talk to a friendly profes-sional about their questions and concerns. In addition to treating acute conditions and minor illnesses, the volunteers provide care coordination to outside clinics so that when residents leave Mary’s Place they have medical homes established. And the Dental Clinic has been open for more than 25 years and continues to provide emergency care for people in the community that are in pain and cannot access or afford dental care. We have 25 dentists and oral surgeons who vol-unteer their time to reduce the suffering of homeless and other low-income people in our area. The medi-cal and dental volunteers really are amazing, talented, kind individuals – angels really - who give unselfishly from their hearts. They are inspiring! We are incred-ibly blessed to have them and we are grateful for their service and for the love, kindness and care that they give our residents and others in the community who have nowhere else to turn.

INDOOR PLAYROOMWe are seeking volunteer groups of 6-10 people to play with the children at Mary’s Place. We offer a beautiful and interactive indoor playroom space where volunteers can play with the children- and in these colder fall and winter months, it is especially nice for the children to have the option to play inside where it is warm. Volunteers must be over the age of 12 and in every volunteer group there must be at least one adult over the age of 18. This is a great opportunity for church youth groups, groups of high school and/or college friends, and anyone looking to serve God’s littlest ones. Please call 612-338-4640 or email info@sharingandcaringhands.org to schedule.

“Your smile and an outstretched hand is the beginning of a

miracle in the unspoken need of another’s heart.”

VEHICLES A vehicle donation can change a family’s life forever. If you have a car that would offer good, reliable transportation for a family in need, please consider donating it to Sharing & Caring Hands. We give your vehicle directly to a family in need so you can deduct the fair market value as a donation. Your donated car could be the answer to a family’s prayers. To donate, please call/email Jeremy Barthel at 612-328-1681 or bartheljeremy@gmail.com.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: SISTER MARIA CHIKWADO Sr. Maria Chikwado Agba (IHM) is a Catholic Nun from Nigeria and belongs to the Religious Institute of the Sis-ters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ. She holds a B.sc in Social Sciences, M.sc in Sociology of Development (Rome), and Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Nigeria). She has worked in schools and served the poor and needy both in Nigeria and in Europe.Sr. Maria Chikwado hopes to discover herself further through her service to the poor and the homeless at Mary’s Place. Sr. Maria Chikwado believes Mary Jo does an enormous amount of work on a daily basis, providing people with shelter at Mary’s Place, and giving them the opportunity to improve their life’s conditions and discover their abili-ties and capabilities. She supports them and lets them know that they have something of great value which can be used in improving their conditions. Sr. Maria Chik-wado is highly motivated to connect with the poor and homeless and to serve them to the best of her ability.

WINTER COATS NEEDEDWe are still collecting brand new winter coats for the children that we serve. We have already given 400 coats to children in need but need to continue to help more children through these next several months of winter. We never want to have to tell a child that we cannot clothe them with a warm coat. Donations can be dropped off at Mary’s Place or shipped directly to Mary’s Place (401 North 7th Street, Minneapolis MN 55405) in care of “N.Lor.”

CHRISTMAS GIFTS NEEDEDPlease consider donating gifts for the 500+ children at Mary’s Place and other local low-income families who come to us in need at Christmas. We ask for and need everyone’s continued involvement if we are going to meet the numbers again this year. Gifts should be new, unwrapped, and delivered to Sharing & Caring Hands starting as soon as December 1. Wrapping paper & tape is always appreciated, too.The following list is just to provide ideas of things the children would really enjoy however the children we serve will be delighted by any gift they receive from you.Some ideas for the children:*Baby Dolls *Lego Sets *Soccer Balls *Art Supplies *Cars *Basketballs *Craft Projects *Board Games *Footballs *Barbies *Learning Toys *Stuffed Animals Popular Characters – Frozen, Moana, Disney Princess Tiana, Doc McStuffin, Dora, Tinkerbell, Hello Kitty, Shopkins, Elmo, Thomas The Tank Engine, Paw Patrol, Cars, Minions, Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Aveng-ers, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.We also serve many teenagers who are often over-looked at Christmas, so please include them in your shopping.Some ideas for the teens:*Make-up Sets & Nail Polish *Earbuds/Headphones *Lotion & Bath Products *Sport Balls (for both girls & boys) (especially soccer ball) *Electronics *Gift CardsThank you for helping to make this Christmas extra special for our children who have so little.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS & TOYSDONATION REQUEST This year, we are asking you to donate Christmas gifts and toys as soon as December 1. We will have more than 500 children to take care of (both from Mary’s Place and from local, low-income families coming to us for help). Each child gives us a wish list and our staff works countless hours to go through your toy donations, match toys to children, and then give the child’s parents their gifts to wrap. It will help our staff immensely if gift donations are on-site sooner than later. Stores are already stocked with Christmas gifts and toys and good sales will start right after Thanksgiving. Do-nations can be dropped off at Sharing and Caring Hands or shipped directly to Mary’s Place (401 North 7th Street, Minneapolis MN 55405) in care of “K.Klement.” Thank you for your generosity and helping us give these children a beautiful and wonderful Christmas.

“The only thing you will take with you when you leave this world is what you give away. Wherever you go, be sharing

and caring hands to everyone you meet…”

VOLUNTEER TUTORS NEEDED We are looking for volunteers able and willing to tutor Mary’s Place children with their schoolwork. Please consider spending two hours per week with students who need your encouragement, mentorship, and support to reach success in the classroom. No special teaching/tutoring experience is required.Program Days/Time: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays from 4-6pm. *We are looking for volunteers who can start their weekly commitment in January 2018.Sign-Up Contact:Kathy Klement at 612-328-0988 or kklement@sharingandcaringhands.org

LETTERS FROM THE MAIL BAGDear Mary Jo,I was living in Texas. I had just come out of an abusive relationship. Me and my children were going to move in with my mother who lived in Houston. So, I sent all of our clothes, shoes, furniture, and even my kids’ bikes to my mother’s. Before we could make it to my mother’s in Houston, the Hurricane hit. There was flooding everywhere. My mother lost everything. My mother had to relocate to Illinois. I relocated to Minnesota because I thought we could stay with my niece. But when we got up here, she told me she was living in Section 8 housing and could not have us stay with her. So she dropped us off at Sharing and Caring Hands. I was so fed up – we kept getting knocked down and I did not know what to do. But God is good because you gave me hope. You brought me and my family out of a dark tunnel. You gave us a place to stay and Walmart gift cards so I could buy my children clothes and shoes. Since living at Mary’s Place, I have found 2 jobs and have saved money in a savings account. Our family loves you so much. We love you more than anything and appreciate everything you have done for us. Love, Saniya (Room #201)

Dear Mary Jo,My kids have been feeling sick for a long time. But before moving into Mary’s Place, we had been bouncing around and moving a lot. Plus my cell phone had been shut off – so I had a hard time getting to us to a doctor. But here at Mary’s Place, it is so easy to walk downstairs to the Minute Clinic. Everyone there is so nice and has really helped my kids to feel better. Thank you for having a clinic here for us families. It really helps us a lot. Thank You, Shaunna (Room #300)

Though these letters are directed to Mary Jo and the staff, we share them with you to show the impact your love, generosity and caring love have on the lives of others.

Dear Mary Jo,Thank you for the opportunity to volunteer! We brought our (large!) family in to serve a meal and were humbled every minute. Even my 14-year-old said afterward how grateful he is for everything he has. How blessed we are. May God continue to bless you and this holy work! Love, the Taylor Family

Dear Mary Jo,I am amazed at everything you do for us Mary’s Place families! You not only give us shelter, but you give us so much more – especially for our children! You have already given my family money for new clothes, food, beautiful backpacks and winter coats, and fun things to look forward to like field trips and parties. I even saw Toys R Us come in and do a fun event for the children – I think that is so beautiful that a big toy store like that would come to a place like this for our children. Thank you for everything you do for us. We love you so much. Love, Kristen, Kayleigh, Kamden, Kyler, & Kia (Room #260)

Dear Mary Jo,Thank you for helping my client with his water bill! When every other place turns the other way, you step right up with an offer to help!

Thank You, Debb (St. Paul Social Worker)

LETTERS FROM THE KIDS

Sharing and Caring Hands525 North 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55405

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Business Hours:M-Th: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sat.-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.v v v v v v v

You can use your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express for donations to Sharing & Caring Hands.

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We also have the option of Electronic Funds Transferv v v v

Want to know more? Visit us on the Web!www.sharingandcaringhands.orginfo@sharingandcaringhands.org

YOU CAN DONATE TO SHARING & CARING HANDS ONLINE.

ULTIMATE GIFTPlease consider a gift to Sharing & Caring Hands as part of your will or trust as you do your estate planning. Donations can be in the form of stocks, 401K’s, insurance policies, or charitable remainder trusts. Talk to your financial advisor or call Mary Jo Copeland at 612-328-4290.Regular donations are vital to our work, and many employers will match your donations, thus doubling its value. You can use your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express for donations to Sharing & Caring Hands. A donation of stock is also welcome and can have great tax advantages. We are a 501(C)(3) charity so all donations are tax deductible. May God bless your generosity!

Happy Birthday, Mary Jo!I hope you have a great birthday and get to eat a lot of ice cream and cake. My favorite ice cream and cake is chocolate. What is your favorite? Love, Juliesse (age 10)

Dear Mary Jo,Thank you for giving me a Student Of The Week Award. I had never won anything in my life before. But, I love school and learning and coming every day to the Tutoring Program. My homework is hard be-cause I am in high school but the tutors help me a lot. They are patient and always say positive things to me. Thanks for having that and everything else available to my family – you are really giving us great opportunities. Love, Iqra (age 17)Dear Mary Jo,In religion class, we had to write a paper about an in-spiring person we would like to meet. I have never met you but wrote that I would love to meet you. I think what you do is amazing. You help thousands of people in a selfless way. The world could definitely use more leaders like you. I live far away but hope I can volun-teer one day. Thank you for inspiring me and I am sure so many others. Love, Francesca (10th grade, Buffalo, MN)

Dear Mary Jo,Thank you for letting me volunteer for my service hours. I really enjoyed hanging out with the children in the Children Center and Teen Center. They were so much fun. I actually ended up learning from them, so that meant a lot. Thank You, Grace (age 15)

Dear Mary Jo,When I grow up, I want to be a doctor and work in your clinic! Love, Hailey (age 8)

Dear Mary Jo,Our class collected 126 canned food items in our Thanksgiving Food Drive.

We are happy to give them to you to use in your cafeteria or to give away to those in need! Love, Ms. Morris’ 4th grade class

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A Compassionate Response To The Needs Of The Poor