The Salvation Army was also able to help 625 local families through its Christmas Application program. This included in excess of 2,000 men, women and children. These packages included 583 boxes of food, 103 donated turkeys, 1,200 loaves of bread and 2,000 toys. The Army also gave away 1,000 grab bags to use for stocking stuffers. A total of 58 families were adopted by individuals or organizations.

It’s challenging to thank all the groups, businesses and individuals that helped. Please know we appreciate each volunteer who stepped up to help. Special thanks to Al’s Supermarket, American Licorice, Kroger, Lewis Bakery, Dollar Tree, Walmart, U.S. Post Office, Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis, Masons, Kabelin Hardware, Girl Scouts, Daisy Brownies, Boy Scouts, Service League, Toys for Tots, Unity Foundation of LaPorte County, many churches, and Barb Hooper and the pony.

Thanks also go out to those who helped with the Angel Tree program, where businesses allowed the Salvation Army to put trees with tags on them, and individuals purchased toys for the Toy Shop. The following businesses hosted trees: Kmart, Walmart, Kabelin’s East and West, both LaPorte Arby’s, and LaPorte Savings Bank, as well as various churches.

It was a record year for Salvation Army in LaPorte and it’s all because of the generosity of the people, organizations and businesses of LaPorte. Thanks for joining with us!

– Submitted by Rev. Michael Sutton, member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board

Volunteers prepare Bundle Up LaPorte packages at The River Christian Fellowship.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

What was once Cutler Cares Project Warm Child has been transformed into a much larger charitable project through the help and ideas of those working with the Church of LaPorte. The Church of LaPorte is a group of local churches whose members work together to reach out to those in need here.

This year members collected winter items including hats, gloves, coats, scarves and snow pants, then distributed the items at The River Christian Fellowship in LaPorte. That church provided much support in the collection and distribution.

“It was a wonderful experience for all of our volunteers to meet some people in the community and help them get items that would keep themselves and their children warm this winter,” a Church of LaPorte press release stated. “We met some amazing people who are struggling to make ends meet, many single parents, and people who have been let go from their jobs. The impact that this has on the community is huge and it also helps take a large burden off the schools and teachers who are often working hard to meet the needs of the kids.”

This year, the Bundle Up project was able to keep over 600 kids and over 150 adults warm — more than ever before. This year the local churches were also able to help meet other needs by providing Thanksgiving meal boxes, and taking time to pray with and for families that needed it. The Christian coffee house in downtown LaPorte hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner and extended an invitation to the families that came to pick up items on distribution day.

“We have been truly blessed to see what God is doing in this community. We also feel privileged to be able to serve and meet such a simple need for so many kids and families in LaPorte,” the press release stated.

Bundle Up LaPorte could not have been a success without all the community members who donated money or winter items, as well as the LaPorte High School Leo Club, LaPorte Savings Bank, LaPorte MOMS Club, Alliegra Hand and the kids from Leadership LaPorte County, LaPorte Community School Corporation teachers and staff, The River Christian Fellowship, Crossroads Christian Center, LaPorte Assembly of God, First Church of God, LaPorte Missionary Church, The Door Community Church, Thaddeus C. Gallery, LaPorte City Fire stations and firemen, LaPorte FOP 54, Check-into-Cash, LaPorte Herald-Argus, What’s New LaPorte, Cutler Funeral Home, all those who made beautiful handmade items, and all volunteers.

“Although we were able to help so many, there is still a huge need within our community and people come to us all year long looking for items. We know that there were still many families in need. We will continue to work hard to meet the large need through the help and support of the good and faithful people of LaPorte, local businesses and churches. If anyone still has items they would like to donate, we are always taking donations for adult and children’s winter items. Please contact us at www.bundleuplaporte@gmail.com or bring these items to Cutler Funeral Home.”

Young volunteers from Leadership LaPorte County helped with Bundle Up LaPorte.

(Click on photo to enlarge)

After more than 150 years as an educational presence in LaPorte, St. Joseph Catholic School will close at the end of the 2011-12 school year. Declining enrollment and subsequent economic hardships are the reasons cited by St. Joseph Parish Pastor David Kime and Diocese of Gary Bishop Dale Melczek.

Parishioners learned the sad news during announcements at St. Joseph’s Oct. 15-16 Masses. The school, which this year has an enrollment of about 100, has seen its student numbers decline over the past several years.

The school, located at 101 C St., currently includes grades pre-K through fifth. In its 152-year history the number of grades have varied depending on enrollment. According to the Indiana Department of Education website, St. Joe students have consistently exceeded the state average in ISTEP scores in the past several years.

In a letter from Bishop Melczek to Father Kime, dated Oct. 14, 2011, Melczek indicates that the two met on that date and writes the following:

“During the meeting you explained how St. Joseph School, the Strategic Planning Committee, members of the parish, and members of the LaPorte community have been working very hard to address the economic challenges caused by the declining enrollment and increased operational costs at the school. It is my understanding that the school enrollment has seen a serious decline over the last ten years resulting in a drop of over 60 percent of the student population. The reasons for this drop are many. Families have opted to not send their children to the Catholic school because of finances, because of a choice to home school, and due to other personal factors, not the least of which is a strong public school system in LaPorte.

“Several years ago this declining enrollment precipitated the closure of the seventh and eighth grades and then the sixth grade the following year. It has also caused the loss of several staff members over the last few years due to budget constraints. Most recently these cuts have meant the loss of a classroom teacher when the first and second grades were combined into one classroom.

Melczek goes on to note that in the past year, the St. Joseph parish and staff launched an energetic recruiting campaign in the community and formed a strategic planning committee to boost enrollment. “Nevertheless, their noble efforts did not bear the anticipated fruit for which you and the parishioners had hoped.” Enrollment continued to decline.

“The pastors of the other LaPorte parishes have expressed their concern about the school’s viability and the difficulty that they have had in shouldering the financial burdens of a school with so few students” He said in a conference with other pastors, the school superintendent and Father Kime, “it was clear that each of these groups and persons recommended that your school should not continue beyond this year … .”

Melczek continued: “… Given all the facts and details, the majority of the members of the (St. Joseph’s) Parish Pastoral Council recommended to you that the school should be closed at the end of this academic year of 2011-2012. After prayerful consideration and concern for the well-being of our students and families, I have accepted the recommendation of the Parish Pastoral Council, Dr. Barbara O’Block, neighboring pastors and yourself to close St. Joseph School at the end of this academic year.”

Melczek went on to express sadness over the school’s pending closure and his appreciation of the school staff’s, parishioners’ and community’s efforts to keep it open.

“It is my earnest wish that you use the remainder of this year to celebrate the great effectiveness of St. Joseph School for the last 152 years,” Melczek wrote.

In a subsequent letter to parishioners, Father Kime stated the following: “As you know, St. Joseph School has been experiencing a consistent decline of students for the past ten years. This reduction in the student body has subsequently caused a corresponding increase in the subsidy to the school. Even in this last year with the arrival of the ‘Semester Free Guarantee’ and the Government Voucher Program, we have still witnessed the dwindling of our student enrollment.

“After receiving input from the Strategic Planning Committee, the school superintendent, the other two LaPorte pastors and the Priest’s Council, I met with the Parish Pastoral Council on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 and received from them, by a majority vote, the recommendation to close the school at the end of this academic year. I accepted their recommendation and presented it to the Bishop, who has agreed to the closure of the school.

“I, myself, have struggled, prayed and sought guidance regarding the issue of the school. The difficulty of this decision weighs heavily upon my heart. There are some among us who are of the opinion that I am not distressed by this outcome. I can only state once again that this decision has laid upon me a great sorrow, but one that I know will ultimately lead to better approach to stewardship and a flourishing of our parish community.

“I want to personally thank those who have worked so faithfully for the development and mission of our school, particularly our dedicated principal, teachers and staff. It is my hope that we can model appropriate closure for the sake of our children and thereby teach them the ability to celebrate, even in a moment of difficulty and loss.”

Pastor Aaron Winkelman

   Aaron Winkelman was installed May 30, 2010, as pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in LaPorte.

   Pastor Winkelman graduated from Martin Luther College in New Elm, MN, in 2001. He then went on to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Following graduation in 2005, he accepted a call to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waupaca, WI, serving there until accepting the call to Beautiful Savior.

   Pastor Winkelman and his wife Tracy have three children and live in LaPorte. He is the third pastor to serve full time in the history of the church.

   Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church is located at 3628 Johnson Rd. in LaPorte, with worship services each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Beautiful Savior is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

A wall starts to stand at attention, courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Photos by Dennis Proud

   The Marines landed in LaPorte Friday, April 9. They were on a mission: to help build a house for a veteran.

   Marines from the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Engineer Company B, out of South Bend came to the Welcome Home Soldier construction site near First and G streets. The house, whose construction is being led by Habitat for Humanity and Bethany Lutheran Church, is being built for Lorne and Brooke Brownlee and their children, Austin and Emma. The home is located near Bethany Lutheran at First and G streets.

   The Marines are expected to work on the house on Saturday, April 10, also. Building crews hope to complete the house by July 4. If you’re interested in helping, contact Carey Garwood, c/o Bethany Lutheran Church, 219-363-8060, or e-mail garwood13@hotmail.com.

 CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE.

A Marine consults with Construction Manager Sue Downs.