SJH 4th Birthday: Save the Date!
subtitles here
Click SJH Newsletter 2nd Quarter edition or the image below to view and download a PDF version.
I hope you had a Happy Memorial Weekend! I know I say this every time I write a newsletter but it’s the truth! We are off to an exceptional year.
So, where do I start with the highlights, Quarter 1 was another milestone in our growth of serving our neighbors. We were able to serve 463 clients in Q1 putting us on track to hit our goal of 2400 clients served this year. (Q1 is historically our slowest quarter due to the weather.)
In January we started our regional expansion and have several candidates that are interested in forming a regional chapter in their area. These areas include; Minnesota, New York State and Central Michigan. We are just in the beginning stages of this growth, but I am very optimistic in our approach to this expansion and the warm reception. We also now have a solid footprint in Lexington, Kentucky, where we are beginning to expand thanks to the leadership of our Executive Regional Director, and board member, Marty Brown.
An update wouldn’t be complete without an update on our newest addition to SJH and that’s Julie’s List. Founded in 2011 by our Assistant Executive Director, Julie Kennedy Carpenter, Julie’s List is an online database designed to connect individuals in need with vital community resources. The site currently offers access to more than 3,00 listings across 43 states, helping users find assistance for medical equipment, food, housing, and much more. Since its inception, the website has received over 700,000 visits, reflecting its impact and value to those seeking help. Looking ahead to 2026, our goal is to expand the database to 5,000 resources and provide coverage across all 48 continental U.S. states.
We invite you to learn more and explore available resources at www.SJHelpers.org.
Additional highlights so far for 2026 is our ongoing efforts of our handicap ramp program. Since its inception in 2025 we have installed over 50 ramps ranging from 10 ft portables to 40 ft modular aluminum ramps. Our fundraising efforts—through grants and individual donors successfully supported our mission, and we are in the process of forming partnerships with several organizations to further expand this initiative for the remainder of 2026.
As we move through 2026, our hearts are filled with gratitude as we reflect on the gift of your service. Your willingness to serve is a beautiful reflection of God’s love at work in our community. Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, and your joyful commitment to serving others.
We pray that the Lord will continue to renew your strength, guard your hearts, and fill you with His peace. May you be reminded that you are deeply loved by God, cherished by the St. Joseph’s Helpers family, and appreciated by our clients more than words can express.
With sincere gratitude,
Tony
P.S. I know this newsletter is longer than normal but if you have time, please read the story below
We Are God’s Answer to Someone’s Prayer |
|
I’d like to share something that happened to me recently. I was measuring a person’s home for a potential handicap ramp, and the client, and I quote stated; “You are the answer to my prayers.” This was a statement that totally took me off guard, that God would send me to answer someone’s prayer. Every day, people whisper prayers that no one else hears. A mother prays for strength to keep going. A lonely neighbor prays for companionship. A financially struggling individual prays for hope, provision, or simply one person who cares. I came to grips with; “What if the answer to some of those prayers is actually you and me?” What if God is using us through our work at SJH to actually answer someone’s prayers? God consistently works through people to accomplish His purpose on earth. When someone needs encouragement, He sends a friend. When someone is hungry, He moves hearts to give. When someone in our communities needs help, He raises up servants like us willing to love beyond convenience. Sometimes a kind word, a listening ear, or an unexpected act of generosity becomes the very evidence that God has not forgotten them. Being God’s answer to prayer does not always require grand gestures. Often, it looks ordinary and sometimes it may not even be the answer the person praying was expecting or wants. But nonetheless we answer God’s call. These moments may be small to us, but to someone else, they may be life changing. There are times when we pray and ask God to comfort the grieving, feed the hungry, support the weary, and love the forgotten — yet He has already placed compassion, resources, and influence in our hands. We become vessels of His grace when we choose obedience over indifference. Jesus demonstrated this perfectly. Everywhere Jesus went, people encountered healing, mercy, truth, and love. He noticed those often ignored. He responded to needs before people even asked. His life reminds us that ministry often begins with simply seeing people and caring deeply. Our presence, kindness, and generosity, could be the very response they have been waiting for. As believers, we are called not only to pray for miracles but also to participate in them. God still answers prayers — and many times, He does so through willing hearts and open hands. So, this week, ask yourself: “Whose prayer might God be calling me to answer today?” A simple act of love may become a powerful reminder that God sees, hears, and cares. And perhaps the greatest blessing is this: when we become an answer to someone else’s prayer, we often discover that God is also answering prayers within us. |