Arizona Conference
Janice Krein, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Betty Baerg, and Pastor Van Bledsoe place boxes for Bags of Love at the Arizona State Capitol Christmas tree.
Arizona Governor Honors
Apache Junction Bags of Love By Phil Draper
A
rizona Governor Doug Ducey honored the Apache Junction church Bags of Love chapter at the State Capitol Tree Lighting Service on December 3, 2019. Three members of the Apache Junction church were invited to represent the ministry: Pastor Van Bledsoe, Janice Krein, and leader Betty Baerg.
“We have been doing Bags of Love for 13 years now,” Baerg explained. “Arizona decided for the very first time that instead of just the Tree Lighting, they should honor a nonprofit organization and collect things for it around the tree for the whole month of December. They went to the Department of Child Safety to determine whom to honor. Bags of Love was chosen. The Department of Child Safety took three lovely pictures and sent them to me.” The governor’s office reached out to the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), which asked Rayetta Sanchez, liaison for DCS between all the volunteer groups. They decided Apache Junction Bags of Love should be honored.
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PA C I F I C U N I O N R E CO R D E R
This is the first time a nonprofit group was honored during this event. Seven boxes were placed around the Christmas tree so that people could donate items to put in the Bags of Love during the month of December. Bags of Love prepares handmade duffel bags filled with a handmade quilt, personal hygiene items, educational toys, activities, stuffed animals, and school supplies, according to age and gender. The duffel bags go to DCS to be given to children who are temporarily displaced. Because of Bags of Love, the children have something of their very own at a foster home. Baerg says, “We have lots of fun packing the bags, and we pray and trust the Lord directs the bag to the child who will appreciate it.”
