StarHeart Express – Summer 2010
StarHeart People
Casey den Hollander could have been traveling the world when he retired from the Albuquerque Police Department. Instead, the divorced, childless man became the father to a quadripelgic, blind and severely brain-damaged young boy that he could not forget once he handed Patrick’s case over to the D.A. after the boy was victimized by child abuse. This is a classic story of two people who fulfill a meaningful purpose for each other. Casey sums it up by saying that he doesn’t “know why we have this connection. I just feel God put him in my life.”
Chuck Sibley of Huntsville, Alabama couldn’t sleep when he thought about the employees who would receive pink slips due to a production slow down. That’s when he came up with the idea he pitched to the managers of Navistar International Corp to retain all the employees at full pay and benefits. Now those employees are working for local nonprofit groups to build homes, stock thrift-store shelves and carry out other projects to help the needy.
Employees volunteered and got connected with three area charities. They work 4-day, 10-hour shifts and the community has benefited with the addition of 47 wheelchair ramps, a dozen foreclosed homes have been cleaned up and several tons of clothing and household donations have been sorted. “This is a Godsend” is the response.
Love those stories about people who turn their lives around? In her new book, The Mighty Queens of Freeville, advice columnist Amy Dickinson has compiled a book of stories about surprising second chances. www.mysecondchancestories.com
For the past 25 years, Leonard Knight has spent his days and many nights by flashlight painting pastoral designs and biblical quotations on a three story mound he has affectionately named, Salvation Mountain. Located near San Diego, Knight thought the valley near Niland would be a perfect place for a religious monument. Planning to stay a week or two, he couldn’t stop once he got started. He has no telephone, television, lights, radio or running water. He bathes in a natural hot springs nearby and eats many of his meals at a nearby restaurant. Since word got out, people come from all over the world to see what he has created and to hear his “docent rap” about the inspiration as well as the half million gallons of paint he has used.
The Jeremiah Project 51 was set up by Jeff Lasater after his son committed suicide to stop the bullying he could no longer live with. In 17 months, the organization has expanded from the father’s crusade into a growing national network of parents helping other parents deal with the age-old issue of bullying. Lasater is also working with school districts advocating for changes in how the bullying is handled in schools. The website for more info is www.jeremiah51.com.