Ruoff Mortgage of Warsaw recently collected numerous items for Fellowship Missions of Warsaw and Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church’s foster care closet. Community members assisted with the project by dropping items off at Ruoff’s office as well as those of partnering businesses Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX Results and Patton Hall realty. From left: WLGBC Community Impact Pastor Dave Rank, Ruoff Loan Officer Assistant Heather Coy and Administrative Assistant Emma Hoyt, RE/MAX Sales Manager Fred Johnson and Ruoff Senior Loan Officer Vanessa Barber, Loan Officer Assistant Harley Phillips, Senior Loan Officer Shelley Dobbins, Senior Loan Officer LeAnne Francis, Senior Loan Officer Linda Riley, Senior Loan Officer Brett Strack, Senior Loan Officer Lori Horney and Branch Manager Brenda Rash. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church Community Impact Pastor Dave Rank received a surprise of sorts this week.

Rank learned on Tuesday, March 29, that Ruoff Mortgage of Warsaw was donating multiple items to the church’s foster care closet, which helps people caring for kids in the foster system.

“It’s a bit overwhelming (regarding) others thinking of the community closet to contribute to it,” he told InkFreeNews on Wednesday, March 30, when he came to collect the items at Ruoff.

Ruoff opted to collect everything from diapers to socks to toiletry items to give to both the foster care closet and Fellowship Missions of Warsaw as part of its Helping Hands fundraiser.

During the fundraiser held from Feb. 21-March 25, Ruoff invited community members to join them in collecting the items and dropping them off at its office as well as the offices of partnering businesses, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX Results and Patton Hall realty.

This is the first year that Ruoff has had the Helping Hands fundraiser, said Ruoff Loan Officer Assistant Heather Coy.

It’s part of the company’s Ruoff Cares initiative, which has existed for a number of years.

“So we’re trying to volunteer our time in our community to worthwhile causes so that we can get out into our community, see what resources are there, what needs help,” she said.

“I think for employees too, just realizing that there are different organizations in our community that we can volunteer our time (for),” she said of what she hoped employees got out of the experience.

Ruoff Branch Manager Brenda Rash said she thinks the company might have more collection drives this year.

“I just thank Ruoff Mortgage for their generosity,” said Rank.

He said others are welcome to donate money or items for the closet, including infant to middle school-age clothing, car seats and strollers.

They can learn more by visiting the Facebook page Room at the Table or WLGBC’s website.

People who are fostering kids are welcome to take advantage of the closet by stopping by the church from 2-4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.

A more full look at the donated items. Photo provided.