Love INC resources available in Hill City and Keystone

Love In the Name of Christ is an organization that helps churches work together to help the surrounding community and create a culture of service. Their vision is “to see people thriving in healthy relationships where they know their value, purpose and place in Christ and our community.”
In February, a team including Dale Householder, Natalie Cutler, Mary Larson, Jeremy Duprey, Roxanne DuBois and Pam Kaubisch gathered to begin implementing Love INC in Hill City and Keystone.
Thus far, “It has been a gradual and promising start,” said Cutler.
The implementation team has continued to meet so it can grow the ministry thoughtfully and prayerfully. This team is also working with churches in the area to see where their passions lie and what they would like to be involved in. As a result, a few people have already received the help needed.
One of the current goals is to take steps in education, particularly in the principles of Love INC. To further this, a class on “When Helping Hurts” has been offered at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Lighthouse Assembly of God, The Little White Church and Community Lutheran Church. Numerous people from six different congregations have gathered together for these studies to learn more about poverty and how they can help.
“That’s been really fun to see,” said Cutler, who has helped lead these classes along with Pastor Jeremy Duprey of Community Lutheran Church.
Although the Love INC team will likely offer more classes on “When Helping Hurts” in the fall, there are many more educational opportunities that they would like to pursue in the future. These include classes on harvesting and canning, parenting, marriage, finances and more. The leadership team looks forward to finalizing these class offerings in the next few months.
Love INC Heart of the Hills is also pursuing the development of gap ministries. Gap ministries are formed when individual churches get behind ministries of particular passion and move forward under Love INC. One example of this is the Community Kids Clothing Exchange.
When first pursuing Love INC, it was discovered that a primary area of need is for kids clothing. Along with this, people expressed a desire to have a local place to donate clothes so they could benefit their local community.
After going on a mission trip in Oklahoma, the youth group from The Little White Church came back excited to serve their community. So it embraced this need and decided to take it to a whole new level through a Community Kids Clothing Exchange.
For the Community Kids Clothing Exchange the youth group will collect kids clothing from the community. Then, it will sort and organize what they brought in as well as wash and mend the items that need care. Once everything is ready, it will have a pop-up “shop” where people can browse the available clothing and take whatever they want or need.
This event is for the whole community. Anyone can donate too small or gently used items, and there are no restrictions on who can come.
“Everyone is welcome to come ‘shop’ the exchanged clothes,” said Cutler. “Free-will donations will be accepted to continue the work of Love INC.”
Clothes can be dropped off at The Little White Church in the morning from 9-11 a.m. Aug. 5, 6, 8, 12 and 13. Evening drop-offs will be available from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 5 and 12. The official event will be held the afternoon and evening of Aug. 19 at Hill City Center.
“I’m excited to see the passion of these youth that just want to help their community,” said Cutler. “I’m hoping that it is a unifying time for the community to come together and help each other.”
However, because Love INC Heart of the Hills exists, there are many resources available to anyone in need in both Hill City and Keystone. Love INC Black Hills in Rapid City has ministries for people to get kitchen gadgets, linens, furniture, working bicycles, vehicles and even supplies for foster parents. All of these are available to Hill City and Keystone as well.
To receive smaller items, a conversation with someone at the connection center is all that is required. After discussing the need, people can come and pick up the items requested. For larger items like furniture and vehicles, there is community participation involved to make sure the item goes to someone who truly needs it.
Nevertheless, “Because community members from the Heart of the Hills area have worked with Love INC of the Black Hills to expand the ministry, people don’t have to go all the way to Rapid City to participate,” said Cutler. “We have several areas where people can participate right here in Hill City.”
One of these is the Community Garden at Community Lutheran Church. In this setting, people would have the chance to gain gardening skills and build a relationship with a Love INC Heart of the Hills volunteer while working to get something needed.
People from Hill City and Keystone can call the Rapid City connection center at 718-LOVE (5683) whenever a need arises. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
“This is a great ministry that can really benefit our community,” Cutler said.
To get involved in Love INC Heart of the Hills, Cutler recommended engaging in your church, talking to your pastor, taking a class or brainstorming gap ministries. After all, the mission of Love INC is “to mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ.”
“The Love INC leadership team and volunteers look forward to continuing working with churches to offering helping ministries in the Hill City and Keystone area,” Cutler said.