L O V I N G H E A R T SHILL C OUNTRY C OMMUNIT Y NEEDS C OUNCIL

FALL 2013 - Fre dericksburg, T X

Our Wish List: Space Heaters - Blankets & Coats - Food 4 Kids

Opportunities to Serve this Holiday Season …♦ ANGEL TREE: Adopt a Home Bound Senior by choosing an Angel Ornament from the Chase Bank Christmas Tree beginning November 15th. Each Angel Ornament has a Senior’s Christmas wish list of 2 to 4 items.

♦ ELF TEAM: Deliver the angel tree gifts between December 18 -20th and bring a bit of joy to the home bound seniors.

♦ CHRISTMAS FAMILIES: Sponsor a Client Family anonymously, groups or individuals can pick the size family they wish to shop for. The wish lists will include practical gifts for the home and small fun gifts for the children. Santa will be on hand Saturday December 21st for pictures with the kids while parents pick up their family baskets.

♦ MORE ELVES: December 18-21st many elves will be needed to help with receiving the baskets from donors and helping with distribution!

NEEDS COUNCIL WISH LIST1. Space Heaters - must have safety tip-over switches!

2. Blankets and Coats

3. Food 4 Kids - see food list inside newsletter

Knock on the Door ... As we sat down for a staff meeting one morning there was a knock at the door. We didn’t recognize the woman as she apologized for interrupting. She explained that she just stopped by to thank us for all the help we give people. We thanked her and asked her name…thinking she was appreciative of help we’d given to other people. When she said her name we were shocked, this was the same woman we’d helped in July who could hardly walk she was in so much pain. She looked so great we couldn’t believe this was the same person!

She went on to explain that when she had gone for the disability qualification appointment she was faced with a life decision; give up and go on disability for the rest of her life or pick herself up, get a job and start living again. Although she no doubt still has pain she has chosen to look forward to work and enjoy life! She again thanked the Needs Council for the critical assistance she received in July and especially the emotional support that she credits for her success.

It was such a wonderful testament to the ripple effects of the Needs Council’s mission. Giving people a chance to feel cared for can often be our most powerful assistance!

Christmas Family gift distribution at St Barnabas Episcopal Church.

MEMORIALS, HONORARIUMS & DONATIONS TO THE NEEDS COUNCILJune 2013 through October 2013

Ray & Cecily GallagherColby & Elizabeth GardnerBruce & Jane GoodPatrick & Gail GribbinKeith & Pattsie HainesJoan HarrisMrs Margaret HartweinDon HazelettKathlyn O HazelettAnn HeifnerTodd HerberThomas & Bunni HoefelDavid & Diane HolkeWilliam & Helen HuffmanJF & GT JenkinsLaurie & Daniel JenschkeCatharine JohnsonGregory & Karen KleinCharles & Zala KoymJo Ann KrauskopfWilliam LangeEtta LangehenningWilliam & Janet LindemannMrs Dorothy L LucasCarl & Vickie LuckenbachAlan & Pam MatthiesDavid & Audrey MayerDG & Berlee McCouryAlene McMullenWilliam McPherson

JM MetzgerWard & Patricia MillerCT MillerEd MillisJerry & Linda MooreRick & Mara Fox MorettiMargaret E MorrisJames and Jamie MorrisSteve & Jana NealeMarjorie A NehringPaul or Esther Shaffer NixonT J & Vernell OehlerThomas & Elizabeth OrtloffTerry L OwenOla Mae PehlAdrienne PenningtonBlaine & Deborah PhelpsFreddie PipkinJanis E PitreDebra & James RamseyAnn ReaMr & Mrs Robert A RemmersPaul & Suzy RiceEarl & Marsha RobinettCurtis RoddyKen & Suzie RoddyLois W RossGeorge & Mary Ann SanchezRuth M SarneckiStanley & Virginia Sauer

In honor of Deborah AgnewEugene & Carolyn LuxIn memory of Russell AgnewWilliam & Carol PaceIn memory of Louise BodnarStephen J BodnarIn memory of Edith BryantDon & Gabrielle Quebedeaux MurrayIn memory of Janis Woerner CarelockVernon & Linda TreibsIn honor of David CooperHelen S BachmannIn memory of Lois DitjenNed & Margaret ButlerIn memory of Sherman DurstShelton & Chere DurstDennis & Sherry DurstBob & Marie LodowskiJim & Jeanne WarrenIn memory of Robert FosterMr & Mrs James L BarnhouseIn memory of Curtis FreitagSusan & Craig KingPaula WeberIn memory of Joe Kirk FultonSusan & Craig King

In honor of John HaebigWanda CollinsIn memory of Wilbur H HallMrs Wilbur HallIn memory of Francis HeepMargaret Verret SauerMary Ann WoffordIn honor of Virginia HigdonJudy & Wieland ElstnerBarbara J GainerDr Reg & Linda GartnerVirginia GrosseteteGary & Sue GustinPeggy & Joseph HannonBernice HefleyCindy HeifnerPaul & Frances HellinghausenHenry & Coleen HickmanCharles & Karen HigdonElena HowardGary MarburgerKathleen Q MarlowJack MulcahyCloyd & Betty PhillipsNina & Susan PowellDr & Mrs John RichardsCarol Foyt ShepherdMr & Mrs Anthony Touchon

MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMSIn honor of Virginia Higdon (continued)Larry & Janie TranthamDr William & Joan WyattD & S, LLC In memory of Debbie HowardEdward & Judy KramerIn memory of Elsie KizerLynn & Sylvia IzardIn memory of Warren KleinKC & J M FriedrichIn memory of Rev Kenneth P KnoppDorothy CornehlGenevieve E McCaffreyIn memory of Lynn LawtherNed & Margaret ButlerIn memory of Ann MaguireSarah & William MalecIn memory of Ann E Roddy MaguireCarl & Julia WedenIn honor of DG McCouryJohn & Grace O’MalleyIn memory of Richard MechemEdward & Linda WhiteIn memory of Erno P MoldenhauerDaniel & Sandra Poole

In memory of Clemon MontgomeryJoseph & Carol DayIn memory of Joyce O’RearLarry & Jeanine KuhlkenCloyd & Betty PhillipsIn memory of Roque RoblesGertrude LandIra MartinTony & Betty MartinWayne R StoneBierschwale Credit & Lending Co In memory of Enos & Clara RodeElias & Dorothy RodeIn memory of Virginia ScheffelinRonald & Karen PoidevineIn honor of Charles SchumannArvella & Jim BaumanIn memory of Ruth SkaggsDon & Gabrielle Quebedeaux MurrayIn memory of Viola (Ollie) WallendorfGenevieve E McCaffreyIn memory of Dorothy WardMaryneil DanceIn memory of Ellamae WeaverSusan & Craig King

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Robert C SchmidtkeRobert & Betty SchrockMoriah N SchumannVernell ScottBetty J SearsDaniel & Renee SechristPastor Paul & Marie SenffWilliam E SheltonMr & Mrs Marvin StechEmeline StubblefieldSue & Carroll SultemeierDoug SundheimerGinette TalleyWayne & Kerry UtleyPaul E VickreyTaylor & Brenda VirdellFrederick & Phyllis Lea VogtLarry & Isabel WertsKeith & Eileen WhitedWilliam & Jane WiemersMegan & John WillomeFred Witters

A Special Thank You to all our anonymous donors

INDIVIDUALS

Paul & Stephanie AbadieAnita ArnoldFrank & Elizabeth BealRose Marie BehrendsSabrina & Michael BembenekMilton & Margaret BierschwaleLaura T BowmanRichard & Nancy BraunitzerKermit & Elsie BurrerSherrie CampbellPatsy B CappsLD & Charlotte CaseyDan & Janet ChenowethCarol CockrellJoseph & Camille CohnJane ConveryRalph & Kareen CordrayLavern & Janice CourtneyCurtis D DartezRuth P DavisFred & Lucille DietelDon & Robbyn DoddEleanor Brodie DurstCarlton & Lois EckertJames & Dorothy EckhertSidney & Elizabeth EllebrachtJuanice FrankGwen & David Fullbrook

BUSINESSESEdge Media Agency, Inc ExxonMobil Foundation Eye Country PLLC First Baptist Church - Christian Neighbors Class First Baptist Church - Friendship ClassFirst Baptist Church - Steadfast ClassFirst Baptist Church, Inc First Christian Church Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce - iOpener Youth Leadership Class 2013Fredericksburg United Methodist Church - Helen Tainter CircleHEB Employees Hill Country Evangelical Free Church Hill Country Propane, Inc Johnson & Johnson - Matching Gifts Program Knights of Columbus #9765 National Christian Foundation Oak Hills Church Perry & Ruby Stevens - Charitable Foundation Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church Seventh Day Adventist Church Shell Matching Gifts Program St James Lutheran Church - St James WELCAStreet Dreams Stroeher & Olfers, Inc Trinity Lutheran Church

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IN-KIND DONATIONS June 2013 through October 2013

BUSINESSESBethany Lutheran ChurchClear River Pecan CompanyFirst Baptist Church - Christian Neighbors Sunday School ClassFischer & WieserFISD - Transportation Fredericksburg JayceesFredericksburg United Methodist ChurchHead StartHEBHill Country ElectricHill Country Pest ControlNatures CandyOak Hills ChurchParts UnknownRed CrossRustlin’ Rob’s Texas Gourmet FoodsSt. Barnabas Episcopal ChurchSunnyside LandscapingTexan Self StorageThe Giving CircleThe Telephone Man – Doug Sundheimer Wal-MartZion Lutheran Church

INDIVIDUALSPriscilla Althaus Evan Archilla M’Emily Archilla Frank & Elizabeth Beal Phyillis Borden Wendy Bush Ray & Caryl Christenson Mindy Clark Clare Davenport Ann Dunifer Mary Ann Faubion Virginia Fuege Kelly Graham David Hardin Glenda Hibler Henry & Coleen Hickman Keith JenkinsKathy Kelly Jo & Greg Langenbaugh Ellen Lemons Kevin & Lynn MacWithey Sondra McKelvey Becky Miles Karlene Ottmers Babs Parrott Janis Pitre Mary & Karl Ransleben Andrew Regala Lindsey Regala Mark Rodriguez Julie Roseberry Bill & Pat Sadd Ruth Sarnecki Gina Seracen Chrissy & Richard Stuewe Linda & Vernon Treibs Barbara & Mac Turner Wayne & Kerry Utley Leo & Sandra Wall Bill Warner Karolyn Wayman Bev Weidenfeller Lenard White Megan WillomePolly Zenner

THE COUNTLESS DONORS OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!

The Needs Council Food for Kids program addresses week-end hunger in children who counselors have identified as being consistently hungry. Below is a list of food items we need for the program:• Tuna kits• Vienna sausages• Beanie Wienies• Lunchables• Cheese packets• Beef jerky• Peanut Butter (small jars or individual servings)• Shelf Stable Milk (individual servings plain or flavored)• Pudding Cups• Fruit Cups• Applesauce • Dried Fruit • Juice boxes or cans• Nuts• Trail Mix• Breakfast bars• Protein Bars• Granola Bars• Crackers with cheese or peanut butterThe idea is to provide non refrigerated individual serving size nutritional snacks that young children can open and eat. No can opener, microwave or stove needed. Some of these children are left to fend for themselves on the weekend while parents work. If you have any questions please call the office at (830) 997-9756.

Food 4 Kids

Senior Sends a Grateful Note“You know how hard it is for me to accept help, but you are so genuine it makes it easier …you make all the difference in the world to me. I am truly blessed by your kind and generous spirit.”

Footwear for Kids“Wow…just gave a Kindergarten boy a Pair of Shoes … It is amazing to see his little eyes just gleaming and to hear him talk about how comfortable they are…and how fast he can run now. Thanks again for allowing us the opportunity to assist with the Footwear for Kids.”

Linda Durst-OttmersSchool NurseFredericksburg Primary School

Principal says Thank You! We, at Fredericksburg Elementary School, would like to express our sincere gratitude to you foryour generous donation of food items for the “Food for Kids-Backpack Packers” program. Because of your efforts, we know that these food packages are making a big difference to the children who receive them.

Your contribution demonstrates your commitment to our school and most importantly to ourchildren who are the future. The thoughtfulness of people like you makes it possible for our school to accomplish far more than we could otherwise.

On behalf of the students, faculty, staff and parents of Fredericksburg Elementary, thank you again.Signed by Monica WardPrincipal

Special THANK YOU to our Food 4 Kids Coordinators

For each of the schools receiving F4K bags every Friday there are one or two coordinators keeping the program rolling. They shop, sort,

stuff and shuffle the bags each week with the help of other volunteers.

To say the program could not go on without them would be an under-statement! WE are so very grateful for their continued commitment to

feeding the kids!

❧ Jacque Clements❧ Gabi & Don Murray

❧ Annie Rendon❧ Sylvia Taylor

Shop at red and help the

Needs Council During the month of November, red, located at 307 East Main, will be donating 10% of sales to the Needs Council when you select our organization at checkout.

It’s the perfect time to get started on your Christmas shopping – please consider shopping at red!

HILL COUNTRYCOMMUNITY

NEEDS COUNCIL209 South Acorn

P.O. Box 73Fredericksburg

Texas 78624Tel: 830-997-9756Fax: 830-990-2652

E-mailinfo@needscouncil.org

Websitewww.needscouncil.org

Needs Council Mission Statement

With loving hearts and helping hands, the Needs Council identifies, establishes, and administers services that address the basic unmet needs of people in Gillespie County. Our mission is accomplished through the mobilization of a core of community volunteers, the utilization of community resources and services, and the establishment of programs.

Non-ProfitOrganizationPostage PaidPermit #222

FredericksburgTX 78624

PO Box 73Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Hill Country CommunityNe e ds C ounci l

Needs Council2013 Board Members

D.G. McCoury - PresidentKelli Olfers - Vice Pres.Mac Turner - TreasurerGayle Long - SecretarySherilea BrownBrad HardinDavid HolkeAlan MatthiesPat McGowanMark PetersonClint PluennekeAmanda StevensBecky Walch

WebsiteYou are now able to donate

electronically through the websiteusing a credit card or PayPal.

w w w. n e e d s c ou n c i l . or g

Director’s Corner --

It takes 43 muscles to frown and only 17 to smile. We communicate much more with our body language than with words. Before a word is spoken by the people coming into our office it’s evident and doesn’t take a psycholo-gy degree to detect that they are sad, fearful, embarrassed or even angry at their situation. Earlier in the newsletter I refer-enced a woman who had returned to the Needs Council just to say “thank you”… she had faced the choice of taking the easy way out or enduring the pain and sacrifice to realize the rewards of taking the more difficult route! If you remember, we didn’t

recognize her because her state of mind and body language represented a totally new person. I wish we could report that every person who comes to the Needs Council has such a transfor-mation, but that wouldn’t be realistic. We can only provide the tools; it is up to each client to take the steps needed for a better future. We all face chal-lenges in our daily lives– it is how we deal with the stress, pain, loss, and injustice of those challenges that deter-mine the strength of our character. As we roll into the holiday season some of us get tied into knots trying to “do” too much – gift buying, cooking, decorating, party going etc. One of our senior clients has lost her aware-ness of time and holiday seasons, due to her dementia. A neighbor brought her in with a broken denture. She just smiled; she had no worries beyond the discomfort of her denture problem. She trusted in her neighbor as we trust in this community. As I called Dr Ray’s office to see if they could squeeze

her in, I trusted they would find a way to do just that. I also trusted that your support would continue – providing assistance for her needs as well as the needs of the 3,000 others who come for help throughout the year. What better way to prepare for Christmas than to trust in the innate goodness of our neighbors? We look forward to working with many of you who volunteer with us during the holidays. We encourage you to drop by Chase Bank to adopt a Senior Angel, call Trish to adopt a family or help on distribution day, let Penny know you’ll help deliver gifts to seniors, or equally important: use those 17 muscles to lift someone’s spir-its, you just might make their day.

Merry Christmas!

Cindy HeifnerCindy Heifner, Director

Let this Angel be your Gift Send your friends and family this beautiful Angel Card, highlighting a Fredericksburg Elementary Students artwork! Give us your list of those “hard to buy for” individuals and we will forward your holiday greetings acknowledging your gift in their name.

Please be certain to provide complete names and addresses of your gift honorees. [Suggested minimum donation per card - $5.00.]

✴Tis the Season ...✴

A gift in your honor was given to the Needs Council by

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Hill Country Community Needs CouncilPO Box 73 – Fredericksburg, TX 78624830-997-9756 info@needscouncil.org

Original artwork byFredericksburg Elementary student.

Fall 2013