Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 134, Number 2, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 9 January 2014 — Page 1

Smile gggjjg I*2 W. Mmkm St, %iii« 574-772-17*0 a* Pm.- mt-m-rm J*‘*Hrr**' r

FREE COMMUNITY MEALS The Nappanee Church of the Brethren will be opening all free community mealsbeginning Jan 9th at spm. The meals are from 5-6 pm and Everyone is invited to come who needs a Hot meal: Families, Seniors, Unemployed, Students, Homeless, and those struggling to keep food on the table. The Meals will be every Monday and Thursday from 5-6 pm. Tell your friends, family and those who can benefit from these free Meals. FLU CLINICS HELD IN ELKHART ELKHART—The Elkhart County Health Department has scheduled several flu vaccine clinics for people six months and older. A limited number of doses of vaccine are available. The cost for the vaccine is $25 for people three years and older and $29 for children ages six months to 35 months. Medicare Part B is also accepted, proof of enrollment (card) must be brought Flu vaccination clinics will be at the Lincoln Center, 608 Oakland Avenue, Elkhart from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 8, Jan. 10 and Jan. 13. Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged six months and older. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. For information or to schedule an appointment, please call (574) 523-2127 or (877) 523-2283 ext. 2127. WATER AEROBICS CLASSES AT NWHS WAKARUSA North Wood High School's Continuing Education program will host an aerobics class from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from Jan. 8 through Feb. 17 and from Feb. 24 through April Z A minimum of 12 students must be preregistered in order for tne classes to take place. For more information or to register, contact Sharon Plank at (574) 773-3131.

Contact Us I Advance New* I mone K 574-209-0704 (news) I 574-546-5170 -I /. X :7 gHH mu 11 mmi ills ini Himi biii ▲•afeuiiM - d * i

Ad'ss;: News S gSPftSSpANEE & WAKARUSA

Dinner bell ringing in Nappanee

By Merrie Chatman Advance Correspondent NAPPANEE—The city's first ever Community Dinner will open, 5-6 p.m., today, Jan. 9, inside Nappanee Church of the Brethren, 301 Mac Drive. Area residents are invited to join together at the dinner table free of charge, enjoying food and fellowship. The Community Dinner will continue to offer free meals to individuals and families each Monday and Thursday evening, 5-6 p.m. Faith Mission, Elkhart, will provide the meals, and Nappanee Church of the Brethren will facilitate the outreach. Establishing the program was the vision of Nappanee resident John Schafer, Chicago and Michiana Five for the Homeless. It is being made possible through the combined efforts of the Nappanee Church of the Brethren and Faith Mission, Elkhart. Through his work with the homeless, Shafer has expanded his knowledge of the needs within local and area communities. He seen a true need to feed not only the homeless but individuals and families throughout the city. "One thing I really want to stress is that these meals are open to everyone," said Shafer. "This isn't just for the homeless. This is for struggling

Snow much fun, snow much trouble

Bl- ,■ ri m „ . ij L*. I .— 1

Advance photos by Dale Tobias While the snowfall this weekend sure made for great times in the powdery stuff, it wasn't all fun and games. Several counties including Elkhart imposed travel restrictions and road crews spent mahy long hours attempting" to clear the snow which fell in record breaking amounts throughout the region, followed by blizzard conditions and frigid cold.

■HHBBKBBBBaEFi) CBuSiSS&iiFi&i '"M# wkJSifSSBk. '*■- Mi*i

FLIP your pars lip to find out... From now through Feb. 28th wo are offering a FREE bag of dental goodies for your pet r and 15% off your pet's dental cleaning ‘ ** uSSJIi* M "mmisssasast*

SPORTS Panthers win tourney Page A 3

Mm # L'v I ¥4 j I *• *

people and families out there that nave to make the choice between paying rent and buying groceries. This is for people who aren't struggling but maybe want a night out and can't afford it, or who's schedules don't allow a lot of time for a restaurant meal. "It's for the elderly on fixed incomes, and the people who just want a chance to be social. Everybody is really welcome here. We want this to be a place where everyone in the community can meet and interact while getting a good meal and meet new people, or

■

Pastor Byrl Shaver and John Shafer

get to know one another better. Bringing The Plan Together Shafer felt deeply called to begin the Soup Kitchen in his hometown but was overwhelmed by thoughts of where to start in order to plan it all, how to accomplish it, what was needed to make it happen, or where to possibly house the program. Both social networking and personal contact have united the local man with a vision and a woman determined to support his goal—a church willing to house his plan—and an agency willing to make it

■ I i' *. r r 1 4 e ■ I ' J \ S' * , ■ KT| I I ■ I K|: n‘‘ * S '{'• ■ I . Li ’ ' , I" ""'i,' ••! ", • -'? c \ - , "."'’s' ■ ' ' SI <. ’ /, J •;"" ? H I t> .. “•». * I ,11 H* H' * ; V •*£ . I.■ ’ '.".".'--t 11 r.’v' I I' H I. - -tI H r>. •'> I' -■ 'if &§ltl®fer' ■'’ %§s*'’’V- "£,*. ;#7C'iy-^'4ll§S£ii\ : ~ . 'h- \ . IP ■

Second Saturday This weekend Page 2

happen. Social Networking In an effort to promote his work with the homeless, John Shafer does a lot of networking through social media and other internet outlets. Ross Swihart, Director of Faith Mission, Elkhart, first heard of Shafer's vision of establishing a Soup Kitchen in Nappanee through social media. "Our goal at Faith Mission is to provide a feeding service to the community," said Swihart. "I seen John Shafer talking about his desire to do this in Nappanee and I contacted him because we at Faith Mission have interest in providing for all of Elkhart County, not just in (the city of) Elkhart where we are based. We hope it's gonna be a good outreach to the community there." Meet Face-To-Face Earlier this year Shafer attended a Cookie Walk at the Nappanee Church of the Brethren. During his visit he networked among volunteers and visitors with information regarding his not-for-profit Chicago and Michiana Five for the Homeless organization. Through that process he caught the attention of church member Deb Lehman who in turn approached him with a donation of all the leftover cookies following the event. See Dinner, Page A 2

I ‘'IrSwBBF 'Mr&iM J^^lH^H^uMiiMNEni^Hlß^^iiS9HSli A. ”