Nicole Rosemond has been an integral part of Secret Families of Madison County (SFMC) for such a long time. In our 100 Acre Wood, she was our Tigger…bringing positivity, encouragement and joy into the mix. As part of our board and the Wrapping Station Coordinator, she helped us streamline our process and spread the word about the charity.

She worked hard to get areas of the ministry working like a well oiled machine by:

• devising our green/red signs for the wrapping tables to indicate when tables were ready for another set of gifts to wrap or if they completed a set,
• creating our envelope system (along with prior board member, Rhonda Ghottschammer) that tracked where a families’ gifts were during the day,
• bringing music to the wrapping station by inviting her friend to DJ for us,
• involving her friends, family and her church, New Covenant Ministry Center, in our ministry,
• being at most all of our fundraising events and talking up Secret Families to anyone who would listen,
• donating not only her time, but her talent and income (purchasing scads of wrapping paper, supplies and even sponsoring families),
• wanting to help families even more, Nicole trained to be a life coach and offered her services to our sponsored families,
• and working on the logistics area of SFMC by getting Community Hospital of Anderson’s vans to be used as gift delivery vehicles.

This year Nicole, finding the love of her life, got married and moved South. Her departure was bittersweet. Although were and are so happy for her, it also felt like we were losing one of our appendages. But Nicole (pictured below in yellow) had been working with some great folks over the years who know how to continue on her good efforts. Anne Grubb (pictured in plaid on the left below), Nicole’s cousin, is now heading up this area for us – along with her many minions. Anne has  been a great asset, taking on Cookies and Canvas fundraisers for us last year, and we’re sure she’ll blaze her own trail as the Wrapping Station Leader!

So thank you, Nicole, for all of your hard work and love for your Savior and the people He calls you to serve. We appreciate your time with us. Many blessings to you and your new life! Thanks for being our Tigger!

Secret Families of Madison County Board

On a chilly Friday morning in March I made my way back to that house. I climbed those cement stairs and knocked on that door.  My knees were shaking and my heart was racing.  Whether it was from nerves or from the knowledge that I was finally doing what God had put on my heart… I don’t know. The door slowly opened and a teenage girl looked at me, blinking, unsure of who I was or why I was there.  I mentioned I had been part of the Secret Families team that dropped off the presents. I asked if they had beds yet.  She confirmed they did not.  Over her shoulder I saw that their home still had nothing in it. No couch, no chair, no table, no pillows.  My husband and I had recently decided to downgrade my son from a bunk bed to a regular bed.  We did not have extra mattresses (one of the bunks had just always been storage), but we had bunk beds and the pads that went under the mattress. They could at least have something to sit on.  I offered that to the girl standing at the door, and I was met with a bursting of joy again and a loud, “Yes! Please!”. I got the number for her mom and arranged to borrow a truck from a friend to deliver the bunk beds.  I went home and racked my brain over what else I could do.  I suddenly remembered a friend who I knew had an extra twin mattress. I called her and inquired after the mattress, asking if they would be willing to donate it.  She was more than willing, and, in fact, had a queen bed to donate!  I was overjoyed.

We delivered the bunk bed, twin and queen mattresses.  My husband lovingly and patiently rebuilt the bunk in a tiny empty room.  As we left, I knew it still wasn’t enough.  I knew more could be done and had to be done.

A few days later my small group got together for our biweekly scheduled meeting.  I mentioned this beautiful family and their need.  They asked me to find out exactly what the mom needed so we didn’t just drop off a lot of junk to her.  In every communication I had with the mom I always told her how her family’s joy had impacted me the day of Secret Families and how God had placed her on my heart so much.  I asked her what their specific need was and she said, “Everything.” She told me that the kids were on Spring Break and she could not even afford to feed them three meals a day. They used to eat two meals at school. I took that back to my small group and once again my world was rocked at the love that poured from a group of people as they met someone’s need.

One family immediately went to the grocery store and filled up on food and took it to the house with the broken cement stairs.  Another family said they will be making a delivery next week.  Still another family donated pots and pans, since my new friend mentioned they didn’t even have that.  Another of my small group friends went to Goodwill and purchased two couches and two chairs for this family.  I went with them to deliver it.  As we made our way up the stairs, the matriarch opened the door.  Once again I was astounded by her joy.  She hugged me and welcomed us in to her home.  The couches and chairs were set up in the meager house.  One in the living room, one in a bedroom to be used as a bed.  These people, strangers to a family in need, felt God move and each of them obediently answered that call.  I am overwhelmed by their love and willingness even a I type this out.

I looked at this beautiful woman and asked if we could go out for coffee one day. I believe that this call God has obviously put on my heart for this family is more than a, “Be charitable and move on” call. I believe, from the bottom of my heart, that He is calling me to love them, befriend them, and experience life with them.  I want to get to know each of them individually and invest in their lives.  I am so incredibly thankful to Secret Families for connecting us – for being the catalyst that put all of this in motion.  I cannot wait to see what the future brings.

End of Part 2.  Can you help continue the love? It has always been our heart to enable our families to get back on their feet beyond Christmas. We have been offering free Christian Life Coaching for the past two years and had one family take us up on it last year. If you have been touched by this post, please consider donating to Secret Families of Madison County. We are making a difference in our community.

Tooth brushes and paste, deodorant, shampoo, bar soap, laundry detergent, cleaners, dish soap, paper towels, small rolls of toilet paper, Christmas Wrapping paper, adhesive tape, adhesive gift tags and Christmas Tree stands for small trees.

You can drop off these supplies at any of our drop off locations around the county:

• Madison County Federal Credit Union Branches:
  • 621 East 8th Street in Anderson
  • Charles Street @ WalMart parking lot in Anderson
  • 3607 Nichol Ave in Edgewood
  • SR28, West of Elwood
  • Needlers Shopping Plaza in Pendleton
• ReMax – 1312 E 53rd Street, Anderson
• Modern Trailer Sales – 2730 W 53rd Street in Anderson

Items needed by Wednesday, December 1st.