Love For Lynn Soup, Salad & Silent Auction Dinner was the answer Erika Moon had for her son when he asked her to help his teacher at school…
A little over a year ago Living Ministries got the chance to work beside Hearts For Homeless at a barbecue for homeless neighbors that HFH had planned and were executing and in need of a few more hands. Our Executive Director, Summer, had had the chance to meet Lynn Brown of Hearts For Homeless while volunteering at Love Overwhelming and they became quick friends.
So on a rainy Saturday Living Ministries Team Members arrived with their tent and some food and lent their strong backs and loving hearts to the event. Following that day we have also had the opportunity to spend GoFourth at the lake together and seen HFH at a few of our Power Meetings. We have also crossed paths with Hearts For Homeless at some of the other places our Team Members work and volunteer, making KC, Lynn, Jazzy, Jessenia and Luis great friends.
When we found out that Lynn had cancer, our President, Karen, immediately began rallying people for a fundraiser to lighten the financial burden on their family….then we got super excited when we found out that Karen’s idea was trumped by a 10-year-old boy named Aiden at Three Rivers Christian School, where Lynn works.
Summer connected with Aiden’s mom, Erika Moon and offered any help we could give and felt after their phone call that Erika was more than ready for the huge project she had undertaken….A few days later we realized that Erika had never done this before and didn’t realize how many details she hadn’t thought of before she attempted to do this alone. Over lattes at Guse’s Gourmet Coffee we found out what she had planned so far and made a scheme to stand beside her.
On Thursday May 9, 2013 Karen and Summer pulled into the parking lot at Three Rivers Christian School a little after 5 pm, to help set up. In the backseat was a crockpot full of chicken and rice soup and A-Frame Sign with a big balloon to mark the entrance to the parking lot and make it easier for people that had never been there before. They were so surprised to see the abundant raffle items and silent auction items that had been donated. There were several people there to help with set up and a chef in the kitchen creating an amazing salad!
A half an hour before the fun was about to begin, LM Committee Member, Debra Lawson-Bean arrived with the desserts she had spent the day creating and Karen ran down to help her bring up her treasures while Summer helped in the kitchen.
At 6:30 everyone was there and ready to begin picking which of the 6 types of homemade soups that had been made by loving hands. Minutes earlier we had learned that the Moon family was a little uncomfortable with being MC; lucky for them Karen was born with aspirations to hold a mic and with her exuberant oratory abilities she opened up the event in prayer and continued to communicate and guide people.
Working next to Erika and her daughter, Helen and Heidi and Heidi’s boys, Summer enjoyed serving in the kitchen while Debra served her luscious deserts and Erika’s family took care of people who wanted to buy raffle tickets, make donations and ask questions.
The look on Lynn’s face when she came in the door was a combination of relief, honor and shock! There were at least 100 people who came to support Lynn, who was overwhelmed with all the love. A giver at heart, she was brought to tears by so many people that had come because Aiden had asked them to. In the end we can say this event was none other than successful, and although it was not a Living Ministries event, we gave our all and were given so much back…as usual…while we built relationships and filled a need in our community.
What a blessing! The connection between Lynn and Aiden was amazing. Aiden has a huge heart and isn’t afraid to show it. He truly admires Lynn and she really admires him. This event brought them closer, a byproduct of gracious giving.
Thank you Aiden and Erika!
