Love INC History

"If we wish to see God, look at the point where a caring Christian intersects with a person in need." -Virgil Gulker, one of founders of the original Love INC

Love INC National History:

- The first Love INC was started in 1977 in Holland, Michigan, as a way to help the Church help people. It was formed to help the Church work together in unity to meet the needs of people in the community. From the beginning, Love INC has acted as a Clearinghouse to pool resources of time, talent, treasure of Christians and match them to the needs of people in their community.

- There are now 135 Love INC affiliates in 30 states. Love INC National is located in Minneapolis, MN. You can read more about each affiliate at www.loveinc.org

Love INC of the Cedar Valley History:

-Over the past five years, as churches united for Love Cedar Valley, a day in which churches gather to pray, serve, and worship together, friends caught a vision of what it looks like for the Church to come together in unity to reach out into the community in the love of Christ. Carolyn Cleair, a core team member of LCV, learned about Love INC and continued to feel nudged by the Holy Spirit to pursue it.

- A Development Committee was formed in fall 2008, and by July 2009, Love INC National came to Cedar Falls for the first training weekend.

- Currently, Love INC of the Cedar Valley has received its 501c3 status and has begun to form its Board of Directors. They are currently sharing the vision and raising support so that an executive director can be hired in the future.

There have been many times in which I've received a phone call from someone who has a washer, dryer, refrigerator, or some furniture to donate, but at that particular time I have had a hard time finding the need for that item. Sometimes the opposite happens, where it's difficult to find the something that a person has need of... I believe the Love INC Clearinghouse Model will begin to help to facilitate those matches more readily for people in the community. What do you hope Love INC will be able to provide for our community?