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Summer Stretch Tour recap

TO THE EDITOR:
Where has the time gone? Here we are at the end of our sixth year of Summer Stretch and yet it seems like just yesterday that we were writing to tell you about the 2002 tour. We have been working for the past six weeks with eight groups of youths performing different community service work at eight separate sites every week.
The county budget cuts have definitely made an impact on Summer Stretch, as a result, this year we had to make some creative changes. Praise God for the adults and businesses in our community who have broadened their understanding of what our youth are able to accomplish.
The three new locations that we added this year are both Linnea Houses (Taylors Falls and Chisago) and the Living Branch Nursery. The kids never cease to amaze me in their never-ending enjoyment of the service over the afternoon fun. Thanks to all of the staffs of all the organizations for the privilege to serve you and the needs of your clients.
We would like to take time to thank all those who made it possible for us to provide this program. For starters, the high school leaders, we couldnít do it without you. Chisago Heartland Express, without you we couldnít get the youth to and from the service sites. Stacy-Lent Fire Department, for their generous monetary donation. Also, to the CCW group of St. Gregoryís for their donation, bless you ladies for your generosity. To Chisago Lakes Achievement Center, not only for your sixth year in participation, but also your generous annual contribution of transporting participants. To Homestead Cooperative, thank you for your generous offer to raffle off two bikes for the Summer Stretch participants, how very kind of you. The generation gap bridge will forever be remembered by all of you and what a domino effect this will have for future generations too. Green Acres, Historical Society, and Family Pathways, thank you, and we look forward to working with you again next year. To all the adults who volunteered in the weekly food drive and to those who generously gave donations when the youth came to your doors.
Last but not least, thank you to Bert, Jim and Noelle for driving the bus for our afternoon ìfun activities.î You three are truly appreciated and we hope to see you again next year. Finally, to Wyoming State Bank and staff for their annual contribution. Each year your bank and staff have blessed us with a big spread of goodies for our annual picnic rewarding each of the service site representatives and our participants. Thank you, and hope to see you again next year as well.
Valley Fair will open their doors early on Aug. 7 for the Summer Stretch Tour Rally. We will join the 55 other churches, which were simultaneously involved in Summer Stretch programs throughout the metro area, over 3,000 participants. Early hours are used to share experiences within the large group. Each year we are all impacted by this experience; participants of all ages and backgrounds are brought to-gether creating a broader understanding of the needs of our community and the communities around us.
Way to go ìStretchers!î Hope to see you all again for next yearís tour!
Krista Anderson,
Youth Minster,
Trinity Lutheran Church,
North Branch
Dani Rice, Youth Minister,
St. Gregoryís Catholic Church, North Branch

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