Normandale House

Normandale House provides transitional housing for three families in the Phillips neighborhood. Opportunities range from short-term to more extensive commitments. 

Reading Buddies work with the children; Family Friends and Support Teams assist the residents. Other opportunities range from helping with the house to teaching special skills.

End of the Year Notes

Our Reading Buddies program has completed another exciting year of sharing stories and having fellowship between our       church youth and the children of Normandale House. The schedule included Monday (Normandale) & Tuesday (University of Minnesota) reading sessions with our Normandale House children. When we started up the after-school sessions last fall, Steve Hanson, our youth ministry director, initiated a call that was answered by 8 to 10 youth. We enjoyed getting together, reading to our children, talking with them about their day, engaging in games and other activities to stimulate their minds and to build on their faith.

Kathy Peterson and I worked really hard to make sure we had books, treats, and children to participate. Early on, Steve worked to maintain a core group of available students to come to Normandale House and read. Their enthusiasm, patience, and sense of humor were genuine and heartfelt. For our families, this connection to the church helped keep in focus the importance in sharing our faith and commitment to building family.

In January, when Kathy retired, Valerie Pruitt and Jessica Sandager started handling case-manager duties including helping to manage our Reading Buddies program. We had consistent participation weekly during the school year.  We didn’t always have the same students, but Steve and his youth group stayed the course and made sure we were always supported.

We would like to thank Aaron Schmoll, Millie Cell, Grace Veker, Maitland Quitmeyer, and Drew Wagar for their participation and everyone else who came and experienced this most worthwhile ministry.

Our last month of activity included changing the format to include a time at the end for fellowship with our youth, families, and children. We planned an exciting outing at the Lake Street Global Market which included dinner for our 3 families with 11 children. While the children were enjoying dinner with family, we set up 30 varieties of books at Normandale House to resemble a bookstore with many stations to pick from. We had balloons and other festive props, such as free coupons for a mock purchase.  This was truly a surprise and perfect ending to a wonderful year of learning and fellowship. Enjoy the collage of pictures of our children, parents, and books of choice. If you should choose to participate with us in any of our activities at Normandale House, please feel free to contact us.

Blessings,

Rod Wooten                             .
Executive Director                  
rod@normluth.org                 
952-693-8303                         

Valerie Pruitt, M.A
Resident Case Manager
valerie@normluth.org
612-872-4021 x 32/31

Steve Hanson, Youth Director - For more information on Reading Buddies
steve@normluth.org
952-929-1697 ext 28