Stories of Hope

Stories of Hope is an e-communication that is sent to our subscribers each month. These stories will be brought to you through the voices of our staff, volunteers, donors, patients, and community partners. Our goal is to highlight the hope that is present in our community through the interconnected world of faith, healing, service, and advocacy. To receive these stories as well as other important messages, click here to subscribe.

July 2026

This month’s story is written by Nate Walter, pastor at Goshen Christian Church where the Humble Gifts ministry has been making a difference in our community, and beyond. Lucy Dickey and friends have been stocking the tiny pantry at Center for Healing & Hope for several years, and we’re grateful to be able to share more about their work. Pictured left to right from Goshen Christian Church: Jenny Myers, Nate Walter, Lucy Dickey, Mary Jane Bridger.

In 2018, Lucy Dickey had an idea. Borne out of her faith, along with her love and compassion for those in need in her community, she began to craft crocheted soap sacks that would be distributed to the homeless, the impoverished and those needing assistance for various challenges. 

As Lucy would deliver these hand-made soap sacks to the various food pantries, she began to see the greater need for food and personal hygiene products that many in Elkhart County and the Greater Michiana region had. 

Knowing that she’d need assistance to help meet these needs, she brought the matter to her church family at Goshen Christian Church. That’s where the “Humble Gifts” ministry began. From ladies in the church making soap sacks to now, eight years later, a full-on personal care ministry, Humble Gifts has served over a dozen local food pantries and assistance programs. 

In seeking out places to support, Humble Gifts opened the door for Goshen Christian Church to partner with the Center for Healing and Hope, where each July, the church takes on the responsibility of stocking CHH’s food pantry for the entire month. 

Lucy diligently counts each and every item Humble Gifts adds to the pantry so she can measure the impact of the ministry and share with the congregation how much of a difference it makes when everyone pitches in. We love it!

“Though our congregation is rather small, the spirit of generosity is large and quite vital,” shared Lucy. “Serving locally and globally means a great deal to us. We are blessed to partner with an outstanding service such as CHH.”

Humble Gifts has taken on a life of its own at Goshen Christian Church, and many in the church appreciate the simplicity of it all: bringing one small, yet humble gift to bless those who need it most. Eight years later, and thousands upon thousands of cans of food, bottles of water, and bars of soap, Humble Gifts is a testimony to what can happen when one person steps out in faith and compassion for God’s children. 

Lucy Dickey believes that “access to the blessings of God should not be difficult to acquire.” We are grateful that many others in our churches and community, along with Center for Healing and Hope, agree with Lucy. 

Learn more about all of the great ministry work coming out of Goshen Christian Church here: https://goshenchristianchurch.org/about-us/ministries/

Previous Stories
February – Isabel’s Story
March – Voices in Colors for Social Justice
May – Move as One