Anita Hutchins
For the New Era
It seems like every community has a few special people that touch the lives of everyone they know.
Those friendly neighbors meet and greet wherever they go, church, the grocery store, the Post Office. Every place is a good place to make a new friend.
They are the people that put love into action. They are the “blessers.” They will bring meals when you’re sick, babysit during a funeral and car pool neighbor kids to Sunday School, always with a hug and a smile.
Bob and Anita Collins are the “blessers” in our community. Their enthusiasm for life and enduring love for each other are an example to all. For more than 30 years, they have been here meeting, greeting, helping and loving the people of Sweet home.
Over the years, out of little, they have given much. They openly share their testimonies of the personal hardships and blessings that are a regular part of their lives. They boldly tell the Lord of their need and await a blessing. With the attitude that whatever they have was given to them by the Lord, they gladly share with others.
This community has an opportunity to join together and bless them back. Bob’s health and physical abilities continue to decline, making mobility and transportation increasingly difficult. A van is needed to automatically lift and place a wheelchair.
Friends of Bob and Anita have found an available van that has been fully converted for handicapped use. It is a 1996 model in excellent condition with only 75,000 miles for $17,500.
The purchase of this van could be just the answer the Collins are waiting for.
If you would like to help or have further questions, please contact the Sweet Home Evangelical Church at 367-4357. Tax deducible contributions can be sent to the Evangelical Church in care of the Collins Van Fund at 1347 Long St., Sweet Home, OR 97386.
We are hoping to raise all of the funds by June 1.
If everyone that received a smile, a meal, a blessing of any kind from Bob or Anita, would learn from their example and help with the van, we could all become “love in action.”