Pine Lake Grange 1044 spent the winter months holding bi-monthly meetings at Around the Clock, LaPorte. This allowed members to enjoy a wonderful lunch, hold their meetings and have an opportunity to visit with each other.
Irene Konieczny was welcomed at the February meeting as a new member and Margaret Larson returned to being an active Grange member.
Secretary Nina Salyer reported that State Master John Plank is asking all members to forward their favorite recipes for a State Grange recipe book.
Florence Myer suggested the Grange members seek more information about the Backpacks for Hungry Children Project being sponsored by the LaPorte Salvation Army. There may be need for additional help in the fall when more schools will be added to this project. All agreed it a worthwhile project. Irene indicated she was aware of this project and perhaps the Grange members could support the filling of the backpacks. Nina was to contact the captain of the Salvation Army to see if he could speak at a future meeting.
Master Barbara Lawrence indicated it was time for the Grange ladies to consider projects for our local nursing homes and community giving. Margaret suggested getting more information from the Northwest Indiana Project Sock Monkey Group and perhaps makes sock monkeys to give away to nursing homes and other places that would benefit.
The Grange supports local community projects in a variety of ways. Florence collects various items for nursing home bingo activities; ditty bags and saddle walker bags are sewn and provided to nursing homes as well as to the women’s shelters and Women’s Care Center; Duana Mann knitted 100 pairs of mittens for Bundle Up LaPorte; and Nina knitted two baby sweater sets and two pairs of booties to LaPorte Hospital as well as one sweater set for the Swanson Center’s sales booth.
Discussion on the fall pancake breakfast was tabled until the next meeting.
At the suggestion of Jean Swanson, the group will meet May 9 at 1 p.m. to celebrate Mother’s Day at Ignoffo’s Italian Bistro. She indicated the importance of supporting our local businesses.
Many members left the meeting to head to the open house at the Salvation Army to see its newly remodeled facility.