August Newsletter
The Clothing Closet Grand Opening!
Earlier this month, we celebrated the grand opening of The Clothing Closet in Middleburg!
We were thrilled to have so many members of the community join us at the ribbon cutting ceremony to acknowledge the importance of our mission and celebrate the occasion with us. We received such a warm welcome and are excited to build even more new relationships in Loudoun County.
A special thank you to Loudoun County Government Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony, Town of Middleburg Vice Mayor Chris Bernard, Middleburg Police Department Chief Jones, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Yasmeen Shields, Membership Director, for taking the time to attend and offer encouraging remarks.
Additionally, thank you to the business leaders, non-profits, elected officials, local community reps, churches, friends, volunteers, and more that came out to support us.
And, we had the added very special treat of having SimplyBe Coffee on-site offering coffee and drinks from our brand our new mobile coffee cart!
Come see us soon: 15 East Federal Street, Middleburg, VA
Working Hands in Marshall
We are so grateful for the community of support that rallied around a dear neighbor in our Piedmont Region to offer a helping hand.
Thank you to the volunteers who gave their time, and as a result this home received both an indoor and outdoor cleanup and refresh earlier this month. They were also able to address some safety issues by installing a handrail for basement so she could access laundry. Over the next few weeks, we will be continuing to support the project with soffit and chimney repairs as well as address water issues.
A huge thanks to our friends at Mount Pisgah Church for providing lunch for the team.
And a very special thanks to the Path Foundation for their support of this project.
Day Break Game Day
We had a fun and uplifting afternoon at our 3rd Annual Day Break Game Day for Senior Adults in July!
Friends gathered for an afternoon filled with laughter, fellowship, friendly competition, and plenty of fun. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, spread joy, and beat the summer heat together! A delicious pizza lunch, refreshing lemonade, sweet cookies, and exciting prizes were the icing on the cake.
A special thank-you to Station Stitchers for the stunning quilts, which are always a highlight and a favorite among our guests. We are also grateful to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for generously hosting us and helping make this special afternoon possible.
Thank you to everyone who helped create such a joyful and welcoming day for our senior adults. We are already looking forward to next year!
Community Dinner Host Groups Needed!
Our Leesburg Community Dinner started back up on August 18th!
We are in serious need of host groups to provide the meals for this amazing ministry that brings together fellowship and food. If your group is interested in making an impact for those in need, please consider signing up!
>>And don’t worry, our ministry leaders will work with you to help ensure you prepare the right amount of food and have everything you need to make it a successful night!
Annual Summer Giveaway
We are so excited to once again be hosting this huge event to serve families in our community. Last year, we were able to help more than 700 with clothing and over 400 with backpacks!
If you’d like to attend, there is no registration necessary – just show up between 8am and 11am! If you need backpacks, please be sure to bring your children with you. Any questions, email info@tolministries.org.
Want to help?
- VOLUNTEER
- DONATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES
- DONATE CLOTHING
- DONATE FURNITURE
Click the button below for all the info and to sign up!
Volunteer Highlight
We are highlighting an amazing volunteer that has been helping out all summer… Hannah England (pictured right).
Hannah has supported all parts of our ministry this summer – from our Free Dental Clinic in June, to weekly community dinners, to food pantry sorting, and serving at the Clothing Closet – she has been a huge blessing!
She has been able to lend a hand in both our Western Loudoun and Eastern Loudoun regions – even utilizing her spanish language skills and making a huge impact.
We are so grateful for her time and hope she joins us again next summer!
Thank you, Hannah!
Donor Spotlight
This month we want to highlight the amazing support of Intalus!
Intalus is an advanced materials and manufacturing technology company that has been making a huge impact sponsoring a number of fundraising events. From Pickleball to TOPGOLF, their support is helping us meet our fundraising goals and better serve the Loudoun, Fauquier, and Clarke County communities.
We are so grateful for this partnership and their commitment to serving the local community!
Golf Tournament
Join us for a day on the green to support Tree of Life Ministries! Enjoy great golf, community, and a chance to make a difference.
Sponsorship opportunities are available—a great way to promote your business while giving back.
More information and registration is at the link below!
Annual Golf Tournament – Tree of Life
Full Calendar Here
INCREASE OUR FAITH!
At the beginning of this year, I shared my prayer and ambition for each person at Tree of Life Ministries: Increase our faith!
My prayer was that God would help us pray more, love more, and forgive more.
Jesus said,“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
As we reach the middle of the year, I’ve been asking the Lord how He has been answering that prayer in my own life. Here’s what He has been teaching me.
If I want to increase my faith, I must draw closer to the One who is always faithful.
If I want to pray more, I must first learn to draw near and listen to Him.
If I want to love more, I must allow Him to open my heart to those who need His love.
If I want to forgive more, I must ask Him to change my heart so I can reach out to those who need forgiveness.
I’ve realized that every one of these ambitions begins in the heart. Each one calls me to surrender to His will rather than cling to my own.
The beautiful truth is that if I am willing to change, Jesus is the One who changes me. He teaches me to pray. He teaches me to love. He teaches me to forgive. The more I walk with Him, the more my faith grows.
What an incredible promise! The God who gave us faith is the same God who faithfully strengthens it day by day.
Pray this simple prayer with me:
Lord, I can’t wait to see how You will continue to increase my faith. Teach me to love You more, so that Your love overflows into the lives of others. Teach me to pray more, so that every conversation with You includes listening, trusting, and praising You. Teach me to forgive more, so that my heart becomes humble, compassionate, and quick to respond in love. Continue making me more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Beginning August 17
Our next Tree of Life devotional series will focus on one exciting question: How does God increase our faith?
I hope you’ll join us as we discover, through Scripture, how God grows our trust in Him one step at a time.
Sign up today – click HERE.
May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman
