​         Bruce Blankenfeld, the Poweshiek County Salvation Army Bell Ringing Coordinator, rings the bell during the Red Kettle Campaign at the Grinnell Wal-Mart on Saturday, Dec. 23. This is the second year that Blankenfeld and his wife, Laura, have coordinated bell ringers and the first year going solo. They took over bell ringing duties from Dr. George Salnave of Montezuma, who retired in 2022. An estimated 110 individuals helped ring the bell at Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee and Fareway in Grinnell from Nov. 17 – Dec. 23, collecting $12,306.62 to make a difference in the lives of those in need. Ninety percent of all funds collected stay in the county.

By J.O. Parker
 
       Thanks to mild weather, a host of volunteer bell ringers and the generosity of many, families in crises across Poweshiek County have a ray of hope in 2024.
       Darla Wilson, chairperson of the Salvation Army Service Extension Unit #261, which serves Poweshiek County, reported that a total of $12,306.62 was collected during five weekends of ringing the bell from Nov. 17 – Dec. 23.
          “It was just a good year--mild weather for sure and that extra week to ring,” noted Wilson, who is based in Montezuma. “I would imagine that with the amount raised, we will be able to do a special project or two. I hope so, we will see as the year progresses.”
          Bell ringing coordinating duties are now under the direction of Bruce and Laura Blankenfeld of Grinnell. This is the second year the couple, former owners of the West Side Family Restaurant in Grinnell, has coordinated bell ringers and the first year to go solo.
         Dr. George Salnave, the now retired minister of First Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Montezuma, was in charge of coordinating bell ringers in previous years.
        Bruce, a long-time member of the Grinnell Rotary, said he was talking with Salnave a few years back when he learned of his plan to retire. Without a bell ringing coordinator, there would be no bell ringers and no funds raised through the Red Kettle Campaign.
        “I helped George in 2022 and took over in 2023,” said Bruce. “I understood the importance of the bell ringing money helping Poweshiek County residents in a crisis.”
        Sarah Seney of Grinnell, the former principal at Fairview Elementary, pitched in and helped Bruce and Laura coordinate bell ringers during the Red Kettle Campaign.
         “I saw firsthand how the Salvation Army supported schools and families,” said Seney. “My parents are the bell ringing coordinators for Marion county, like Bruce is for Poweshiek County. I grew up ringing bells and have continued that tradition with my own children. It’s a wonderful way to give back to your community and the families and schools in our county.”
         Approximately 110 bell ringers gave of their time for the benefit of helping others who might experience a crisis in the months to come. Bruce reported that some of the organizations and people who stepped up and helped ring the bell included: RE-MAX, JeldWen, Poweshiek County Realtors, Bailey Park School, Bayer, Brownells, the Grinnell Rotary, Grinnell Mutual, Westfield Church, Davis Elementary, Grinnell Lions, Mighty Golden Clover 4-H  Club, the Sheridan 4-H Club and North Risk/Temp/Edward Jones Amerigroup.
        Members of the Grinnell Rotary led the way with 20 volunteers and Grinnell Mutual had 18 volunteers who rang the bell. Other organizations sent from eight to 10 volunteers each.
      Bell ringers were sent up at Fareway, Hy-Vee and Grinnell Walmart during the five-week Red Kettle Campaign.
      The Salvation Army Service Extension Unit #261 is one of 75 service extension units in the Western Division of the Salvation Army, which includes Nebraska, South Dakota and western Iowa.
         “Their goal is to provide support to people and families during crisis situations and to help identify other community resources that are available for additional help,” said Wilson. “The unit provides temporary emergency assistance based on a budget local volunteers raise through community donations, especially through the Red Kettle Campaign or for example, the support of the Montezuma Community Fund Drive.”
In short, Wilson said the purpose of the unit #261 is to fill gaps and meet unmet needs, not to duplicate the work of other agencies. It’s the local unit’s job to stay aware of the needs in the county as well as what other agencies are doing and to make referrals when necessary.
          Temporary emergency assistance includes help with utilities, rent, aid to victims of disasters, health care such as non-narcotic medication, eye care and dental care according to the Salvation Army guidelines and approval.
         “There is a max amount of assistance and a limitation of how often assistance for a crisis (situations) can be received,” said Wilson.
Other changes
       A service extension unit is comprised of at least three volunteers with four positions having to be covered. Darla Wilson is now serving as Chairperson with Karen Meek, the former Poweshiek County Emergency Management Coordinator of Montezuma, replacing her as Treasurer and Co-Welfare Secretary. Annette Deering, former owner of the Daily Grind in Montezuma, will serve as Welfare Secretary alongside Meek. Bruce will continue as bell ringing coordinator.
        “Everyone has a list of job responsibilities and all have received training and certification from the Omaha office to maintain credibility for the service extension unit and the Salvation Army,” said Wilson.
         “I’m fortunate to have an opportunity to serve for this worthwhile cause,” noted Meek. “Also, I’m thankful for having the support of the community and having a great leader in Darla and great partner in Annette.”
           “Getting the news out about our Salvation Army is great,” said Deering. “I have always had a place in my heart to serve others. We are eager and ready to serving Montezuma and Poweshiek County.”
            To inquire about receiving help during a crisis situation, please e-mail Meek at [email protected] or Deering at [email protected] or call Meek’s cell at 515-971-2515. If the Salvation Army can be of assistance, a client will need to bring an ID and required verification of the need to the scheduled appointment. Meek and Deering will be taking on appointments on Tuesdays (unless otherwise necessitated) and working out of the Montezuma Food Pantry office located at 501 N. Front St., South East Building.
           To inquire about giving to the service extension unit or ringing the bell in 2024, please speak with Bruce at 641-990-1152 or Darla at 641-623-3275.
         If you would like to donate to the Salvation Army, checks can be mailed to Salvation Army, P.O. 189, Montezuma, IA 50171.
          Ninety percent of all funds raised gets invested back into the lives and businesses in Poweshiek County. The other 10 percent goes to overhead and division wide needs such as large disasters.
          “The Salvation Army motto of "dong the most good" is actually true,” said Wilson. 

       Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax preparation and electronic filing for low- to moderate-income Iowans. (incomes are $64,000 or less) beginning Feb. 7.
     Certified community volunteers prepare taxes with computer software and help with special tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or Disabled.
      Call 641-623-5188 to schedule an appointment. Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to Noon. 15 minute drop-off or 1 hour face-to-face appointment available.

      Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is partnering with LifeServe Blood Center to host a blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 9 a.m. to1 p.m. The LifeServe blood drive will take place in GRMC’s Tomasek Conference Room on the first floor of the medical center in Grinnell. Donors should enter through the main entrance, located on the south side of the building at 210 Fourth Ave., and follow posted signs to the Tomasek Conference Room.
     To schedule an appointment to donate, please visit donor.lifeservebloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/drive schedule/185066 or call (800) 287-4903. All donors should be in overall good health and are encouraged to be rested and well-nourished at the time of donation. Masks are highly encouraged during respiratory illness season.
     Appointments are encouraged.

• Blood donors should pre-screen themselves for fever prior to donation appointments.
• Donors must be at least 16 years or older. If first time donors are 16 or 17 years old they must have a signed LifeServe Blood Center parent/guardian permission form.
• Blood donation with LifeServe is a quick and painless process. The entire donation experience only takes about an hour. LifeServe also shares the following perks of giving blood.
• Save lives – one pint of whole, donated blood can save up to three lives.

• Mini physical – donors can find out their blood type, blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin (iron) levels.
• Oil change – the body replaces donated blood with fresh blood; consider donating an oil change for your body.

     One in seven people entering a hospital need blood and less than 10 percent of the eligible U.S. population donates annually. Please consider making a donation. For additional information about LifeServe Blood Centers and donor eligibility, visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org.

      Santa Claus (Josh Gerard), the Elf (Jeff Britts) and a cast of other characters entertain the crowd during “It’s A Wonderful Christmas Story,” production held Dec. 1 - 3 at the Brooklyn Opera House. Brooklyn's Josh Gerard wrote and directed the faith-based play.

     The Brooklyn Community Theater production of “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Story,” Dec. 1 - 3, was held in connection with the 2023 Brooklyn Christmas Tradition celebration.
​    Written and directed by Brooklyn's pastor/librarian Josh Gerard, “It's a Wonderful Christmas Story” is a comedic faith-based one-act play about a husband and father who is feeling the strain and anxiety over the impeding holiday season. He wishes he didn't have to go anywhere, or spend any money, but then an angel shows up and tries and fails to show him the true meaning of Christmas through a series of events that become more and more hilarious.

​      Edith Renfrow Smith, 109, of Chicago, is shown holding the book, “No One is Better Than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother’s Words,” written about her by Monique Shore, seated next to her. Renfrow Smith is the oldest living alumna of Grinnell High School and the first Black women to graduate from Grinnell College in 1937. The college is currently building an apartment-style off-campus dorm that will be named in Renfrow Smith’s honor. Shore started working on the book in January 2022 and the new book will be released later this month. This photo was taken on Saturday, Dec. 2 when Shore and her husband, Craig, traveled to Chicago to show Renfrow Smith the newly published book on her life. Submitted photo.

By Monique Shore and J.O. Parker
 
        Copies of the book “No One is Better Than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother’s Words,” written and self-published by Monique McLay Shore of Grinnell, is slated for release this month.
       Edith Renfrow Smith, age 109, was born in Grinnell in 1914 and is the oldest living alumna of both Grinnell High School and Grinnell College. She was the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College in 1937 and is the namesake of Renfrow Hall, a four-story, off campus apartment-style residence hall currently under construction at the corner of Broad Street and Sixth Avenue.
        Shore has been involved in research into the Renfrow family the last eight years, starting with her work for the Drake Community Library in Grinnell and growing into a personal passion. She began working on the book in January 2022. 
       “After the announcement of the Renfrow Hall naming, I just felt compelled to explore writing a book about her life,” noted Shore. “Her family story and her bright spirit are so compelling. She inspires everyone she meets and her story really should be known by more people. While drafting the text was relatively straightforward, finding an illustrator and figuring out how to publish a book was a new challenge.”
       Through the Grinnell College alumni community, Shore connected with illustrator Erica L. Butler of Seattle. A friend of a Grinnell College alumni, Butler has a passion for sharing stories of African American history.
        “I've been honored to illustrate the story of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith,” said Butler. “It was a dream job, partly because her story reflects the experience of many Black families, including my own.”
        After finding an illustrator, Shore’s next step was to get clearance from Mrs. Renfrow Smith. Shore recalls, “Last March we went to Chicago and read the draft of the story to her and her daughter, Alice. I wasn't going to do anything until I knew they liked what I had written. I was so thrilled with her enthusiastic response.” 
      With that blessing, Shore launched a Kickstarter campaign in early April to raise funds to pay for the illustrations and the initial print expenses. The response was overwhelming.
      “I was blown away by the number of people who were excited to help make this project happen,” said Shore. “We met the $10,000 Kickstarter goal in less than four days. More than 120 people contributed to the project, with donations ranging from $5 to more than $2,000.”
           Throughout the process, Shore has shared updates on the book website at Renfrowstory.com.
      “Every couple of weeks I would write about how the illustrations were coming, how Edith and her daughter were staying involved, or other book related info,” she said. “And of course, I included pictures every step of the way.”
       Another alumni benefit came from connecting with Caroline Arnold, class of ‘66, who has published more than 100 books for children.
      “Caroline’s input early on helped me refine the text and make the story more engaging. She also proofread the final version, which was incredibly helpful,” said Shore.
        After 10 months of work and countless virtual meetings with the illustrator and Edith’s daughter, Alice, the book was submitted to the printer on Oct. 31. Shore is working with Print Ninja in Evanston, Ill., but the printing was done in China. Most of the 2,000 copies for the full order are currently in transit by cargo ship. But Shore made room in the budget to have some copies sent by air.
       “I didn't want to wait any longer than possible to get this to Edith,” said Shore. “At age 109, every day counts.”
      The advanced copies arrived at Shore’s home the day after Thanksgiving and Shore immediately made plans to get to Chicago. Traveling with her husband, Craig, they made the delivery on Saturday, Dec. 2. Shore, her husband, Craig, Mrs. Renfrow Smith and her daughter spent the morning looking through every page of the book as they shared joy filled conversation.
      “She is incredibly happy to finally have a book written about her life and the inspiration that her mother passed on,” noted Shore.
Advanced copy
     An advanced copy is now on display at Grinnell’s Pioneer Bookstore. Delivery of copies that will be available for sale is anticipated by mid-January. Retail price is $14.95 for the 60 page book, which also includes several pages of photos and related information about the Renfrow family. You can reserve your copy at tinyurl.com/renfrowbook and will be contacted by the store as soon as copies arrive. Shore hopes to get books into stores in the Chicago area, where Mrs. Renfrow Smith has spent much of her life, after the book arrives. She also hopes to make it available as an ebook. Additional information can be found on the book website at renfrowstory.com.
      Shore can be contacted at [email protected].

       BGM Elementary students use recorders to perform a Christmas song during the school's music program on Thursday, Dec. 7. Emily Chatfield, the BGM Elementary Music teacher, allows the students to do various routines, dances and use of drums, cups, boomwhackers and other musical instruments to put on the program. Students in pre-kindergarten though fifth grade performed during the concert.