Dear friends,

All of us at Hearts & Hands of Indiana would like to wish you and your families a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.  As you gather around your table with loved ones, please remember to pray for our neighbors on the Near Westside.  It’s because of your prayers and support that we’re able to provide our families with safe, warm homes, where they can join with their own loved ones to celebrate this holiday season and give thanks for the blessing of you and all of our supporters.

Peace,

Mark Buckingham
Executive Director

The West Michigan Earth Team, comprised of local high school students and sponsored by The Kinney Group, worked hard into the afternoon yesterday doing clean-up at 329 North Warman. 

The students broke into teams and were able to accomplish a tremendous amount in just a few short hours, including: removing carpet from the screened-in front porch, clearing the bathroom and bedrooms of construction materials, cleaning the windows and doorways of dust and dirt from installation, and beginning to haul trash from the basement. 

The next tasks for 329 North Warman will include continuing to clean and remove debris from the basement and installing flooring and appliances. The end is in sight, and we're still on schedule to complete this house by the end of November! 

For more photos of the West Michigan Earth Team and the continued progress on 329 North Warman, visit the Current Projects section of our website. 

Dear friends of Hearts & Hands, 

This time of year is perhaps my favorite time of year in Indiana. With the arrival of fall, the leaves of the trees begin to change colors, the sun is lower in the sky, there are long shadows across the horizon, and the air is crisp and cool. The changing seasons remind us of transformation as part of life. While the climate is becoming colder outside, transformation can continue inside. 

This fall and winter we will continue to transform houses on the inside with the desire to transform the lives of families. We need your help. There are several ways in which you can help. First, consider volunteering for our work days. There is still much interior work to do on our houses. Many hands make light work. Second, please consider supporting Hearts & Hands financially. It takes the generosity of many people to transform an existing home into a nearly new home while keeping it affordable for our families. Third, share the mission of Hearts & Hands with your personal and professional networks. Finally, pray for us. 

Thank you for being a friend of Hearts & Hands. May the seasons of fall and winter bring much grace and many blessings. 

Yours in Christ,

We were lucky enough to have the Boys Tennis Team from Roncalli High School come out bright and early on Saturday morning to work on 329 North Warman. With the help of all of our volunteers, we're headed towards completion in just over a month!

We donned our work clothes and took the morning to lead a group of volunteers in cleaning up the interior of 914 Holmes. The difference that just removing a little dust makes is incredible!

The results are in!

Back in June, our friends at Calvin Fletcher's Coffee Company generously offered to donate all of their tips from the month to Hearts & Hands. Well the results are in, and they were able to raise over $1,000! 

A huge thank you to the nicest baristas in town, and to all of our supporters who were able to make it down to Fountain Square and leave a few dollars in the tip jar.

Feel free to stop by their store at 647 Virginia Avenue, grab an iced coffee and tell them thank you for this wonderful donation.

Helen Jackson, the Mayor's Neighborhood Liaison for the West and Southwest Outer District, stopped by the Hearts & Hands office today! 

We couldn't help but take her on a tour of 329 North Warman to show off our hard work...and we may havequizzed her about her construction skills while we were at it. 

She's pictured here with AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Associate Trent Spoolstra and Hearts & Hands Executive Director Mark Buckingham in front of our newly placed rehab sign.