The gift that keeps on GIVING
Church awards $100 each to 245 members, and receives stories of people helping others
The officials at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Palos Heights took to heart the phrase “don’t spend it all in one place.”
The church came into some extra money in 2021, and when it came to deciding how to donate more than $24,000 Pastor Chris Buresh and his staff came up with a simple, but wide-ranging idea.
On Dec. 12, those who showed up for church and Sunday school each were given $100 with the idea of spending it to help someone.
So, in the coming days, 245 church members, young and old, figured out ways of spending the $100 bill in a positive manner.
The cash was passed out in envelopes after each service and the envelopes also had some suggestions, such as leaving a $100 tip at a restaurant or paying for people’s food or items at stores or restaurants.
Buresh asked people to contact the church website with stories on how they spent their hundred, even if they didn’t use their names.
“It’s so heartwarming to hear these stories,” Buresh said. “It’s so nice to hear about people thinking of someone other than themselves.”
Blue Island couple Marsha and John Rauch got a gift of sorts in return when they donated their $200 to the family of Lanayah Vazquez, a sophomore at Eisenhower who was struck by a vehicle Oct. 1 at 127th Street and Highland Avenue.
Vazquez is still hospitalized but when the Rauch family stopped by her house on Dec. 14, they were met by a relative who was delighted to accept the money and showed Marsha and John a video of Lanayah from earlier that day after a tracheotomy tube was removed.
“She said that is felt so good to be able to talk again,” Marsha said. “And then she said she could sing again and sang a few lines from ‘Hallelujah.’
“We were sobbing. My husband I were there on the steps sobbing and thinking that this young lady just gave us a gift — a gift that we will have forever. It was so incredibly beautiful. Words can’t describe it.”
Meanwhile in Crestwood, the Pierce family had money to play with and decisions to make.
Remington, 7, is a St. Damian Elementary School student with hearing problems and he took a keen interest in the school’s Blessing Bag project in which student fill a large bag of essentials for homeless people who frequent the Daybreak Shelter in Joliet.
The family hit a few stores for that and when they got home, they were able to fill six bags — three tailored for men and three for women.
The Pierce family includes a 9-monthold foster daughter, Esther, who was brought to the family via Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. and $100 will go to that group in her name.
Husband Jordan works as a contractor with the Defense Contract Management Agency and his money is going to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Danielle was sitting with a large group of family members on Dec. 12 when Buresh asked a group of Sunday school students if they would be able to share $100. They all said they could.
“Then he turned to the rest of the congregation,” Danielle said. “And he asked us if we could find a worthy cause and we all looked at each other and said ‘this guy is not really going to give us $100 is he? That’s crazy!’
“Sure enough, they were giving us envelopes on our way out.”
Marsha Rauch said the announcement came as a huge surprise.
“I had no idea it was coming — none whatsoever,” she said. “I’m a deacon at church, so pastor kept this pretty close to his chest until it was time. When he said it, there are about 10 people that come to your mind that you know could use a little help.”
Buresh thought it turned out to be a success.
He said one of his favorite stories to come out of this was a family who gave their newspaper delivery man $100 as a gift.
“He is a 78-year-old Vietnam vet who gets up at 1 a.m.,” the pastor said. “He’s delivering at 7 a.m. and is always in a cheerful mood. When he gets home, he spends the day taking care of his wife, who has memory issues.
“These are the types of stories I love to hear about.”