Bell Lumber & Pole matches $80,000 in donations

SIDNEY -- As the last days and hours of December 2023 waned, the $80,000 goal was still a little short.

Bell Lumber & Pole committed to match up to $80,000 raised in support of Table of Grace.

Table of Grace is an outreach ministry that offers a food pantry, thrift store and more recently a hotel, and a mobile food pantry. Most of the revenue comes from community support and grants. This year Bell Lumber and Pole raised the challenge. The company committed to matching up to $80,000 in donations.

"Most people know that giving rather than getting is preferable. Our community and many outside our community have demonstrated that many people and businesses understand this concept well and we thank you," the Table of Grace staff and volunteers said in a written statement. 

As of January 1, fund raising was $20,000 short. On January 2, there was more than $10,000 worth of checks in the mail, making the matching challenge short a little less $10,000. On Friday, January 5, a couple came in stating how much the food pantry had helped them out and how much they greatly appreciated the Table of Grace and that we needed to continue providing the services that we do. They then proceeded to hand me $10,000 cash that they had raised! God had provided for our needs once again.  

Even though it took the first week of January, the $80,000 challenge was met, and Bell Lumber & Pole met the challenge.

"I have to admit I had little faith that we would actually be able to reach our goal this year as it was double from last year. However, we serve a God that does the impossible and I should never have wavered in my faith that He would come through," said Sherri Eads, director of Table of Grace. "We greatly appreciate everyone who helped us reach our goal. And though there where some large donations, most of the donations were between $25 and $100. Never think that your gift is too small to make a difference."

We would like to express our great appreciation to Bell Lumber & Pole for their continued support every year with this grant. 

We are thanks goes out towards Thomas & Kendra Mitchell first for inviting us to host a booth at the All is Bright Christmas Tour and for help in running the booth along with Security First personal, when we had no one else to be there.  

The Table of Grace acknowledges the following businesses for their monetary donations during this time: Ainsworth Church of the Nazarene, Anderland Realty, Best Plumbing & Heating, Brauer Flooring, Calvary Lutheran United Methodist, Chadron Eagle Chevrolet Buick, Cozad Church of the Nazarene, Evangelical Free Church, Farnam Church of the Nazarene, Doyle's Cedar Lanes, Farm Credit Services of America, Garden County News, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, John Phelan Photography, KISST, Kriesel Certified Seed, Nebraska State Bank, Nelnet, McRae Farms, Morgan Farms, Omaha Southwest Church of the Nazarene, Oshkosh Frat. Order of Eagles, Oshkosh Lion's Club, Oshkosh Superette, Performance Automotive & Trucking, Potter-Dix Schools, Red Willow Sunday School, Rood's Tire Center, Safe at Home, Safeway, Sand Hills Global, Security First Bank, Sidney Church of the Nazarene, SRMC, Sidney Realty, Sunshine Club, Trina Stitt Insurance, Trinity Lutheran Sunday School, Triple O Building Supply, UWON, Veteran's Service Office, Walmart, Western Drug and Wyerts Immanuel Lutheran. 

The organization also acknowledges Thomas and Kendra Mitchell first for inviting The Table of Grace to host a booth at the "All is Bright Christmas Tour" and for help in running the booth along with Security First personnel.

Dr. Blackburn is also recognized for his daily donation in the use of his building at 1125 Alvarado Road.