Events

Pass It On Helps The Band Play On

High school music rooms look similar across the country, with musical instruments tucked into shelves, chairs and music stands here and there, and towels plopped on the floor.

But recently in the music room at Lincoln High School in Lake City, Minnesota, there was something more: a $1000 check being presented to Cathy Carlson by the Rev. David S. Badgley.

Cathy is the president of the Lake City Music Boosters and she received the donation from Rev. Badgley, representing the Pass It On Thrift Shop in Lake City.

While following Covid-19 protocols, the “band plays on” at Lincoln High and the donation will support many needs beyond the music department’s budget.

The Music Boosters are especially important to the Summer Marching Band, providing funds to transport students to summer parades in cities throughout the region. Booster funds are used to provide snacks on band trips, and food for social functions. Band uniforms and musical instruments occasionally have needs met by booster funds.

The Music Boosters actively engage the students in fund raising activities such as frozen food sales, which help to support the biennial marching band trip to Orlando, Florida, next scheduled for Spring Break 2022.

Pass It On Offsets Cost Of Pre-school Program

Some pre-school children at Bluff View Elementary School were outside enjoying their new playground equipment last week, when a couple of adults joined the kids for a photo opportunity.

The Rev. David S. Badgley, representing the Pass It On Thrift Shop in Lake City, presented a donation of $1500 to Amanda Kvasnicka (prounounced Kwahz-Nis-Kuh), who is the director, both of Lake City Community Education and the Lake City Pre-School Program at Bluff View.

The pre-school program meets five days a week for 2 ½ hours per day. Parents have the option of enrolling children for 2 days, 3 days, or 5 days of learning, at tuition rates ranging from $117 to $225 per month. Tuition scholarships are available through the state for families that qualify, and the money donated by Pass It On will help to further offset the tuition for families in need of financial assistance.

Kvasnicka stressed how important learning is for these kids, age 4 to 5, before they enter Kindergarten. She explained, “In the program they learn social skills such as how to be friends, how to share, and how to take turns. They learn literary skills and math skills. They enjoy snack time, and have thirty minutes of daily playtime outside.”

When asked about the adjustments made for Covid-19 precautions, Kvasnicka said, “The recent building construction at Bluff View gave us more space with five classrooms, and we have smaller class sizes, too. With the facemask requirement, the kids have proven to be resilient and fantastic. They have adjusted better than many adults have.”

Kvasnicka has seen more families in economic need, with some circumstances related to Covid-19 job cuts, and she thanked Pass It On for the generous donation.

People may contact her by phone at 651-345-7170 if interested in making a donation to the program, or to learn more about enrolling kids.

Athletic Boosters Receive A Boost From Pass It On

The top row of the high school bleachers was an ideal place for a photo last Saturday morning, November 7, when the temperature was close to 70 degrees. The Rev. David S. Badgley, representing the Pass It On Thrift Shop in Lake City, presented a donation of $1000 to Samantha Kubista, secretary for the Lake City Athletic Boosters.

The impact of COVID-19 has challenged the usual fundraising efforts of the Athletic Boosters this fall. Students were restricted from going door-to-door to sell the Booster Coupon Book resulting in disappointing sales for the annual fundraiser. Income from paid Booster memberships is down.

Even so, the Booster organization continues to provide important financial support for sports, which continue during the pandemic. Kubista explained that the Lincoln High School weight room was updated and newly equipped over several years using Athletic Booster funds. New uniforms, award plagues, and the cost of transportation to sporting events are among the other needs supported by Athletic Booster funds.

Rev. Badgley said, “With so much academic and social distancing separating students during Covid, sports provides a valuable experience of cooperation and teamwork for students, even while respecting the safety protocols in place.”

Holy Communion Is Part Of Our In Person Worship

We have been using an effective and convenient pre-packaged Communion product as part of our worship on the first Sunday of each month.
Shaped like a chalice, the product is 1.5" tall and contains the bread (which is like a cracker) and the juice.

The cups are arranged on a table in the entry. As people arrive wearing face masks, they sanitize their hands, select cups from the table, and take the cups with them to their chosen pew.
At the appointed time in worship, Rev. Badgley stands at the Communion table offering the words of Communion with bread and cup, and directs the congregation when to open the first seal and eat the bread, and when to open the second seal and drink the juice. The product can be held securely and opened easily.

When leaving the sanctuary after worship, people dispose their empty cups in the waste basket.

Pass It On Donates To Public School Meal Program

Wearing facemasks and standing in front of the new tiger mural at Lincoln High School, Superintendent of Lake City Public Schools, Erick Enger (at right) received a donation of $1000 presented by the Rev. David S. Badgley (at left) on behalf of our Pass It On Thrift Shop in Lake City. The donation will be used by Lake City Public Schools to help families in need of assistance with delinquent meal accounts. These funds help ensure that every student in the school district has access to proper nutrition on a daily basis.

Zumbro Valley Food Shelf Receives Pass It On Donation

On February 20, Pastor David Badgley met up with Pastor Colleen Hoeft at the Zumbro Valley Food Shelf, which is located in the basement of the South Troy Wesleyan Church, six miles south of Zumbro Falls on Highway 63.
Pastor Colleen, who is the director of the food shelf and minister of the South Troy Wesleyan congregation, was thrilled to receive a $1000 donation presented by Pastor Badgley from the Pass It On Thrift Shop in Lake City, which is owned and operated by the First Congregational Church UCC, Lake City, where Rev. Badgley serves as pastor.
The Zumbro Valley Food Shelf opened in January 2019 when Pastor Colleen saw the need for a local food shelf. The church basement had a space suited for a food shelf, so renovation work began.
Three refrigerators and one freezer were donated, along with various shelving units, all of which became the workhorses of the space. The shelves and refrigerators and freezer are filled with food donated by folks in the community. Donations of money are used to purchase discounted food from Channel One in Rochester. There are also a few clothes racks filled with donated clothing available to anyone in need.
Pastor Colleen explains, “We get calls periodically for people in the community who are short of food, and one of our passions as a church is to serve the community. One of those ways, especially for a smaller congregation, is through food. Our church serves hungry people also through the Backpack Program for the Plainview-Elgin-Millville school district.”
The Zumbro Valley Food Shelf has served more than 55 families in its first 14 months of operation, reaching people in a wide radius including Lake City, Zumbro Falls and Wabasha. Located at 56817 Highway 63 South, the food shelf is open on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Donations of food and money are welcome, and volunteers are always needed. The phone number is 507-259-1442 and more information can be found online on their Facebook page.

Pass It On Donation Makes Skiers Smile

Seven enthusiastic students in the Nordic Ski Club gathered for a photo outside of Lincoln High School last week to thank our Pass It On Thrift Shop for donating $1000 to support the club.

Standing with the skiers is the Rev. David Badgley (third from left) who presented the financial gift, which will be used to purchase skis, poles, boots and accessories that are used by the 40 students who participate in the club.

The money also will be used for a bus trip to Trego, Wisconsin, where the club members will ski and stay at Heartwood resort for a weekend in January.

Jim Anderson, who teaches English and coaches cross-country at LHS, started the club in 2014 with only 15 students. In six years the club has more than doubled in size.

According to Anderson, the departure of graduating seniors has never diminished the size of the club because new members continue to join.

Anderson explains that Nordic skiing is the same as cross-country skiing.

“The majority of students in the club ski recreationally, but there are currently five students who are racing in Nordic events with other schools,” he said.

“The number of youth interested in Nordic racing is growing, and with additional training they likely will be ready for their first race in January,” Anderson added.

The club is not funded by the school and relies on grants and donations from organizations and individuals.

The season begins in December (although Anderson intends to push it back into November in order to have more time for training for races) and runs through February or March.

The students meet regularly on Wednesdays after school, and they take their ski gear home with them to be used on weekends and during free time to gain more proficiency.

A few students own their personal skis, poles and boots, but most students use the gear provided by Anderson, who searches out swap meets and flea markets for inexpensive equipment.

Anderson also has personal connections with retailers who source him with new and used Nordic gear at discounted prices.

“It’s all about making this sport affordable for the students who want to be part of the club,” Anderson explained. “The generous donation from Pass It On will enrich the student experience a great deal,” he said.

Appearing in the photo from left are Ashley Veronen, Johannah Clementson, Rev. Badgley, Julia Koplin, Elijah Ender, Ben Johnson, Eric Anderson, and Timmy Cooper.

Ambulance Gets A Lift From Pass It On Donation

During a tour of the Lake City Ambulance Service on October 18, Director Sara Rybarczyk (left in photo) and EMT Kevin Dather (right in photo) gave the Rev. David Badgley (middle) a demonstration of the Stryker brand Power Load Cot Fastener, a system that promotes safety by supporting the cot throughout the loading and unloading process.

In the photo the cot appears to be levitating as it extends from the back of the ambulance with no ground contact. In this position the cot will support 700 lbs. and is easily pushed into the vehicle along a track that guides and locks the cot into place.

Or, by pushing a power button, the wheeled frame beneath the cot will gently extend to the ground, allowing the cot to be disengaged from the ambulance and maneuvered to the patient.

The cot will securely accommodate patients of all sizes and is raised and lowered entirely with power assist.

While sitting on the cantilevered cot, Rev. Badgley presented a donation of $2000 from our Pass It On Thrift Shop towards installation of the Power Load Cot Fastener in the one Lake City ambulance not equipped with it.

The Lake City Ambulance Service purchased their first Power Load Cot Fastener system in 2018 with the purchase of the 2018 Ford F450 ambulance. The service then purchased an additional system for the Chevy ambulance acquired in 2013.

The service is currently fundraising to install the system in the third ambulance at a cost of about $20,000.

Rybarczyk explained, “We want all of our vehicles to be equally equipped to offer consistency in our patient service and EMT experience. Our third vehicle is due to be replaced in 2023, yet when the time comes, the Power Load Cot Fastener can be uninstalled from the old vehicle and installed in the new one.”

For first responders, the system reduces spinal load cumulative trauma injuries by eliminating the need to lift the patient and cot into the ambulance.

For patients, the system prevents fall and tipping risks by supporting the cot completely until all the wheels are on the ground.

According to Rybarczyk, “We were surprised by how much comfort and peace of mind the cot system brings to our patients. One patient reported feeling scared when being placed in the ambulance on the old cot because it required trusting people to do the lifting. With the new system, this is no longer a factor, no matter what the patient weighs.”

The system impressed Rev. Badgley. “When I saw the cot cantilevered out the back of the ambulance I was awestruck. It seemed to defy gravity,” he said.

Rybarczyk and Dather gave Rev. Badgley hands-on experience with the equipment.

Badgley reported, “They let me play the role of first responder and I used the system by myself to load and unload one of the paramedics. Then they let me play the role of patient as they used the system to load me into the ambulance.”

Rybarczyk’s pride shows when she demonstrates the Stryker equipment. “The ambulance service is proud to be able to deliver this level of comfort and safety to the citizens of our community,” she said.

After receiving the donation, Rybarczyk commented, “Please know that Pass It On and Reverend Badgley have made a very generous donation to the ambulance service that will help us to achieve our goal of having the Stryker Power Load Cot Fastener system in all of our ambulances.”

Rev. Badgley said that the shop’s donations have more than one purpose.

He explained, “When our shop makes financial donations, we use photos and news articles to highlight what our shop is doing, plus what our local services and non-profits are doing. We want people to see where they can make an impact with their own charitable contributions. I hope our donation towards the purchase of this equipment inspires others to donate to it as well.”

Pass It On Donations Start The School Year

Teachers and leaders at Lincoln High School were all smiles as they received financial donations from our Pass It On Thrift Shop in Lake City. Our shop has made annual donations at the start of each school year to support various student programs and early childhood development. Last week the Rev. David S. Badgley presented checks totaling $6000, which makes a total of $40,500 that the thrift shop has donated to these valuable school programs in the past five years. Pictured from left to right are Anna Karsten for the Speech Team ($500), Amy Rogness for the All School Play ($500), Cheryl Geolat for the Athletic Boosters ($1000), Rev. David Badgley, Cathy Carlson for the Music Boosters ($1000), Stacey Bergquist for the annual Ninth Grade Leadership Program ($1000), Amanda Kvasnicka for Pre-Kindergarten LEEP programs ($2000).

Camp Invention Says "Thank You" For Pass It On Thrift Shop Donation

Camp Invention wrapped up its second consecutive year in Lake City on June 14. Camp Invention is a week-long adventure in which students going into grades K-6 develop their creativity, innovation, and solve real-world problems. Children rotate through a schedule that includes four modules each day, and incorporates a variety of hands-on activities ranging from reverse engineering a robot to teaming up with innovation superheroes. Units vary each year, with this year’s theme being “SUPERCHARGED.” Students got to invent a superhero, solve a deep sea mystery, learn about farm tech, and modify their own remote control robot. Camp Invention curricula focus on the development of creative, inventive thinking skills. At Camp Invention, there is no right or wrong answer. Many projects focus on process. Campers learn through trial and error. Campers use recycled materials to create prototypes of inventions that they believe will help improve the world. There is not a lot of emphasis placed on inventing a working device in five days; rather, emphasis is placed on fostering inventive thinking and creative problem-solving skills through immersion that will serve children throughout their lives.

There were some changes this year at Camp Invention in Lake City. The program, which usually runs at schools, had to find an alternate location this year, because of construction at Bluff View Elementary. Luckily, First Lutheran Church was available and able to accommodate the needs of a busy camp. This year was also the first year that Scholarships were offered. Due to the generosity of Pass It On Thrift Shop, six students were able to attend Camp Invention on either partial or full scholarships. “It is a great opportunity for students. Because of Pass It On, those who would not be able to attend otherwise get this amazing experience ,” said Camp Invention director, Diane Spence. This year, Camp Invention had a total of 50 campers, 10 student helpers from Lincoln and the homeschooled community, 4 instructors, and 1 parent volunteer, working together to become innovative problem solvers.

Pass It On Thrift Shop Donates $2000 To Youth Baseball/Softball
Longing for summer days on the baseball diamond, Kevin Dather holding his grandson Grayson (right), and the Rev. David S. Badgley took some softball gear to the snow covered McCahill ball field in Lake City on February 22. Rev. Badgley presented a check for $2000 from the Pass It On Thrift Shop to support the Lake City Youth Baseball/Softball Association (LCYBA). The program, which serves 135 youth, ages 7 to 16, is led by a dedicated group of volunteer coaches, directors and committees. The program also enlists trainers from the NCAA, as well as a Division 1 pitching coach, to work with the youth during the summer. Dather, who is the Field Coordinator for the Association, says that all children are welcome to join the program, even if unable to pay the $60 registration fee, or lacking gear such as shoes, pants, and a glove needed for the game. "Considering that other youth sports leagues can require $100 or more from each participant, especially for gear, we purposely keep our fee low. Yet, even then, some kids come from situations where our low fee is too much. We will not turn any child away, and will provide whatever is needed for playing the game," explained Dather. The donation from Pass It On will help supplement registration fees and needed equipment so that all kids can enjoy the summer program. As it states on the LCYBA website, this is done "For The Love Of The Game." Registration for the summer 2019 program is online through March 8 at lakecitybaseball.com.

Pass It On Thrift Shop Donates $2000 To Humane Society

There were big smiles when Rev. David S. Badgley presented a check for $2000 to Teri Bissonnette (left) and Kari Underdahl (right) who both volunteer with the Hiawatha Animal Humane Society (H.A.H.S.) The three are standing in front of the H.A.H.S. bulletin board posted at the Lake City Anytime Fitness, owned by Teri and her husband Jeff, where Kari is employed. Each year H.A.H.S. cares for 150-175 stray animals that are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and tested for contagious diseases. Since there is no animal shelter, volunteers provide foster care for the animals in their homes until the pets are adopted. When a pet is adopted the new owner makes a financial donation to H.A.H.S. to help pay for veterinary and caregiving expenses that far exceed the donated amount. The organization's adoption rate is high, with nearly all the animals placed in homes each year. H.A.H.S. is a non-profit organization that receives no government funding and relies on donations and volunteers to fulfill their work.