River of Hope VII

“A River of Hope” Construction Crews Return to New Orleans

“A River of Hope” volunteers returned to New Orleans over the weekend of March 3rd through the 6th, to assist with the ongoing rebuilding efforts in the city. This was our seventh trip to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina devastated a large part of the Gulf coast. While our organization was well represented by nine of our employees, the majority of thirty-two volunteers were building professionals who worked on rebuilding a number of community structures in the Ninth Ward. Fourteen of the volunteers were returning to New Orleans and eight were volunteering for the first time. The businesses and educational institution represented included Glacier Plumbing, of Cedar, Minnesota, Tech Builders, Pratt Homes, and Dunwoody Institute.

During this trip, the professional work crews, made up of builders, electricians and plumbers, worked the building we are using for our Mental Health Resource Center, a daycare center, a domestic abuse center and a home that may be used for elderly services. Much was accomplished including sheet rocking, painting, electrical and plumbing work.

We are grateful for the 299 amazing volunteers who have participated in seven trips to the region including individuals from Minnesota, Florida, Alabama, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Michigan, Wisconsin and Germany. The total number of volunteer hours to date is 8,520 hours.

Once again, we want to thank those of you who have supported and contributed to our efforts during the past year. It has been with your help that we have been able to accomplish so much. We invite you to consider making a tax deductible donation to the “River of Hope” project so that we can continue our support for the people of New Orleans. Any amount truly would be welcome.

Donations can be made payable to the Zenith Services, Incorporated Disaster Relief Fund, and all donors will receive a charitable tax deduction receipt in the mail. In order to donate, please contact Jenny Schraut, at 763-450-5019, or at 612-432-5915 or e-mail her at jschraut@meridiansvs.com.

All tax deductible donations to the “River of Hope” project should be made to the:

Zenith Services, Incorporated Disaster Relief Fund
44 North 28 th Avenue, Suite A,
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303

 

“River of Hope” Project Participants

Jennifer Abrahamsen, Leota Bemis, Judy Breyfogle, Jeff Chase, Alicia Corbett, Kevin Fuller, Jeff Greischar, Laurel Greischar, Vana Greischar, Kevin Heiling, Greg Hinrichs, Kathy Holtz, Pastor Warren Jones, Ryan Kozar, Lori Kurtz, Steve Kurtz, James Larson, Whitney Lubrant, Tammy Maschler, William Maschler, Ryan Misfeldt, Sarah Olsen, Brenda Reishus, Jennifer Schraut, Jarek Sundet, Alexander Thomley, Luke Thomley, Rebecca Thomley, Toni Thulen, Cheryl Vennerstrom, Charles Ward, Michael Weber, Duane Wilkerson

“River of Hope” Project Sponsors

The following agencies and businesses have generously contributed to our “River of Hope” project, and many have done so several times. In addition, hundreds of individuals have given to our efforts as well. We would like to express our gratitude and deep appreciation to everyone whose donations have made our work in New Orleans possible. Thank you!

ABetter Inspection -— Blaine

Abrams & Smith – Minneapolis

AC Carlson Appliances – New Hope

Ace Hardware – Long Prairie

Afton Alps — Hastings

Alan Michael Design — Edina

Alpine Capital LLC

Ambiance@53 – Little Falls

Anchor Bank – Wayzata

Anderson Engineering

Apperts Food

Archetype Signmakers — Eagan

Arthouse, Incorporated — Minneapolis

Artistic Stone, Incorporated — Avon

Behind Bars Bike Shop — Minneapolis

Berg Bag Company

Bethel University (Social Work Group)

Builders Association of Minnesota – Saint Paul

Bird Island United Methodist Church

Blaine Jaycees Club

Bookin’ It – Little Falls

Bonanza Restaurant

Buca De Beppo — Osseo

Camille’s Sidewalk Café

Chili’s

Chipotle

City of Bird Island

Copeland Buhl Company

Creative Shears

Crestliner, Incorporated — Little Falls

Crystal Kuemper and Quilters

Curves — Crystal

Daisy a Day Floral and Gift — Sartell

Dan Leitner C.P.A. – Blaine

Davanni’s Pizza – Waite Park

Day Distributing Company – Maple Plain

Dunwoody Institute – Minneapolis

El Loro Mexican Restaurant — Crystal

Emma’s Restaurant & Lounge

Energy Solutions International – Saint Paul

Equinox Creative Production

Evergreen Equipment – Little Falls

Everyday People Store

Faith United Methodist Church

Falls Furniture — :Little Falls

Family Dentistry – Minneapolis

Five Star Heating & Air

Four Seasons Chiropractic — Plymouth

Fun Factory Day Care

Furniture Clearance Center

Geriton Medical Supply

The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company — Minneapolis

Glacier Plumbing — Cedar

Grand Rios – Brooklyn Park

Grumpy’s Bar — Minneapolis

Harding Lastrup Snodusters Club

Hirshfield’s

Hollywood Video – Blaine

House of Pizza — Sartell

House on Crystal Lake

Hunstiger Hillcrest Farms

Indoff – Sauk Rapids

Industrial Metals, Incorporated

Innovative Surfaces, Incorporated — Hastings

Innsbruck Jewelers – New Brighton

Italian Pie Shop — Minneapolis

Jerry O. Parker – Salon Levanté — Minneapolis

Jungle Theater – Minneapolis

Keep In Touch Massage

Kindercare

Kurtile Ceramic Company – Brooklyn Park

Kvasnick Photography – Saint Paul

Lagoon Cinema – Minneapolis

Lava Links — Roseville

Lily Pad Ceramics

Lions Club of Saint Augusta

Local Motion – Minneapolis

Lom Accounting Service

Long Prairie Food Center

Long Prairie Lumber Yard

Long Prairie Packing Company

Loring Corners — Minneapolis

M & I Bank

Maggiano’s Little Italy – Bloomington

Mahowald Insurance Agency

Majors Sports Café

Mankato Truck Repair

Mant’s Bowling

Marco Business Products

Mark VII Distributing – Saint Paul

Minneapolis Floral – Minneapolis

Minnesota Department of Transportation District 3 Employees — Baxter

Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Sandplay Therapy Group

New Century Partners — San Francisco, California

Nordic Insulation, Incorporated — Blaine

Nordic Ware

Northeast Tree, Incorporated

Northern PCS Services

Northern United, Incorporated — Little Falls

Northwestern Bookstores – Maple Grove

Nowthen Nursery — Nowthen

Oakridge Elementary

Office Depot

Old Spaghetti Factory — Minneapolis

Olive Garden – Brooklyn Center

Petco

Petersen Motorworks, Incorporated

Piazza’s Italian Ristorante

Po-Knee Toys — Wayzata

Planet Beach

Pratt Homes

Priscilla Circle of Linden Hills Church

Professional Looks Etc. Salon

Promotion Resource Alliance

Quality Label

Quizno’s

Randall Building Supplies

Red’s Auto – Pierz

Remodelers Choice — Minneapolis

Rick Day Day Distributing Company

Richfield Flowers & Events — Richfield

Robin Lee’s Hallmark — Crystal

Roly Poly Sandwiches — Crystal

Sacred Heart Elementary

Saint Sabrina’s

Salon E!

Salon La Terre

Sherwin Williams

Simon Delivers

Spalon Montage

Spectrum Printing – Little Falls

Spectrum Transportation – Maple Grove

Stems and Vines

Strategic Equipment & Supply – Saint Cloud

Styer Transportation – Lakeville

Salon La Terre — Minneapolis

Sam’s Club – Saint Cloud

Scrapbooks Plus — St. Cloud

Smith Brother’s Decorating Center – Ham Lake

Spalon Montage

Spectrum Transportation

Sweet Taste of Italy — Crystal

The Red Rose — Minneapolis

Theisen Building Supplies – Kimball

Thielen’s Meats — Little Falls

Tech Builders – Fairmont

Time Out Sports Bar

Tires Plus – Blaine

Todaze Hair

Trillium Services – Duluth

Trimpac, Incorporated – Saint Cloud

Twin City Tile & Marble Company – Saint Paul

Valvoline

Victory Auto Service — Blaine

Voyager School

Walgreens

Warner Manufacturing Company — Minneapolis

Western Bank – Mounds View

Yellowstone Quilt