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Humbled by words of appreciation by previous letter writer

I am truly speechless, humbled and beside myself for the overwhelming words written by Lora Walker. I appreciate it and am very proud of your decision to run for County Commissioner in my district. I plan to vote for you. I respect your down-to-earth, family values approach ...take that to the press I say! Blessings to all who read this. Lora, my prayers will be with you and may you make us Catholics proud.
Until your letter to the editor in the July 17 issue, Summer Stretch hasnít had much media recognition. However, I would like to thank John Silver with the Chisago County Press for consistently providing a group photo of the participating youth and an article about the program.
52 churches: Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and Lutheran participated in the 11th annual Summer Stretch Tour. 2,500 youth, hundreds of high school juniors and seniors, hundreds of college age, hundreds of adults, and finally hundreds of nonprofit organizations and day-cares etc. benefited from all of the volunteerism. However, I remain disappointed that the TV media was not interested in covering the story, so thank you local supporters.
Summer Stretch is nearing an end for the year. . .our last day of service will be July 26. The North Branch Summer Stretch youth will go to Paradise Park in Chisago City for a picnic celebration of another successful year. Our picnic is sponsored by Wyoming State Bank which not only contributes all the food but their staff graciously cook it for us as well.
So really it is ìkudosî to the youth and to Family Pathways: both of them ñ Wyoming and North Branch, Childrenís Connection, Chisago County Senior Center, Green Acres, Homestead Cooperative, Chisago Lakes Achievement Center, all those who answered their doors and gave generously towards our fifth annual food drive (as that is how long we have been working together on this awesome program), United Methodist, Trinity Lutheran, Kost Evangelical and St. Gregoryís churches in North Branch. We make a great team. These organizations have truly been a blessing.
Yes, our youth provided services for their community. But they took away far more then they ever gave ñ invaluable lessons in giving of themselves ñ lessons theyíll have forever.
Thanks to all who have financially donated to assist in keeping the cost down to a feasible price. Thank you to Chisago Heartland Express for safely transporting our youth to and from the service sites for the fifth consecutive year. Thanks to everyone at the North Branch School District bus garage for networking and pulling together volunteer bus drivers to drive for our afternoon events...to Trinity for the generous use of your bus. Thanks to all the moms and dads who volunteered with driving the youth on their weekly power food drives and for helping out in chaperoning.
To all those I may have unintentionally have missed, please forgive me.
Dani Rice
N. Chisago Lakes resident and Catholic Church in North Branch
Youth Minister

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