Our Ministry
Haskell Students Receive College Necessities
Nearly 200 incoming freshmen at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. were able to “shop free” on Sunday, August 11, thanks to a semi truckload of typical college student dorm essentials delivered from Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. (L-US)
“Few people know about the difficulties most Native American students have getting a college education. They often don’t have the necessary funds to provide themselves with things like bedding, pillows and desk lamps,” said Patricia Main, director of Haskell LIGHT Lutheran Student Center, a ministry of L-US.
Thanks to a cooperative endeavor with New Threads of Hope, a Milwaukee-based charity, Haskell students will be able to start their school year off right with brand-new first-quality overstocks from local and national retailers. L-US volunteers inventoried and packed all the donated items and prepared 21 pallets of boxes for shipment.
Through a partnership with Brakebush Brothers Trucking and the Orphan Grain Train (OGT), the items were picked up from L-US headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin and delivered to Lawrence, Kansas.
While staff and volunteers at the Haskell LIGHT Lutheran Student Center helped unload the boxes, Haskell administration and students pitched in to display these items for students to “come and shop.” Please view the journey in pictures.
Patricia Main, herself a Native American of Cree heritage, commented, “Our task is to provide these necessary items so they can have a more enjoyable college experience. We also provide Bibles and a home-away-from-home for the students to study, experience fellowship, partake of snacks and learn about Christ and Christian love.” One young man responded that he was not able to accept the items because this was about Jesus and he was not a Christian. Patricia assured him these gifts were being given away because God had provided them, and he gratefully accepted them.
In addition, numerous clothing items were provided for Little Nations Day Care, a day care center for the children of Haskell students and staff while they are in school or working. The delivery included winter hats, gloves, mittens and scarves.
Will Main, Patricia’s husband, is a Native American of Sioux heritage and training to become a Lutheran pastor. He noted, “With partners like Corp Care, Orphan Grain Train and Brakebush Brothers, the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots, U.S. is able to help provide the basic necessities for these young adults to get a good start on their college education and life. These gifts, along with the over 200 blankets and quilts provided by Lutheran churches across the U.S., will help keep the students warm during the winter. We thank the good Lord and these wonderful people who have helped us expand our ministry to the Haskell Indian Nations University students.”