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Bundles of 'Love' shared in Hills area communities

Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

Families in the Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen communities are enjoying gifts from donors and volunteers with Project Love.
Fresh fruits, canned vegetables, packets of ground pork and pancake mix were among the items that filled dozens of food boxes and fruit trays on Dec. 15 for delivery the following day.
Volunteers from the communities’ three churches — Bethlehem Lutheran, First Presbyterian and Reformed Church of Steen — spend three days organizing, assembling and delivering 65 boxes and 23 baskets to a list of individuals and families who could use the extra food this holiday season.
“At any time of the year there are hardships, but they are the most hard at holidays,” said Dan Fick, who oversaw the Dec. 15 basket assembly at the Hills Legion Hall. “It’s a way for the community to give back.”
Project Love is a year-round community effort that began more than a dozen years ago.
Volunteer Bob Walraven said the three churches each had similar community food outreach programs, and they discovered some families would receive two or three boxes while others would receive none.
“Why don’t we get together and do it together,” he recalled.
Project Love has continued ever since as the churches work in unison.
With the monetary donations, Walraven keeps an eye on grocery specials and stockpiles goods in his basement until tables are set up in the Legion Hall the day before the boxes and fruit trays are assembled.
Volunteers included several families who help with assembly. This year the process was completed in under an hour.
Bruce Van Dyken and his family have assisted the effort for four years.
“It’s nice to be able to help out,” he said.
This fall the Hills-Beaver Creek High School FFA Chapter members challenged the student advisory classes to a food collection contest for Project Love and the Rock County Food Shelf.
On Dec. 14 the FFA’ers helped to move all the food items Walraven had collected to the Legion Hall for the Dec. 15 box and tray assembly and Dec. 16 distribution.
Through church and city connections for names of individuals and families who could use a little “love,” organizers assembled an annual food box distribution list.
Those who lost loved ones or are experiencing a serious health issue or just moved into one of the communities receive a fruit tray.
This year Project Love also assembled and delivered 15 Thanksgiving dinners.
“We are very grateful for any donations we get throughout the year,” said Marilyn Nelson.
“We especially want to thank the FFA for their gifts and hard work.”

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