Hello faithful readers. I wanted to take some time to brag on a local non-profit organization that I have the privilege of raising money for next weekend. Wheeler Mission has been a huge part of our (my and Eric's life) life, and an even bigger part before I met him. For those of you who don't know, Wheeler's flagship ministry is its homeless shelter, especially for men, but it also provides housing for women and children at a separate site. Providing clothes, a warm bed, and a hot meal is only a fraction of what they do. They also pour out their lives into others for the chance that even one person might choose to turn their life around by getting the help they need to change their circumstances. They offer numerous programs for men and women that work towards getting them out of homeless and back into stability, living a successful, and maybe even Christ-centered, life. Wheeler Mission is completely funded privately by donors, people like you and me. They choose not to accept any government money. They are working to provide our city, and even state, with an invaluable service without burdening the government for aid or help. I can tell you personally that their staff works around the clock. My husband is the director there for men's services and he makes himself constantly available for staff members and guests. He even went into work when the city was shut down this winter because winter is the busiest time of year for Wheeler. Eric is only one example of the type of dedicated and selfless employees that they have at Wheeler Mission. Everyone puts in 100% from the program managers, to the development and marketing team, to the President and CEO. They work tirelessly and sacrifice a lot so that lives around them can be changed. This is our chance to help them.
Next Saturday, along with 9 other team members, I will compete in a CrossFit competition to benefit Wheeler Mission and Outreach, Inc., which works to help homeless teens in Central Indiana. My husband has worked tirelessly, above and beyond his normal job, to organize this 10-member team CrossFit competition next Saturday, June 28th. The first "workout" if you will, is to raise money for the beneficiaries, Wheeler Mission and Outreach, Inc. I have decided to take part for multiple reasons. First, my husband works for Wheeler and has organized the event....I want to show my support for the amazing man that he is and what he has done. Secondly, I love CrossFit. I have been doing CrossFit for over 2 and a half years now and coaching for 1 and a half. It has made a healthy lifestyle important to me in ways I never knew before. It has revolutionized the way I think about food, my body and what it is capable of, as well as goal setting and the fitness community. Last, but certainly not least, I believe in the cause. Every year we, Eric and I, work to raise money for Wheeler Mission at Thanksgiving time for the Drumstick Dash, but it's not enough. They have done so much for people around me, as well as for us. Some of you may not know that Eric lived a very different life before I met him. He began smoking and drinking at a very young age. This led to a life of drinking and marijuana use in high school, which eventually found him addicted to pain medication and then heroine. Needless to say, his life was a wreck and he had nowhere to turn. His parents had made the difficult and loving decision to no longer allow him to live with them any more. This caused a desperation in his life that had not been there before. Through a family friend, he heard about the Hebron Addiction Recovery Program through Wheeler Mission. He had been through treatment facilities before, but nothing lasted. The program was affordable; his parents decided they would no longer pay for treatment and Wheeler wouldn't turn him away if he couldn't pay. Two days into the program, he met Jesus. He committed his life to Him, to sobriety, and eventually to helping other men who were just like him. That day was back in February 2006. If you know Eric today, you either already know this story or have a hard time believing it. He is a changed man, by God's grace. God used the teachers and staff at Wheeler Mission's Hebron Program to reach Eric in a way that he couldn't have been reached before.
This is but one story. We have numerous friends with similar stories all like this. God uses Wheeler Mission to save and change lives. I believe He also wants to use this opportunity to continue the amazing work that goes on there.
If you can give now financially, thank you so much. For me, it isn't about raising the most money to win a prize. I feel as if the prize has already been won for me in marrying such an amazing man. My heart is to use this opportunity to give others the same chance that Eric had at Wheeler Mission. If you can't give right now, please be praying and/or thinking of us next Saturday. It will be fun, but also hot. I just want all the athletes to be safe and have fun.
I am including a link below where you can give financially if you choose to do so. Maybe you can't give right now and that's okay. You can volunteer or volunteer to judge at the competition next Saturday. I am including a link from Eric's Facebook page for that; it is the volunteer registration form. Wheeler Mission also has countless volunteer opportunities for you to give of your time. Maybe you want to give financially at a later time, that's fine too. Feel free to contact me about either one of those opportunities at LeslieAnneGardner@gmail.com.
To give: https://www.crowdrise.com/lesliegardner-StrengthinOurStr/fundraiser/lesliegardner
To volunteer: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=1785020486
Many thanks & may God be lifted high!
-Leslie
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