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Fosters give back through support of rural outreach
Published 8:15am Friday, January 13, 2012Muriel and Vern Foster, owners and operators of Twin Lakes Landing Resort, do many special things for people in need in Otter Tail County. One of those ways, which the Fosters love, is participation with Rural Life Outreach (RLO).
“At Christmas time, Muriel and Vern are very generous with their time and home, which involves and benefits many people,” said Gary Harrington who, with his wife Karalyn, live across the lake from the Fosters.
Every December the Fosters host a “Share the Spirit Open House” when they open their home up for guests to come and enjoy holiday treats and fellowship. The main purpose, however, is the invitation to donate to Rural Life Outreach.
“Our neighbors and friends are very, very generous,” said Muriel Foster. “This year we raised over $1,800 for RLO. We’ve been doing this since Christmas 2007, and each year it’s a real joy for us.”
Examples of RLO assistance are many and varied.
An emergency call was received for a family that had a fire which destroyed the kitchen. A $200 gift card from RLO provided immediate help within 18 hours of the fire.
A blended family of 11, living in a trailer home, received a food package valued at $200. The father, fully employed but with minimum wage, was working as hard as he could while his wife was completing a nursing degree.
“These are the types of stories that make what we do, with RLO fundraising, all worthwhile,” said Muriel.
Rural Life Outreach has a simple goal: helping Minnesotans achieve family economic success. One way is to help families focus on the transitions they need to make in response to changing economic conditions.
Referrals can be made, in confidence, by family members, friends and a network of churches, agencies, business and organizations. The Fosters are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Amor.
RLO serves people in Otter Tail County and in 22 other counties in northwest Minnesota. The northwest headquarters is in Moorhead.
The Fosters are both 1954 graduates of Battle Lake High School. Muriel’s brother and his wife, Chuck and Yvonne Erickson, live down the road where Muriel is proud to point out the round barn on the family farmsite where she was raised.
The Ericksons have been very dedicated and involved with RDO since 2000.
Vern Foster retired in 1993 from the Sauk Centre School District where he served as superintendent of schools. Muriel worked in special education at the correctional facility in Sauk Centre. They moved to Otter Tail County in 2000.
“The beautiful and festive environment that Muriel and Vern create in their home is something we look forward to each year,” said Karalyn Harrington. “Both floors in their home are a work of art with various holiday themes, family treasures and countless artistic touches.”
Their home, even this time of year, still is displayed with a festive environment with snowmen, a downstairs kitchen with antiques and other features.
“We love Christmas and we love to care about people,” said Muriel. “It was in 2005 when we decided to have the first of our Christmas open houses, as a way to raise money for RLO.”
Over the years the number of people coming to their home has increased, as have the number of dollars that are raised for RLO.
“Our involvement is about helping people who have experienced an event in their lives, causing them to need some extra help so that they can move forward in our rural way of life,” said Muriel.
Harringtons from Battle Lake said they couldn’t find Sunday feature on Fosters on our website….I did search and couldn’t find it either…below is story…..could one of your check this out and post if necessary? Thanks…..Tom H
Fosters give back through
support of rural outreach
By Tom Hintgen
Daily Journal
Muriel and Vern Foster, owners and operators of Twin Lakes Landing Resort, do many special things for people in need in Otter Tail County. One of those ways, which the Fosters love, is participation with Rural Life Outreach (RLO).
“At Christmas time, Muriel and Vern are very generous with their time and home, which involves and benefits many people,” said Gary Harrington who, with his wife Karalyn, live across the lake from the Fosters.
Every December the Fosters host a “Share the Spirit Open House” when they open their home up for guests to come and enjoy holiday treats and fellowship. The main purpose, however, is the invitation to donate to Rural Life Outreach.
“Our neighbors and friends are very, very generous,” said Muriel Foster. “This year we raised over $1,800 for RLO. We’ve been doing this since Christmas 2007, and each year it’s a real joy for us.”
Examples of RLO assistance are many and varied.
An emergency call was received for a family that had a fire which destroyed the kitchen. A $200 gift card from RLO provided immediate help within 18 hours of the fire.
A blended family of 11, living in a trailer home, received a food package valued at $200. The father, fully employed but with minimum wage, was working as hard as he could while his wife was completing a nursing degree.
“These are the types of stories that make what we do, with RLO fundraising, all worthwhile,” said Muriel.
Rural Life Outreach has a simple goal: helping Minnesotans achieve family economic success. One way is to help families focus on the transitions they need to make in response to changing economic conditions.
Referrals can be made, in confidence, by family members, friends and a network of churches, agencies, business and organizations. The Fosters are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Amor.
RLO serves people in Otter Tail County and in 22 other counties in northwest Minnesota. The northwest headquarters is in Moorhead.
The Fosters are both 1954 graduates of Battle Lake High School. Muriel’s brother and his wife, Chuck and Yvonne Erickson, live down the road where Muriel is proud to point out the round barn on the family farmsite where she was raised.
The Ericksons have been very dedicated and involved with RDO since 2000.
Vern Foster retired in 1993 from the Sauk Centre School District where he served as superintendent of schools. Muriel worked in special education at the correctional facility in Sauk Centre. They moved to Otter Tail County in 2000.
“The beautiful and festive environment that Muriel and Vern create in their home is something we look forward to each year,” said Karalyn Harrington. “Both floors in their home are a work of art with various holiday themes, family treasures and countless artistic touches.”
Their home, even this time of year, still is displayed with a festive environment with snowmen, a downstairs kitchen with antiques and other features.
“We love Christmas and we love to care about people,” said Muriel. “It was in 2005 when we decided to have the first of our Christmas open houses, as a way to raise money for RLO.”
Over the years the number of people coming to their home has increased, as have the number of dollars that are raised for RLO.
“Our involvement is about helping people who have experienced an event in their lives, causing them to need some extra help so that they can move forward in our rural way of life,” said Muriel.
