Blessings are Felt Helping Those in Need

Giving Back0

At the end of December, we had another team from Gaughan Companies head out to Sharing and Caring Hands to help prepare and serve the lunch meal.  (Our first team went in November.)  They had a blast, and a few reported that they were blessed to be able to serve others in this way.  This season, of course, reminds us to donate our time, talents and means to those that need help.  We look forward to the possibility of making these trips an annual tradition.

-Patrick Gaughan

Sharing and Caring Hands - Salad Prep  Sharing and Caring Hands - Hotdish Prep   Sharing and Caring Hands - Kayla and Nicole

Sharing and Caring Hands - Prep Team Group    Sharing and Caring Hands - Serving Team

Sharing and Caring Hands   Sharing and Caring Hands 2  Gaughan Companies at Sharing and Caring Hands

Building Strong Communities Begins with a Simple Meal

Giving Back, Our Team0

Gaughan Companies has a long-standing relationship with Sharing and Caring Hands, a non-profit organization, and with the founder Mary Jo Copeland.  I have been volunteering at Sharing and Caring Hands for over two decades.  I now bring my children to volunteer, too.

Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sharing and Caring Hands provides assistance for those in need.  It was established in 1985 by Mary Jo Copeland and provides services such as meals, clothing, showers, shelter, transportation help, rent deposits, rent help, medical assistance, dental care, furniture, school expenses, and other miscellaneous needs.

Twelve employees from Gaughan Companies (and a few of my children) volunteered at Sharing and Caring Hands on Monday, November 14 by preparing and serving the lunch meal.  Before every lunch meal, Mary Jo Copeland gives a sermonette and a prayer over the meal.  On this day, in the midst of thanking us, she said to those in need, “[Gaughan Companies] came here and made this food for you because they love you.  I love you.  God loves you.”  She encouraged everyone to not lose hope and to forgive those who have wronged them.

Arriving at 9 AM, the preparation team rolled up their sleeves and began rolling utensils and napkins for those partaking in meals that day.  Once the breakfast crew had moved out of the cooking space to serve the first meal, our preparation team jumped in to cook the lunch meal.  On the menu was tater tot hot dish, salad, fruit and cookies.

Our serving team arrived at 11 AM while the hot dish was cooking, and they also began rolling utensils.  They enthusiastically filled over two large containers full of utensils.  After a tour of the kitchen and a rundown of the serving team’s duties, each volunteer donned aprons and plastic gloves and were ready to give back to the community.

At noon, those there for the meal, nearly 200 people, made an orderly line in front of the serving stations to receive the food and milk.  The other volunteers and I were frequently thanked and blessed by those receiving the food.  Giving back to the community in a tangible way is an important mission of Gaughan Companies.

Another mission of ours is building and supporting strong communities.  This process begins by helping those who don’t have the means to help themselves currently.  We at Gaughan Companies hope that the meal we prepared and served was a step in the right direction for at least one of the recipients.

To learn more about Sharing and Caring Hands, visit http://www.sharingandcaringhands.org/.

-Patrick Gaughan

Building Strong Communities at Sharing and Caring Hands Building Strong Communities at Sharing and Caring Hands 1

Sharing and Caring Hands Building Strong Communities Sharing and Caring Hands - Building Strong Communities 1

Gaughan Companies Building Strong Communities Gaughan Companies Building Strong Communities 1

Building Strong Communities with Gaughan Companies Building Strong Communities with Gaughan Companies 1

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