Neighbor News
Humanitarian to Discuss Ukraine Work at Ascension, CLU
Dave Nonnemacher will visit Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks Saturday, Feb. 1, 9-11; and CLU Feb. 3, 11:45 AM-1:30 PM Ullman
“Light brings hope, and hope keeps people alive.”
Those are the words of Dave Nonnemacher, whose humanitarian efforts have taken him to Ukraine five times since the spring of 2022. His primary focus has been delivering portable solar light appliances, known as Ray of Life kits, funded by church and civic groups.
Nonnemacher, director of New Horizons Foundation-USA, will be at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, Feb.1, from 9-11 AM in the church’s Founders Hall. He will share videos, slides and stories from his most recent trip in November, when he delivered packages of food essentials and military grade tourniquets in addition to Ray of Life kits.
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The Ascension Global Ministries Team, led by Louise Evenson, has been actively supporting the Ray of Life effort over this past year – including fundraising, education, and ROL assembly sessions with participants ranging from school kids to seniors. Ascension passed the 175-unit mark of funding ROL kits in June. While Nonnemacher is at Ascension, young adults will assemble 13 more solar light kits for him to take with him to Ukraine this spring.
Through Nonnemacher’s trips to Ukraine, we have seen unforgettable sights, such as a basement inhabited by grandmothers and children that is lit by one ROL kit. Even a single light can make such a difference.
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Nonnemacher will discuss his experiences at California Lutheran University on Monday, Feb. 3, from 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM, for a Global Forum called “Not Forgotten: Ukraine’s Struggles and Stories of Perseverance,” along with CLU graduate Olha Isaieva, and Dr. Herbert Gooch.
Nonnemacher plans to return to Ukraine in the spring. Funds raised by Ascension in February will go toward Ukraine-Humanitarian Response. Contributions may be made online at ALCTO.org.
How does a humanitarian care group continue its mission to bring relief to a war-torn land amid seismic political shifts? Who are the people receiving help, and how have their needs changed since 2022? What can people here do to help? Nonnemacher can address all these questions and more.
Click HERE for the inspiring story of how Nonnemacher’s Ray of Life effort came to be, and the churches that help him.
