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I have to share some happy news, a personal joy in my life. I am a big fan of Nascar and this year I was able to attend the Daytona 500 for the second time in my life. It was truly a trip of a lifetime! There is nothing like the roar of 40 stock cars thundering past you at close to 200 miles per hour. My seats at this enormous track were 21 rows up from the catch fence where drivers come off of the pit road so the view was as amazing as the sounds. The highlight of my trip was completely unexpected. As I came around a corner of the back side of the garage area I was delighted to see one of my favorite drivers, John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #42 Legacy Motor Club Toyato. As he approached I said, "John Hunter, could I get a picture with you?" To which he replied, "Of course!" He took my phone, cuz my hands were shaking and I could not even remember which button to push for the selfie setting, and he took the picture. While I want to share the picture here, I have learned lately of the sad reality where people are helping themselves to your personal photos. So if you wish to see my picture feel free to ask and I will share it with you. After he took our picture he then signed my Daytona 500 hat. This was my first hour at the track, my first day at the track and I had already reach the top of the excitement chart. John Hunter placed 7th in the Great American race, an awesome showing. I was on cloud 9 to say the least, just sayin'...
News at Open Hands Midway to share. Our food shelf continues to see an increase in the number of guests making use of this program. In 2023 our food shelf use increase 125%!!! That is astounding to say the least. Clearly the need is great and clearly we will continue to do all we can to provide this vital service to our neighbors in need. Our food shelf is always accepting non-perishable food items and personal care products. For a list of our most current needs please click here. In the article above you read that March is Minnesota Food Share month. It is our hope that you will not only think about how you can support us but that you will share this with your friends and neighbors looking for a great way to make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling to feed themselves or their families, just sayin'...
Our programs are dependent on volunteers. If you, or someone you know, is interested in becoming a volunteer at Open Hands Midway I invite you to go to https://www.openhandsmidway.org/volunteering to learn more. Last year our amazing volunteers gave 4,601 hours of their time. We can always use more help. Check it out, what have you got to lose, just sayin'...
Recently I learned of the death of one of our meal program guests, Chris. It is always hard to hear news of someone dying but it is extra sad when we lose one of our guests unexpectedly. While Chris was not a personal friend, he was a member of our community and that, in a sense, makes him 'our' personal friend. One of his friends stated that Chris was found dead and he therefore thinks Chris simply died in his sleep. His 'family' here at Open Hands Midway will miss him and pray for all those who knew him well and will miss him as well, just sayin'...
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