Much obliged

On behalf of the Children First For Future, an event to raise national domestic violence awareness and to honor children, families and special people which took place on Oct. 26, and to express cherished memories of people who have been a part of my mission throughout my life, I have organized dozens of family events through the years.

Special thanks from the July 25 kickoff to Kathy Thompson, Mrs. Minnesota America pageant 2001 member, who recognized and represented Children First For Future in Honolulu, Hawaii recently.

For continuing declaring events, thanks to Brainerd Mayor James Wallin, Baxter Mayor Gary Muehlhausen, Gov. Jesse Ventura, St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone.

Special thanks goes to Jessica and Rodney Winch for taking part in the tree dedication and candlelight ceremonies in honor of your mother Rachel Anthony who also was my dear friend. Thanks to Kris Hasskamp for the astonishing Master of Ceremonies duty and inspired songs; to Brainerd National Guards and Civil Youth Air Patrol for posting the American flag and colors; to Pastor David Stevens of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and Father Seamus Walsh of St. Francis Catholic Church for lovely, peaceful prayers for Sept. 11 New York Attack on America and all our nation; to Mid-Town Floral for the beautiful roses, extra flowers and balloons donated for all our families.

Thanks to Baxter Youth Shelter for recruiting youth to attend the event; the Girls and Boys PORT group homes; Heartland Performing Arts Center from Crosby and Aitkin for performing outstanding dance and gymnastics; Brainerd Tae Kwon Do for a fabulous self-defense demonstration; Pops, the Shriners clown, for all the goodies for the kids; Elite Limousine Services for chaufferuring fun, safe rides for our families; Kris Blanchard, artist for providing pictures and face painting for the kids and Sheri Newlon, Bemidji author of "Everybody Has a Story" for signing autographs and presenting a sexual abuse book.

I want to thank The Brainerd Daily Dispatch for all their involvement, and extra thanks to Echo Publishing for the coverage along with that of: KSAX/KRWF TV in Alexandria which provided news coverage on Mid Day talk show with Sarah Casello; Lakeland News TV for news coverage on Oct. 26 by Andy Hirsch; extra thanks to Faith Alexandra speaking Oct. 26 and helping promote from Alexandria on KCCO/KCCW 7/12 noon talk program; Sam Swanson also representing WCCO TV and donating huge amounts of prime time public service ads for the cause; KIVK from Alexandria working with me on Sunday talk program and KXRA Morning talk program; WJJY over the years on community focus program; 3 Wi for all radio talk news for long time.

Thanks to the Women's Center of Mid-Minnesota for all your extra help on the whole event and taking the time to continue to work with me on every event, and your donations of homemade quilts from the staff: Louis Seliski, Kathi Northburg and all advocates from the center; also to the Brandon Child Safety Center for all our children's protection; Sexual Assault Services for all your involvement in the news of creating sexual assault statistics.

META 5 Displaced Homemaker Program contributed public TV announcements. Recognition and encouragement was provided by the Jacob Wetterling Foundation to the cause. Thanks also to the CWC United Way, Lutheran Social Services, Sara Dunlap of SJMC Volunteer Services for working behind the scenes, TDS Telecom for sponsoring the Oct. 26 event, Brainerd Medical Center for financial support, Mothers of Preschoolers, Deneen Kloster for offering to deliver donation items over the holidays to our children in centers/shelters.

This Children First For Future program's memories will last in all our hearts, the fact that we all made a difference. Thank you for all your contributions, involvement, time and for raising awareness for all children's protection.

Tammy Ebertowski

Children First For Future

Volunteer organizer

Soup kitchen

Thanks to all for another good month of working together to serve those in need in our community. In October we served a total of 929 meals. We were open 27 days. This represents an average of 34 meals served per day. Thanks again for all of your help in making this ministry possible.

Special thanks are due again this month to many people, churches and organizations. In addition to your very special financial gifts, including $150 from the Bird 's Nest in Garrison, we also received gifts of food rom the following: Prince of Peace, AFSCME and MAPE, Brainerd Assemblies of God, St Francis Church, Zion Lutheran, Bethlehem Lutheran, Elks Lodge, Youth as Resources, Mike Doran, Norm Olson, Lord of Life Lutheran, Green Mill Pizza and more.

We also wish to thank Lakes Area Mat Service for continuing to provide us with floor mats. Your help is appreciated.

Thanks for thinking of us!

Bob Evans

Manager

Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen

Brainerd

St. Francis angels

I wish to convey my thanks to the wonderful nurse who came to my rescue on Nov. 24 at the 4 p.m. mass when I slipped on the wet cement and fell face down so many steps. You were so kind and efficient but in all the confusion I did not get your name, also thanks to everyone that helped from the cellphone person to the people that held umbrellas over meand& my

husband in the pouring rain. St.Francis Church can be very proud of its people. Thanks again.

Doris A. Gilgenbach

Civil Air Patrol

The Crow Wing Composite Squadron is extremely grateful for the incredible response of monetary and in-kind donations made to our organization during the past 10 months as we renovated our Squadron Building, paved our parking lot, and began fundraising for the re-skinning of our Squadron hangar. We are overwhelmed with the generosity of the businesses, organizations, and individuals in this community who are dedicated to assisting our organization in remaining ready to serve our country in time of need.

We would like to acknowledge the following for their monetary donations to our cause: Craig Whiting and Lakewood Bank NA, Baxter Lions Club, Brainerd Lions Club, Crosslake-Ideal Corners Lions Club, Crow Wing Power Trust, Brainerd Eagles, Brainerd Jaycees, Order of the Eastern Star, Northern National Bank, Red Wing Composite Squadron CAP, Herberger's, Aitkin Legion, Crosslake-Fifty Lakes American Legion, Ironton Legion, Brainerd VFW, Garrison VFW and the Jenkins VFW.

We would also like to acknowledge the following for their invaluable in-kind donations of equipment, supplies or labor during the past several months: Anderson Brothers Construction, St. Joseph's Medical Center, the Crow Wing County Fair Board, Airmotive Enterprises, Valspar Paint, Floor to Ceiling Store, Northwest Carpet Suppliers, Tyke's Carpet, Hometown Building Supply of Aitkin, UBC, Home Depot, Wal-mart, Bauerly Brothers Concrete, Granite City Concrete of Crosslake, Bridge of Harmony, John's Custom Furniture, Fire Protection Equipment Co., Lindahl Paint, Moving Technologies, Tom Koop, Rich Koch, John McKay, Greg Spaid, Mike Trenholm and Dr. Carol Winegar, the Crow Wing County Sentence to Serve Program, and finally the fabulous Crow Wing Composite Squadron Members.

Please accept our apologies for inadvertently missing anyone from the extensive list of donors.

We continue to train and prepare for serving our community in emergency services search and rescue operations, aerospace education, and cadet leadership programming.

Capt. Beth Pfingsten

Commander

Crow Wing Composite Squadron