Fort Dodge Rotary Club
This notice is a "Save the Date" reminder that on December 5th (Thursday) the Social Committee will be hosting the Rotary at Smeltzer Christmas Party. Details to follow in future updates.
Kristen Hovey: How One Grieving Mother Gave Another Mother Hope
Kristen comes from a small family whose parents have a heart for serving others. Through her work in Corrections, she met Judy who lost her son Josh in December 2019 to cancer. Kristen learned there is no national registry for living liver donors, five people per day die waiting for a new liver, and 61 hospitals will do liver transplants out of a total 250 hospitals doing organ transplants. A living person can donate part of their liver because the liver is an organ that regenerates.
Kristen became interested in being a living donor. She learned Isaac Hernandez needed a new liver due to an autoimmune disorder. After many tests and conversations, Kristen learned she was a perfect match for Isaac. She donated 66% of her liver to Isaac on April 12, 2022.
Kristen and Isaac have written a book, Walk With Me, about organ donation. God opened doors for the illustration, publication, and distribution of the book. They also created a 501(c)(3) organization called Lil Lambs of Jesus. Its mission is to save lives both physically and spiritually.
Kristen continues to see God at work. She has always wanted to be a nurse, and the opportunity to be employed in health care happened literally outside her office door. Kristen has been awarded two scholarships and is in the nursing program at Iowa Central.
As for Isaac, he is working full-time, earned a promotion, enjoys hobbies like fishing, and is going to be a father.
Kristen shared how, at every single turn, God’s hand was at work and guiding all aspects of this situation. To illustrate, the liver was transplanted during Holy week and Kristen was released on Easter Sunday. “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full.” Luke 6:38.
Out of Judy’s grief over losing her son, Kristen became interested in being a living donor and gave hope to Isaac’s mother that her son would live.
Donations are being accepted to raise awareness, develop printed materials, expand the website, create a national registry, and print/distribute the book Walk With Me to pediatric patients needing organ donations.
- Venmo: @LilLambsof Jesus
- Paypal: @LilLambsOfJesus
- Mail check to: Lil’ Lambs of Jesus, N. 19th St, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 50501
Melanie Fierke with The Lord’s Cupboard presented really interesting information to the club that many may not have known.
The Need:
When Melanie started three and a half years ago, they served about 400-500 people per month. It has increased a great deal since COVID. Last month 1,200 people accessed The Lord’s Cupboard. Costs have gone up, driving the needs higher. In 2023-2024, food costs were up 25% and credit card debt was up 46%. In 2024, everyone had to reapply for food stamps (now called “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, which issues EBTs or Electronic Benefits Transfer cards). This overwhelmed the system, created a waiting list, and made benefits unavailable when families needed them. Program eligibility criteria also changed. For example, families with two cars (even two-wage families) were considered ineligible for assistance because two cars are seen as a luxury. People cannot buy necessities with an EBT card like feminine hygiene products, detergent, toiletries, or taxable items.
The Solution:
The Lord’s Cupboard (as well as other food banks) help! They can get food through the Food Bank of Iowa at prices for pennies-on-the-dollar compared to retail prices. This decreases the amount of food that has to be purchased locally. It seems donating dollars directly to The Lord's Cupboard would be more beneficial than participating in the Food Raiser! The Lord’s Cupboard will allow access help as often as weekly, but with an annual visit limit.
How Help is Possible:
Dollars come from grants and local businesses. There is an endowment that covers the cost of two part-time employees. There’s a program called “HUSH,” where hunters can donate an animal to a participating meat locker. The locker processes the meat and sells it to the food pantry at cost. Local gardeners donate produce they’ve grown. Volunteers are a steady source of help. First United Methodist Church donates the space used in the church as well as the cost of utilities.
Secretary Teresa Naughton has been uploading Minutes and Financial Reports for the 2022-2023 Rotary Year to the members only section of the Website (Found under Folder Organization and then Subfolder Documents) and are available for viewing by accessing the Members Only Section. Please contact Steve if you need to refresh your password.
Your Rotary Club provides an easy way for you to contribute to the Rotary Foundation, the major financial arm of Rotary that does Polio Plus and Foundation Grants. The program permits you to ask the Treasurer (Elizabeth Stanek) to add an amount each quarter to your quarterly dues statement as a contribution to the R.I. Foundation. The Treasurer then collects these amounts and writes a joint check to the Foundation for all funds contributed by members. If you are interested, please contact Treasurer Elizabeth Stanek or Foundation Chair Bill Kent.
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