News from the Director: Jennifer LaRose March 15, 2012
It’s beginning to look and smell like spring wherever you go in Indiana. Buds are popping on the trees and spring flowers are beginning to bloom. Winter is over and life is beginning to grow again. Spring is an amazing time for change and renewal, in nature and in our own lives.
Our spiritual spring is also known as Lent; a time for spiritual growth and renewal. Lent is a perfect opportunity for each of us to clean up our inner mess, repair our lives and fix our relationship with God and our neighbor.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
-James 4:8
Lent is celebrated as the forty days before Easter (not including Sundays. The forty days have three symbolic reasons…
- The forty days it took Israel to get ready and enter the promise land.
- It took the earth forty days and forty nights to be purified from sin in the story of the flood.
- Jesus prayed for forty days and forty nights to prepare for his public ministry.
Some of you may know Lent as the time when you or a neighbor ‘gave up’ something or maybe you remember it because you or your neighbor received ashes on Ash Wednesday. But how should a Christian really celebrate Lent?
- How you celebrate Lent is a decision between you and God.
- It should include one, if not all, of the three pillars of Lent
- Prayers
- Fasting and observing other self denying acts. When we deny ourselves the comforts we are used to, whether a full plate of food or some other part of our daily routine (TV, coffee, internet, alcohol) we can become more aware of our greater need for God.
- Almsgiving – Also known as charity- which is love in action.
What good is it my brothers,
if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?
Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well: keep warm and well fed,”
but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself,
if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
-James 2:14-17
No matter how you choose to celebrate Lent, it should be a sacrifice in some form. Remember, Christ did not die on the cross for his sins. He was there for ours.
We are guilty and he is innocent.
We are filthy and he is pure.
We are wrong and he is right.
-Max Lucado
May the beauty of Lent cleanse your soul and may the glory of Easter bless your life. From my family to yours…Blessings this Easter season.
-Jennifer LaRose
News from the Director: Jennifer LaRose February, 15th, 2012
With the Iraqi war finally behind us and the conflict in Afghanistan slowly coming to a close, those of us at The Call Of America know that a new generation of military families will begin to face the psychological and physical consequences for years after most other Americans have forgotten the war.
We believe that even when the war is over, our soldiers continue to fight. They fight for their sanity. They fight for their health. They fight for the benefits they deserve. They fight for relief from the stress and memories that the war has laid upon them. And they fight daily with the reality that life will never be the same.
An Iraqi war veteran said it best.
"Our penance comes in many forms," he wrote. "Never will we smell fire the same. Never will we be at ease during the fireworks and storms….Our penance will be the sleepless nights, the fools we will make of ourselves at loud noises, the looks on our faces at the sight of swerving cars, and the pains in our chests when no one is awake."
The Call Of America will continue to stand beside our soldiers and sailors and fight along with them. We have and will continue to do our best in providing the support and facilities that they require, because they have fought for us…now we will fight for them.
Last year we fought…
- For VA benefits for many soldiers from WWII, Vietnam and Korea
- For housing for homeless veterans from Vietnam to the Iraqi war
- To supply food and much needed medical supplies to poverty stricken veterans
- To provide in-home care for our elderly veterans
- To find legal aid for veterans in need
- To provide counseling to those veterans in need
- To change lives
We fight for them, because they fought for us. They have done their part, it is now our turn. Thank you for standing by us and joining the fight. If everyone gave from their hearts like you have imagine how many lives we could change!

It has been an exciting time at The Call Of America!
New services have been added to help better serve our clients through the Benefit Bank of Indiana. The Benefit Bank of Indiana is a work supports program of Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences which provides informal educational programs and educational materials that improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. These programs influence attitudes, teach skills, increase knowledge, and inspire aspirations. Those services that we will be able to offer to clients visiting our main office in Angola, Indiana include:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) aka food stamps.
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Federal Tax Returns
- State of Indiana Tax Returns
- Federal Back Taxes
All of our veteran services have…
No Fees or Charges • Counselor Assisted • Completely Confidential
Along with assistance with all Veteran Affairs paperwork we can also now offer help in applying for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and all State of Indiana Health Plans.
These are a few of the many ways we are helping our Indiana Veterans and their families with the support that you provide!
Thank you, Jennifer LaRose
News from the Director: Jennifer LaRose November, 15th, 2011
Fall is in full swing….all the leaves have dropped from the trees, the air is getting colder and Christmas decorations are slowly being added to the landscape. November, most known for one of the best feasts/celebrations of the year, Thanksgiving! The first traces of a Thanksgiving feast was in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1607 as settlers stopped and thanked the Almighty God for safe passage to the new world. Our holiday today finds its roots in 1621, when the Pilgrim settlers in Plymouth Plantation held a harvest banquet after a bountiful harvest. It wasn’t until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that as United States citizens we would celebrate a national day of Thanksgiving every end of November. President Lincoln summed the reason why we celebrate best...
"Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."
-President Abraham Lincoln
It was and always has been a day set aside to praise and thank God for his blessings upon us. Let us remember that as we go into the Holiday season. Through our sins and civil unrests, the pain of war and loss of loved ones, God have given us immeasurable blessings. Blessings that should be shared with others not stored away.
THE CALL OF AMERICA THANKFUL LIST
- Our many clients that have come into our life.
You have come into our lives as strangers and have left as friends
- Our generous donors. Without you we would be unable to help as many veterans.
- Our current US Servicemen. Protected us and preserving our way of life.
- Terrace Ridge Apartments in Angola, IN. A wonderful home for many of our local veterans.
- Project Help of Steuben County. Giving our corporate office a home!
- Our American Legions throughout the state.
- Our board of directors, staff and volunteers. Tirelessly helping others….
May God Bless you this Holiday season.
Thank you, Jennifer LaRose
News from the Director: Jennifer LaRose October 15th, 2011
"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go."Mother Teresa
It was 1979 in Detroit. I was 8. I lived a block from St. Andrew's Church. My grandparents were founding members of the church in the 1930's. Grandma would tell amazing stories of meeting under a large tent those first few services. Now standing on that inter-city block in Detroit was a gloriously large red brick building. The sanctuary was two stories complete with a large balcony. Along with its gym, multiple recreation rooms and a myriad of classrooms, it was a palace compared to the other buildings in the area. Just a few blocks to the East stood Herman Gardens, a large apartment complex. During that time almost 1/3 of the apartments were condemned or boarded up. Most of St. Andrew's member's were poor. The tithing plate wasn't very full each week. But what the church lacked in monetary donations it was blessed with gifts of love
St. Andrew's housed a daycare that gave single mothers a chance to go to school or work so that they could support their children. Plus it had countless after school activities, getting the kids off the streets and putting some food in their stomach. All ran by a volunteer staff with meager pocketbooks.
During the late 70's my mother was the church secretary. I loved playing in the church while my mom worked. There were so many rooms. One was hidden under the back steps. It was dark and gloomy yet filled with amazing treasures that my mom said changed people's lives.
One beautiful fall Saturday while my sister and I along with neighborhood kids were quite frankly building the largest leaf pile known to man, my mother come out side and said we had to go to the church. Someone was in need of our help and that he would be there soon. Our dream of neighborhood fame by doing a cannonball off our porch into our glorious leaf mountain was dashed. Instead we hurried inside to clean up and go. We helped as mom frantically made a few sandwiches. We threw them in a bag and off we went to St. Andrew's.
Once there she opened her treasure room. She asked me to grab two wool blankets from a meager pile on the floor along with a clean pillow. Mom took an old duffle bag and filled it with a pair of donated shoes, socks, gloves and hat. She put our sandwiches in it along with some peanut butter, bread, a few chocolate bars and other food items. She stood in the middle of the room looking at what else she needed. She then grabbed some men's pants and shirt, a bar of soap, towel and deodorant. She hurried us out of the room, locked the door behind us and headed up the stairs.
At the top of the staircase there stood an older member of the church in a suit. I can't recall his name yet I remember my grandpa talking to him before and after many services. "He's in the lobby" he said. When we entered the lobby with our loot I saw a giant of a man sit huddled in the corner. He was dirty. He had oily hair, holes in his shoes and mud on his shirt. Mom handed him the bag and grandpa's friend took him to the bathroom to shower and clean up. Mom explained to us that when this man came home from Vietnam he had no home to go to. He had been living on the streets most likely in one of the abandoned apartments. He was tired, hungry and needed sanctuary.
Sanctuary, I thought. How could he take our sanctuary? It's so big. "Is he going to live in our sanctuary?" I said. "No" my mom explained it to me. "Sanctuary is a place we go to lay our lives at the altar of God and say, here I am Lord. I am tired, broken and weak and in need of your help. In our despair God will make diamonds of our tears. This man came to us to find God's sanctuary and it is here that he will find it through our love and compassion."
Before we left mom introduced me to Frank. He was in those clean clothes mom picked out for him. He looked like a completely different person. He was standing tall and had a big grin on his face. When he shook my hand he bowed and told me I was a beautiful princess.
I would see Frank many other times after that. That first winter mom made sure he had food and lots of blankets to keep warm. That probably explains why my favorite blankets would always show up missing at home. The following summer grandpa loaned him his lawnmower. Frank spent most his days mowing grass in the neighborhood. The first tank of gas was on grandpa after that Frank was on his own. After a few weeks he bought his own lawnmower. Grandpa let him store it in his garage so it wouldn't get stolen on the streets.
I could ride my bike up and down the streets and I would always be able to find Frank working in someone's yard. He became a guardian to the neighborhood children. Protecting and watching out for them. The younger children adored him and the older kids respected him.
Eventually Frank was off the streets. He started his own handy man business in time hiring local at risk teens. He was paying forward with love the same way the good people at St. Andrew's did, with a whole lot of love and little bite of elbow grease. That is all the ingredients you need to change a life.
I'm so glad mom made us go to church that memorable autumn day. Not only because our mountain of leaves still stood there and our epic jump was still within our reach. But because I learned that God has granted each one of us with amazing gifts that can enable us to abound in generous deeds.
Remember this-a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
"They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever."
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10
I ask each one of you reading this now to look at the gifts, talents or resources that God has graced you with. What can you do with those items to help another? Some of you may be financially secure that could donate money to get a homeless man off the streets. Or maybe you have gently used blankets and coats that can be taken to a local homeless shelter. Perhaps you could volunteer your time to help make a home more wheelchair accessible to a veteran or perform odd jobs around an elderly home. No matter how small you feel your gift is, to the receiver you may be giving them the world.
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News from the Director: Jennifer LaRose September, 15th, 2011
8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m. September 11, 2011…I remember exactly what I was doing. I had already dropped my oldest off at Kindergarten. My two younger boys were playing, most likely throwing cereal around in the living room. I had the news channel on the TV in the background but I wasn’t quite paying attention to it. I was folding laundry when my cousin called asking me if I heard what happened. It was 8:50. I sat on the phone with her watching the Today show as the second plane hit the tower. Together we watched, stunned as the Pentagon was hit and as Flight 93 went down. It was obvious we were under attack.
That was 10 years ago. The memory is still real as it was yesterday. A moment in time that will forever remain. Nothing we could ever do will change that moment. All we can do is look back and remember…
Remember the time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes.
Remember the time they took to fall: 12 seconds.
The statistics are sobering. Yet we must never forget…
Remember….Total number killed in attacks (official figure as of 9/5/02): 2,819
- Number of firefighters and paramedics killed: 343
- Number of NYPD officers: 23
- Number of Port Authority police officers: 37
- Number of WTC companies that lost people: 60
- Number of employees who died in Tower One: 1,402
- Number of employees who died in Tower Two: 614
- Number of employees lost at Cantor Fitzgerald: 658
- Number of U.S. troops killed in Operation Enduring Freedom: 1760
- Number of nations whose citizens were killed in attacks: 115
- Bodies found "intact": 289
- Body parts found: 19,858
- Number of families who got no remains: 1,717
- Number of people who lost a spouse or partner in the attacks:1,609
- Estimated number of children who lost a parent: 3,051
- Percentage of Americans who knew someone hurt or killed in the attacks:20
- FDNY retirements, January–July 2001: 274
- FDNY retirements, January–July 2002: 661
- Number of firefighters on leave for respiratory problems by January 2002: 300
- Number of funerals attended by Rudy Giuliani in 2001: 200
- Number of FDNY vehicles destroyed: 98
- Tons of debris removed from site: 1,506,124
- Days fires continued to burn after the attack: 99
- Days after 9/11 that the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan: 26
- Estimated number of New Yorkers suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder as a result of 9/11: 422,000
We cannot change the past, but we can look to the heavens for assurance on our future.
Psalm 91:1-16 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
Here at The Call Of America we vow to never forget what happen 10 years ago.
We will remember always those who perished.
We will remember those who have fought for our freedoms in the past and who are fighting now.
And we will remember that without our Lord at our side it is all for nothing.
Jennifer LaRose
September 2011
News from the Director: Jennifer LaRose August, 15th, 2011
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