THRiVE!'s Day 9 Challenge= Discount and Gift Card Entry at Bender's

THRIVE! Magazine has announced their Day 9 Challenge:

1) Bender's Parable Christian Store is offering a 10% discount on any non-sale item for bringing in a donation of clothing or a canned good into the store for the rest of the month of March!

2) For anyone who participates today and brings in a donation you'll be entered to win a $10 Gift card from Bender's. (winner announced Saturday)

THRiVE! 30 Day Challenge Starts

CHARITY: SERVING THE LEAST OF THESE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

Hearts for the Homeless feeds the poor every week and operates a thrift store on Buffalo’s West Side. Photo by Matt Brown

For over 20 years Hearts for the Homeless has led faithful outreach to the poor of Buffalo led by Ron Calandra and his wife, Peg, who have been with Hearts since its inception. Annually, the ministry reaches thousands of homeless and poor through their Mobile Soup Kitchen and helps meet the needs of the West side community through Hearts Thrift Shop. In 2010 alone more than 12,472 people were served.
The team includes five dedicated Mobile Crew Teams made up of 26 adult volunteers (including an 80 year old woman who has worked with them for over 15 years), each committed long term to one night per week. Thanks to their faithful service they make the outreach possible. Many other long term committed volunteers including some youth go out in tandem with adult supervision. Some need to put in community service, some have caught Hearts’ mission and want to serve on a regular basis.
Hearts relies heavily on the generosity of individuals, churches, and local organizations for its funding. While they do receive some matching donations from company employee giving programs at companies like Praxair, Liberty Mutual Foundation and the United Way, support at Christmas time from people who believe in the mission is always welcome.
Hearts' Mobile Soup Kitchen (an RV where they serve prepared meals, with a clothing pantry on board) has one stop— the Buffalo and Erie County Library, downtown Washington and Ellicott St., where they park under the overpass connecting the two library buildings. “Although we do not ask where the people are coming from, as we get to know the "regulars" we know that the homeless are dispersed throughout the city, live under city bridges and nooks and niches where they are shielded from cold weather and wind; and the poor families that have residences come from all over including the West Side, Riverside, and Downtown,” explained Ron Calandra.
For Calandra it’s knowing that he made a difference that makes it all worth it, “Knowing that when we go out and feed people at night they won’t be going to bed hungry is the most rewarding part of the ministry,” he explained. Yet the ministry is not without its challenges, Calandra said resources are always a challenge, yet God continues his faithfulness, “Having enough resources to lift more people out of their pit and improve their quality of life – that would be permanent and having more resources to impact more lives in bigger ways like getting someone a car – we helped a young woman get a car by which she was able to go back to school for nursing and succeed; we watched the hand of God move in her situation. —By Kyle Patterson with Ron Calandra

Ministry Awareness Fair Set for November 12

Hearts for the Homeless will be onsite to collect canned goods and winter apparel to give out to our areas neediest

Coming together under one roof on Saturday, November 12 from 10 – 2 PM will be over 30 ministries from across the Buffalo-Niagara region.  Multiple Christian denominations, ministries and Christ centered businesses will personally be in attendance to share how God has positioned them to be a light in our community.

The event is geared to promote and provide exposure to our area’s ministries as well as be a resource to Christians in this area.  For families there will be Christian youth and children’s programs represented, Christian camps with programs throughout the year, a Christian owned dance studio as well as a Christ centered martial arts club.  As a support in difficult times, care groups that minister to those considering divorce as well as those who have gone through divorce will be represented.

Also present will be ministries that God has gifted to shine as a light in both the church as well as the broken areas of our society.  Among issues addressed are addictions, unplanned pregnancy, homelessness, prostitution, and re-entry into society after prison.  Many of the ministries represented are those that truly go into the highways and byways of our region.  They both support the local church in addressing the deeper issues of brokenness in people’s lives as well as rely on the churches throughout this region to hold up their arms both through prayers and resources. 

This event will be taking place at 621 Payne Ave in North Tonawanda and is being hosted by Christian Academy of Western New York.  Hearts for the Homeless will be onsite to collect canned goods and winter apparel to give out to our areas neediest.  Also available will be fresh baked goods and Chiavetta’s chicken dinners to support Christian education at CAWNY.

Come join us and show your support to the many fellow servants of God in this region.  Be informed before the need arises.