Perspectives Magazine: Spring 2011 - Presbyterian Homes & Services

are chronicled in the book, Croixdale, A
Community Treasure, by Allison Jensen
and a video by the same title produced
by IDream.TV. The anniversary year
includes 50 Acts of Sharing: collaborative
activities with area partners to make
a positive impact in the community.
Interested individuals and groups
may contact Rene Roeser, Campus
Administrator at 651-275-4800 to discuss
projects and activities.
History and Geography Inspire
PHS Community Name Change
With input from both residents and staff,
Presbyterian Homes of Roseville announced
its new name, Langton Place. This name
echoes its history when in 1985, Langton
Lake Place was opened. The name was
changed to Presbyterian Homes of Roseville
in 1992. The new name is also a link to the
community’s geographical location near
Langton Lake Park in Roseville, MN.
Operation Christmas Child:
Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington
Christmas Boxes Full of Smiles
The joy of giving spread across PHS
communities in autumn 2010 as residents
and staff filled 1600 shoeboxes with
gifts for children living in the world’s
poorest places. 25 communities took
part in Operation Christmas Child; the
highest participation ever with 6 newly
involved communities. Some residents
made hats, mittens, and scarves by hand;
others found small toys or provided school
supplies. New gift ideas included small
sewing kits and tools that are scarce in
developing countries. Stuffed animals were
favorites included in nearly every box. PHS
shoeboxes were delivered by staff and
residents to a local warehouse. The boxes
were included in a shipment of 8 million
delivered to over 100 countries around the
world by Samaritan’s Purse, a charitable
organization founded and led by Franklin
Graham. Over 6,300 hours were devoted
to Operation Christmas Child by some 375
PHS volunteers.
Hope for Liberian School Children
Residents and staff at Langton Place collected
and shipped over 50 boxes of school supplies
to support the Zondo School in rural Liberia.
The faith-based school, enrolling over
500 children, was built and is supported
by the Family of Hope, Inc.—a non-profit
organization with a mission to renew hope
for Liberian children after 14 years of civil
war. Family of Hope was founded by Jacob
Karngar, Resident Assistant at Langton
Place. Karngar, a native Liberian and former
education administrator, was forced to
flee his country during the war. Now a U.S.
citizen, Karngar is dedicated to the recovery
of his homeland’s
next generation.
“Liberia’s children were
traumatized by the war,
and almost none had
ever been to school,” he
said. “Without help from
outside Liberia, most
of them never would
be educated.” Karngar
invited the Langton Place community to
share his vision through the school supplies
service project held in summer 2010. “Jacob is
an inspiration to us,” said Cal Cooper, former
chaplain. “The response by residents and staff
was remarkable, and the project allowed us
to reach halfway around the globe to help
people in need.”
Jacob Karngar
perspectives 5