Harvest of Talents

Please click here to see some of the crafts that were offfered at our 2009 Harvest of Talents: Harvest Photos

Harvest of Talents - just what is it?

Harvest of Talents is a year-long ministry culminating in a one day event in the fall. It is unique in that it is "all inclusive". That is, no one is excluded from participating. For the next 8 months you (that's right - YOU!) are encouraged to create items to be sold or auctioned at the Harvest Day, or host an event (garage sale?) and donate all money to Harvest Day. Proceeds from these combined efforts will stay within Rusk County, with the intent that we can be "Jesus" to people living here in our own community. Our second Harvest Day will be October 9, 2010.

Our first annual Harvest of Talents brought in over $13,000.00.  This amount was divided in half. 50% of the gross proceeds was equally divided between the five food pantries in Rusk County. The other 50% of the gross proceeds has been put into a fund to be used on a case by case basis to meet the needs of elderly, veterans and the developmentally and mentally disabled in Rusk County. This is an emergency fund that will be used when all other sources are exhausted or they do not exist. This is also intended to be a one time use benefit. The recipients will be identified by a team of five professionals from Health and Human Services and the Veterans Administration.

Examples of use could be but are not limited to, the purchase of a new car tire for an elderly person on social security with no means to purchase extras. Another example could be to provide transportation to an elderly spouse to visit their mate while hospitalized in Eau Claire because they have no car and cannot afford the $57.00 round trip cost. Another example may be to provide heart medication to an elderly person during the 20 day transition of vendors under Medicare D who would otherwise have to go without.

God help us in this endeavor and may He bless those in need through the Harvest.