February 2023

ualc teens service project

On Saturday, February 11, ten middle school young people from Upper Arlington Lutheran Church met at the Linden Community Center for a service project.  After Tammy shared part of her story about the need for hygiene and dignity, they helped in several ways.  They packed 6 Clean Start Baskets for women and men released through the Kindway/Embark programs.  They wrote love notes to put into the clients' hygiene bags. They counted out and packaged trash bags, razors and Q-Tips.  They packed Blessing Bags for the homeless with some sample items.  We are so grateful for how engaged they were in packing the items.   Lots of great pictures are below.
​Thank you so much to Kelsey Bacon and MSM!

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  
Matthew 25:40

clean start baskets

it's amazing to watch all the steps in our Clean Start Baskets project.  First Kathryn Farrar shops for and gathers hygiene usually with the help of her granddaughters.  She then wrote out a list of items to place in each basket.   After some initial training, the UALC middle schoolers picked up the items from the table and packed these baskets on February 11.  We loaded them into our van to take to our  Help Center.  A few days later Jan Roberts, the Women's Transition Manager, picked up two baskets at God's Hygiene Help Center on February 16.  
​Jan met up with Elizabeth Betancourt who received her Clean Start Basket after serving three years in Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) on February 18. She went through EMBARK  season 10 and successfully completed the program. She is excited about starting her new journey back in the community. 

volunteers make a difference

Peggy Wolf and Tammy were busy filling hygiene bags with 6 items for all the clients who had driven in.  Two female clients impatiently waiting for their orders got out of their car and walked up to them.   One lady was really mad we were filling bags before hers for she had been waiting a long time.  She said,  "Would you hurry the *#*# up?!"  
Peggy shared, "Jesus loves you."  
She said "We don't care about God.  We are atheists."   Lisa told her we would get right to her order, but she was very huffy.  She told her Jesus loved her too! 
Peggy replied, "We represent God and don't use that language at God's Hygiene Help Center."  
"Mind if we pray for you?"
The next month the women returned.  Lisa Ryan reached out to them and asked "Would you like  prayer?"  They said yes.  This time they had a New Testament on their dashboard.  
Tammy asked after they left, "Lisa, you prayed with them?  They are atheists."
 Lisa replied, "I didn't know they were."  And this is just how God works
And this is why God's Hygiene Help Center makes a difference in our community.

THANK YOU's  to  GHHC

I put in a form today for supplies. I was pleasantly surprised that my (Project Dash) order was delivered here today and I got the text from the driver and was able to meet them on time. I am very very happy with this service and will spread the word about your good doing. 
Thank you again for helping me in my time of need!!!
Amy

Helping a young lady in need of prayer and a hug

Our volunteers noticed a young lady at our Help Center in tears.  We immediately asked Kathryn and Tammy to talk with her.  Kathryn took her upstairs to pray with her quietly.  She left with a bag of hygiene, new friends and a smile on her face.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7:12

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GHHC SHOPPING WITH GRACE

While we were getting products for our clients, we encountered God at work. I wear my GHHC name badge when I am out doing work on behalf of our nonprofit. As I loaded our cart with the a large number of laundry detergents, a couple approached me and asked "What are you going to do with all of that laundry detergent?" I shared with them the vision of our founder, Tammy Jewell--to spread the Word of the Lord and give dignity to those in poverty with the compassion and love of Jesus Christ.    They were touched and in that moment gave a generous donation.
As I was leaving and loading the van, another gentlemen inquired, "Where are you taking all of these cleaning products?"  I was thrilled to also share with him the vision and mission of GHHC.  He said "I hope you are who you say you are."   He, too, gave a donation. I invited both parties to come to God's Hygiene Help Center to volunteer to see the lives they are touching.   
That donation enabled us to buy one of our volunteers a bed who had only been sleeping on a couch.  Tammy says, "To me everyone is a brother or sister that I want to help.
​Brenda Andracki, Inventory Coordinator
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​This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

refocusing on our true mission

God's Hygiene Help Center is a non-profit relying completely on individual donations and volunteer workers. Our mission is to change the lives of people by providing hygiene, and the word of Jesus. To do this we need to have personal contact with our clients. We have partially strayed from this mission.

To be good stewards of the resources God gives us, effective immediately, we will no longer provide products to case managers. Instead, we will be focusing on individuals living in the proximity of our Linden community who come to us in need.

We hope you will understand the reason for this change and provide your clients through your government monies or other organizations in the community who have a different approach to hygiene. Thank you for understanding our policy. God's Hygiene Help Center Staff

For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. John 6:36b

from Pastor Rick's  (Warren) Daily Hope, Vol. 3 2022

There is a right time and a right way to do everything.  Ecclesiastes 8:6 GNT

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.  Proverbs 3:27 NIV

Thank you for your gift to God's Hygiene Help Center, but more importantly for your partnership in our mission to provide hope and dignity to our neighbors in need.

Trust God for each day as it comes, and He'll provide everything you need.  the Bible promises "For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.  He gives us grace and glory.  The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right."  Psalm 84:11 NLT

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.  For indeed, that's all who ever have.  Margaret Mead

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