​As our committee continues to plan for the Evening of Remembrance on May 9th at 6:00 pm and meet with the pastor who will lead, we carry all of you who will be attending in our hearts and thoughts.

We understand that you might have questions about what to expect from the Evening of Remembrance, especially if you are a family who will be burying or honoring a child. The following are some of the details you might be wondering about - but might not know how to ask. Please let us know if you have any other questions. 

• On Thursday the 9th a Wings of Hope committee member will meet with a representative from Mankato Mortuary and Terry Miller of Calvary to witness the remains being placed in the burial vault. The vault will be sealed before being taken to the Wings of Hope memorial site.
• A volunteer from the community sews burial blankets which wrap each baby's remains individually.
• The grave will be prepared and the burial vault will be placed at the Wings of Hope memorial site before the ceremony. 
• There is limited seating available at the site. You are also welcome to bring your own lawn chairs or stand for the duration.
• The event will happen rain or shine, so please plan for the weather. In case of significant inclement weather we will move the service into the cemetery chapel (located near the Wings of Hope memorial site). 
• Pastor Darren from Hosanna Highland Church in Mankato will lead the ecumenical service. He is planning a heartfelt message of compassion, love, and hope.
• Not all families have remains for burial, which is why all families who have experienced pregnancy loss and newborn death will be invited during the service to place flowers at the burial vault in recognition of all children who have been lost. 
• The Wings of Hope committee provides fresh cut flowers. You are also welcome to bring your own if preferred.
• After the closing song you are all invited to stay at the site for light refreshments. Some families also take this time to take pictures at the memorial site to include in their own personal albums and family history records.
• After the ceremony, Terry will bury the vault at the perimeter of the paved walkway. A flat grave marker will be placed at a later date at this location with the month and year of the service.

It is our mission as a committee to be able to provide you, the families who have lost children, with a comforting and compassionate service. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
wingsofhopemankato@gmail.com
507-519-0658

Even though the skies were grey to start the day, the clouds parted and we were blessed with a beautiful evening for our Evening of Remembrance! We want to extend a special Thank You to Pastor Dave Laughlin for leading us through the service with a heartfelt, genuine, and comforting message; a special Thank You also goes to our musicians for the evening - Kevin and Lorrie Torbenson. Their talents and voices helped provide the perfect setting.
We hope those who came found what they needed, experienced a message of hope, and will consider sharing more about Wings of Hope with others.

I didn't know how much I needed this.
It was the first time I felt I was able to say good-bye.
We hear the words "you are not alone", but tonight I actually felt like it. Surrounded by my own community of people.
These are just some of the words we have heard from people who have attended our Evenings of Remembrance. Join us on Tuesday, October 3rd, as we join together once again as a community of parents, family members, and friends - all touched by the heartache of pregnancy or newborn loss.
Here are the details:

• Tuesday, October 3rd at 6:00 pm
• Wings of Hope memorial site in Calvary Cemetery (behind the chapel and main office building)
• An ecumenical service - Pastor Dave from New Creation will be our faith leader
• Music and poem readings
• An opportunity to place flowers at the memorial site in memory of your child (we provide cut flowers but you may also bring your own)
• An opportunity to light a candle at the end of the service, in recognition of the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month (October) - bring your own candle or use one of ours
• Limited seating at the site (you may also stand or bring your own lawn chair)
• Light refreshments and fellowship following the service
• In the event of rain, we will move inside to the chapel.

Please let us know if you have any questions about the service. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this Evening of Remembrance and living reminder of hope.

We are once again getting ready to participate in the fall craft fair to be held at the Madison East Center in Mankato on Saturday, November 18th.

These birdhouses were handcrafted by Elmer Binsfeld of Big Stone, SD, and will be available for sale at our booth. Elmer has been a woodworker for decades, and his home woodworking shop boasts years of dedication to - and love for - his craft.

One of our local supporters was browsing in his shop - looking for something to purchase and donate to us for the sale. As Elmer helped her choose one, he asked why she was purchasing it. She told him of Wings of Hope and he insisted that she take two more as his personal donation. We love hearing how people connect with the mission of Wings of Hope and are willing to support our group! 

This is an important fundraiser for us as we strive to complete payment on the memorial site and raise funds to supply care packages to parents enduring pregnancy loss. We need your help to do these things!

• Please consider making a donation to the sale. We would love everything from baked goods to crafts! Email us if you are able to donate. wingsofhopemankato@gmail.com We can take crafts at any time and can make arrangements for baked goods the day before the sale.
• Please come and shop at our booth! We already have the wren houses, other gift packages, and so many other items! Please share this post so others can see the fun items we are going to have on hand.

We'll keep sharing images of items we have for the sale so you can start making those holiday shopping lists! Also check out our Rainbow Baby Gear we will have available. Thank you for your continued support!

As our committee continues to plan for the Evening of Remembrance on May 11th at 6:00 pm and meet with the pastor who will lead, the musicians, and members of the community who are assisting, we carry all of you who will be attending in our hearts and thoughts.
We understand that you might have questions about what to expect from the Evening of Remembrance, especially if you are a family who will be burying or honoring a child. The following are some of the details you might be wondering about - but might not know how to ask. Please let us know if you have any other questions. 

• On Thursday the 11th a Wings of Hope committee member will meet with a representative from Mankato Mortuary and Terry Miller of Calvary to witness the remains being placed in the burial vault. The vault will be sealed before being taken to the Wings of Hope memorial site.
  
• A volunteer from the community sews burial blankets which cover each baby's remains individually.
• The grave will be prepared and the burial vault will be placed at the Wings of Hope memorial site before the ceremony. 
• There is limited seating available at the site. You are also welcome to bring your own lawn chairs or stand for the duration.
• In case of inclement weather we will move the service into the cemetery chapel (located near the Wings of Hope memorial site). 
• Pastor Michael Omtvedt from Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato will lead the ecumenical service. He is planning a heartfelt message of compassion, love, and hope.
• Vocalist Amy Kuch, accompanied by guitarist Pam Schultze, will provide music for the evening. Some of the songs they have selected include Hear Our Prayer, Blessings, and Jesus Loves Me.
  
• Not all families have remains for burial, which is why all families who have experienced pregnancy loss and newborn death will be invited during the service to place flowers at the burial vault in recognition of all children who have been lost. 
  
• Flowers for the service are generously being provided by Hilltop Florist and Greenhouse. You are also welcome to bring your own if preferred.
  
• After the closing song you are all invited to stay at the site for light refreshments. Some families also take this time to take pictures at the memorial site to include in their own personal albums and family history records.
• After all families have gone, Terry will bury the vault at the perimeter of the paved walkway. A flat grave marker will be placed at a later date at this location with the month and year of the service.
  

It is our mission as a committee to be able to provide you, the families who have lost children, with a comforting and compassionate service. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
wingsofhopemankato@gmail.com
507-519-0158 (ask for Chris - Wings of Hope Chair)

Moms are not the only ones affected by miscarriage and newborn death, and these handmade Christmas ornaments that will be for sale at our booth are evidence of that. These were made for Wings of Hope by a woman who has lost grand-babies to miscarriage - and who has other families and friends who have also experienced loss. 

The wonderful woman who made these for us said she put soft down in four of them to represent angel feathers, and the other four have glitter. Reminders of babies, angels, and wishes on stars.

Donations like these not only help Wings of Hope, but they can make great gifts for those in your life who you maybe just don't know how to say, "I remember, too."

Need a centerpiece for the holidays or a mini Christmas tree for your front porch? We have a variety of options for you - all potted plants you can keep for the season in your house or leave outside until spring. Some have LED lights as well. More colors and styles arriving soon for our Holiday Expo sale!

See something you like and want it now? Let us know!

Saturday, November 19th
9 am - 4 pm
Madison East Center, Mankato
All proceeds from sales at our booth go to support the mission and goals of Wings of Hope.

We continue to prepare for the Holiday Expo on the 19th of November, and this winter scene will be there waiting for someone to take it home! It measures about 15" x 10" and can either hang on a wall or be used as a table top decoration - $9 and it is yours. 

We hope to see you there on the 19th, shopping from 9-4 and helping us reach our fundraising goals! Questions? Email us or give us a call at 507-519-0158.