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Highways and Byways Ministries believes in helping people all year long, but the holidays do bring the opportunity to spread some cheer and let the homeless know that they aren’t forgotten, especially during a time that represents joy and warmth with family and friends – blessings they aren’t fortunate enough to enjoy.

This year, we baked some homemade treats for a couple of homeless shelters. We prepared goody bags to hand out. Each bag contained a banana-walnut loaf, gingerbread muffin with old-fashioned butter glaze, a brownie, chocolate chip and sugar cookies, peppermint bark, plus a handwritten Christmas card. (We also handed out giant candy canes to each person once we got to the mission; not pictured.)

Contents of Goody Bags

Including Homemade Peppermint Bark

Sister Debbie

Sister Debbie & Daughter, Michele

The Bags

As we entered the Veteran’s Day Center, tired, weathered faces lit up; worried frowns turned into bright smiles; joy abounded – if only for a few minutes.

“You’ve brought smiles to so many faces today.”

“Thank you.”

“God bless you for doing this!”

“A Christmas card!”

“Oh, it’s banana bread!”

“I haven’t seen a big candy cane like that in a long time!”

Those are some of the quotes coming from the people who received their goody bags today. Many of them were Veterans. They served our country, yet they wander the streets; homeless.

Additional needs have been brought to our attention (we’ll be sharing them in an upcoming post). We are taking donations so we can help more than our small family ministry is able to. Help us help others…

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In the previous article, we mentioned our Valentine’s Day idea for a nursing home in our area — it led to 60 bags of love…

What’s in a Valentine?

It’s things money can’t buy such as a hug or smile that touch hearts beyond measure, or just time spent with someone who doesn’t have anyone that make the most valuable, memorable gift. Time and caring doesn’t take a lot of money….

Spreading the Love

To show our love and appreciation, Highways and Byways Ministries recently put together — and personally delivered — 60 custom Valentine’s Day gift bags. These bags were filled with various old-fashioned candies, chosen to spark warm memories in the residents. They also contained needed items, such as socks to keep their feet warm, and a handwritten Valentine card to make them feel special and show they are loved and thought about.

One of the employees pushing the cart filled with Valentine goodies into the nursing home.

Valentine’s Day bags nestled in boxes, sitting on a cart, waiting for the residents’ party.

A close-up of the gift bags and socks snuggled in a decorated Valentine’s box.

It’s the Thought that Counts

It didn’t take a ton of money to purchase the items necessary for assembling these Valentine bags. And, it didn’t take that much time to toss the stuff in the bags, or to stop by the nursing home and carry them in.  The weathered faces that greeted us when we walked in have worked in the fields, raised children with morals, been wonderful grandparents, friends, neighbors, and citizens. Some fought for our country; others taught our children. They deserve respect, and to be remembered.

Our Valentine Gift

The smiles and excitement on the residents’ faces was worth it all. There is no monetary amount or materialistic item that could replace what we felt in our hearts and souls as we watched the gratitude glowing from the faces of those who sacrificed their life and time for others, who now spend their days longing for visits from someone they love, or anyone — even someone they don’t know, just to sit with them for a spell and keep them company on those long, lonely days.

Keep your money and spend yourself. — Sister Deborah J. Tune

Hello!

I’m Sister Debbie and this is the website for Highways and Byways Ministries--my family’s ministry. This website is a work-in-progress and we’ll continue to add features, articles, updates, and even songs and videos.

In the meantime, I’d like to welcome you and thank you for visiting. As this site grows and we are able to share more information with you, you’ll learn about all the many great things Jesus Christ has done in our lives. He has performed miracle after miracle and continues to bless each and every day.

I look forward to sharing with you testimonies, scriptures, recent ministry news and events, and so much more.

One of our favorite things to do is to reach out to those who are homebound, in nursing homes, hospitals, etc. We’re excited to let you know we have something special planned for Valentine’s Day for the residents of a nursing home in our area. I’ll be posting about it soon in an upcoming article, so stay tuned.

Just type your e-mail address in the space provided below and you’ll receive free Highways and Byways Ministries updates.

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