Love Inc. ready to serve community needs
<p>Sue Sorenson, center, smiles as representatives from nine area churches celebrate a ribbon cutting for a Love Inc. office in Columbia Falls last week. From left are, Pastor Peter Erickson, Pastor Brent Schmidt, Randy Butikofer, Dawn Baumgartner, Duffy Dirks, Judy Delgatty, Sorenson, Lennie Eaton, Gayle Reeves, Cas Thommen, Bev York, Gregg Anderson, Pastor Debbi Wacker, Connie Anderson, Father John Miller, Pastor Randy Knight, Bette Brown.</p>
The down and out now have nine local churches ready to help. The churches recently started a Love Inc. office here designed to assist people in need with services they can’t get or can’t afford
That includes rides to doctors offices when they don’t have a vehicle or pet care while they’re hospitalized, executive director Lennie Eaton explained. Love Inc. stands for Love In the Name of Christ.
Nine North Valley churches joined to start a local chapter of the national organization — Journey Church, St. Richard’s Catholic Church, Hungry Horse Chapel, Christ Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Whitefish Assembly of God, Presbyterian Church of Whitefish and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
People needing services must call 406-892-3544 ahead of time. While the local chapter has an office in Columbia Falls, it does not take walk-ins. Many clients are referred through social service organizations.
The organization also allows the churches to pool resources to do the most good.
“It’s refreshing to be able to cooperate rather than compete,” pastor Brent Schmidt said during a ribbon cutting ceremony last week.