Wow!!!!! It happened!!!! The H.I.K.E. 2023 raised 1,197,745….Yep…One million, one hundred ninety-seven thousand, seven hundred forty-five (Serbian Dinar). OK, in US dollars it would be $11,081.00…well over our $10K goal!!!! These funds will be used to start helping kids living beyond despair in a village known as The Big Pit.
We want to give a shout out to everyone who helped by supporting The H.I.K.E. 2023 through encouragement, contributions, or prayers.
What kind of people helped make reaching (surpassing) the goal possible? Grade-school friends, former neighbours, family members, co-workers from employment past, many wonderful folks who have crossed our paths over the years in the many places we have lived, and oddly enough – a few folks we have not yet met.
There is an inherent danger is trying to thank a large group of people for their love and involvement. You don’t want to make anyone’s contribution seem less important than others. For this reason, we don’t weigh the amount. We always look at the heart behind the gift. In this way, you are all fantastic!
Many of the contributors asked to remain anonymous, a few asked for recognition by simply sharing their initials. There are also some big-hearted people who really made a massive difference to this year’s efforts. We want to offer them a special thank you via recognition. In no particular order;
- United Wall Systems Winter Park Florida (Always nice to know a business with heart.)
- Basket of Hope Alberta Canada (Yes…another ministry poured into ours! All the way from the Canadian Outback!!! If feeding people in great need syncs with your heart, check them out.)
- J.M. Clermont Florida
- S &D Florida
- Ron and Kelly Hurley-Redfern Oakland NJ
- IanGreen.org UK (We had worked with Ian in the first years of our stint in the missionary world. His focus is on community transformation.)
- Hilfiker Life Missions Fort Myers FL (Another ministry blessing us with their generosity. They focus on cardiac sarcoidosis and promoting organ donation.)
And of course, everyone made a difference as they we able…we recognize them, too:
- T.A. – Fort Myers FL
- A.B. – Longwood FL
- A.B. – Ballston Spa NY
- B&J – Sebring FL
- P&D – Mays Landing NJ
- K.D. – Paris France
- Aimee D. – Middlesex NY
- C.D. – Orlando FL
- G&H – Fort Myers FL
- J&A – Ocoee FL
- Ken and Helen – Ammanford Wales
- J.J. – Arlington VA
- A&T – Orlando FL
- J&V – Southport UK
- K&M – Niskayuna NY
- J.L. – Leamington Spa UK
- D&P – Jacksonville FL
- Marc Roberts – Montreal Canada
- P&L – Mount Dora FL
- G.R. – Smyrna GA
- A.S. – Greer SC
- Hayley Tasker – Southport UK
- V.W. – Southport UK
- G.B. – Corinth NY
- Karrie and Frank Garrow – Ballston Lake NY
- Anthony Krupski – Stillwater NY
- E.D. – Ballston Spa NY
- All those anonymous donors
- Oh, yes…to CA Foehser who came all the way from NY to join me on The H.I.K.E. 2023…and kept me from getting lost!!!