Chaneni House

05/25/2026

People are having a hard time. We are seeing that lived out every time we open the door at Chaneni House. Every month in 2026 has seen an increase in the numbers over 2025. In the first four months this year we have served 261 more clients than in the same period last year. We have given 107 more food bags, a significant increase in the percentage of those asking for help with food, especially remembering that number does not include lunches for homeless folks who may have a lunch every time we are open.

Thank you to all the friends of Chaneni House. Because of you we have been able to meet the needs of all who come! We thank God for your faithful support. This ministry is 100% dependent on donations and on volunteers.

We need special help on the following:
Sheets and towels for our clients.
Men’s underwear and socks.
Summer clothing for men and women.
Bottled water for clients and volunteers.

We believe always that we are doing our best to obey:
Feeding the hungry
Providing water for the thirsty
Welcoming the stranger
Giving clothing to the naked
As commanded in Matthew 25:35-36

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05/06/2026

TWO HOURS AT CHANENI HOUSE

Two hours. 42 clients served. 24 bags of groceries delivered, plus lunches for all the homeless. That’s what happened at Chaneni House on Monday.
Great things are happening. We are grateful for all the supporters who help make this ministry happen.
Special needs this week:
For the lunches:
Chewy granola bars
Small cups of apple sauce and fruit
Canned chili with pop top
In the store:
Summer clothing for men and women
Men’s socks and underwear
Volunteers:
We have a great crew, but they need help! Two hours one morning each week helping people as Jesus commanded while enjoying fellowship with other believers.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

04/08/2026

Every day is different at Chaneni House, and this month we were caught in the downside of the “ebb and flow”!

In March we saw 431 clients and gave out 129 grocery bags, plus all the homeless lunches. This was almost a 10% increase over February for both. We were able to help an average of 18 folks every hour we were open! Thank you, volunteers!

The “downside” was in donations. In February we received several large donations, making it possible to store bags in the garage for future use. March saw a definite change. Fewer donations than usual came in, and we have used all of the “overage” we had stored. Summer clothing for everyone is needed, especially men’s underwear.

Of course the increase in demand for groceries created a budget issue. If you would like to help shop, grocery items like boxed cereal, mac & cheese, and peanut butter can be placed in the Chaneni wagon in the church lobby. Most of the cash donations we receive are used to buy food.

God is faithful. In 17 years we have never had to turn people away. Thank you to all those who support this ministry.

2 Corinthians 9:7:
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Last week we were happy to share Easter treats with the youngest of our clients, ages 2-7. The bags, designed and filled by Jan Tannenbaum, contained several small toys.

04/01/2026

Chaneni House--ways you can help!

The number of people needing help at Chaneni continues to grow every week. We do currently need donations of adult clothing and household items. (Men’s underwear and socks are a priority!)

The Grow Group studying The Community recently discussed ways you can help you may not be aware of. Items you may even be tossing could be very helpful for us. If your grocery store uses paper bags, please save those bags for us. Dentists and other doctors often give samples. We need those for the hygiene bags we provide for homeless folks. We save cosmetic samples all year for Mother’s Day gifts. Wrapped silverware included with takeout food orders is needed for homeless lunches. Other ideas? Keep Chaneni House in mind!

If you are a Fry’s shopper, you can automatically send us a donation every time you shop by enrolling in their Fry’s Community Rewards program. Here’s how to enroll:
Log-in to your Fry’s account. Under the Saving and Rewards tab, click on Fry’s Community Rewards. Click Enroll Now, follow the directions, and select Chaneni House. Once enrolled, you’ll earn rewards for Chaneni House every time you shop and use your VIP card. Fry’s distributes the collected savings to Chaneni by check each quarter.
If you do not have an online Fry’s account, go to frysfood.com and click on Create an Account. You will then be able to enroll.
Thank you to our friends with all the donations and to the volunteers who keep the operation going!

Galatians 6:9 (The Message)
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all.

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03/24/2026

CHANENI HOUSE REPORT
Summer has arrived! With the unusual hot weather, Chaneni House is in desperate need of seasonal clothing. We are very rapidly going through what we had saved.

“Rapidly” is the operative word. With a week to go in March, we have already passed the total number of clients served and food bags delivered during February. Last week we saw 109 clients and gave 34 food bags.

We are thankful for all of you who support this ministry. All your donations are important. Clothing for adults is a big item right now, but we can always use household items and toys. Cash donations pay for the grocery bags and homeless lunches.

Volunteers work to keep the shelves full and grocery bags ready. It can be hard work, but the team spirit and servant hearts make it light. We believe God is calling someone to work for two hours on Friday morning. Is it you?

Romans 12:4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all [f]the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly. . . if service, in the act of serving . , , or the one who gives, with generosity . . . the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

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03/09/2026

“They keep me alive!”
One of our homeless clients said those words about Chaneni House as he brought his caseworker from Phoenix Rescue Mission to meet us last week. The client is one of the oldest folks we serve. He has had a hard life including prison time. Now he has emphysema and is homeless. He does not come in every day, and when he does come, it is not to shop. He only takes the lunch sack and hygiene items. So what are we offering him that he finds so important? We help him as Jesus instructed, offering a safe place where he is accepted and can experience the love of Christ.

Remember this story from last November? We had not seen him for several weeks. This week when he came in, we hardly recognized him. He was receiving help from Circle the City, a downtown health center. He could breathe! We praise God for all the agencies that offer help and hope for our homeless population.

We continue to be blessed by generous donations from church and community. Thank you for your support. We saw 100 clients last week and were able to meet their needs.

Thank you to our volunteers for their dedication to the ministry. We continue to seek additional volunteers. Who has a couple of hours on Friday morning to help those Jesus loves?

Matthew:
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

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03/02/2026

Numbers for February are in: 409 clients; 123 grocery bags; uncounted homeless lunches. We were surprised because 409 is very slightly above the previous month. We had felt busier. Then we realized—we were open more days in January.
We were able to help many in Jesus’ name. One new client that we remember was brought in by a friend. A resident in a care facility, she used a walker. It was one of those cold mornings, and she was wearing a thin hoodie and shorts, the only clothing she had. We were pleased to be able to give her better clothing as well as a blanket.
Thank you to our hardworking volunteers! Their dedication blesses so many. We continue to pray for more volunteers. The biggest need right now is for someone who can work on Friday mornings from about 9:30 to noon.
Thank you to our faithful, generous supporters who make this ministry possible.
From 1 Peter 4:7-11 in The Message:
Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

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02/17/2026

This week at Chaneni the topic was babies!

We have been helping a grandmother gather what she will need to take care of her grandchild. The baby will be born in prison and come to live with her. Then this week a young couple came in. Their baby will be born soon and we were able to help them get ready. They are members of the Spanish language church and heard about us there. We feel so blessed ourselves when we can help bless others!

We celebrated with another client who is disabled. After several years in the system, she was approved to receive Social Security Disability. It will make her life so much easier.

Thank you to our hardworking volunteers! Their dedication blesses so many as we serve about 400 clients a month. We continue to pray for more volunteers. The biggest need right now is for someone who can work on Friday mornings from about 9:30 to noon.

Thank you to our faithful, generous supporters who make this ministry possible.

From 1 Peter 4:7-11 in The Message:
Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

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01/27/2026

Celebration Day at Chaneni House!

We had three new volunteers Monday morning. Definitely an answer to prayers. All three said they enjoyed themselves and that we made it easy to learn. We could use three more. Who will step forward?

Our friend John, who is both client and volunteer, continues to be so much help. He told us that this is the best job he has ever had! Sometimes it is not about the money.

Thank you to all our faithful volunteers and to all who support us with donations.

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01/13/2026

+93 -3

93 is the number of clients we served in the six hours we were open last week., many of them for the first time at Chaneni.

3 is the number of regular volunteers who let us know this week that they are experiencing health issues that impact their service.

Thank you always to our faithful supporters. Your regular donations have made it possible to help the increasing number of people who are coming.

But volunteers? Someone must be here to help the homeless and the poor. We cannot open the doors without volunteers to sort donations and fill food bags. We feel sure God is calling some of his children to make this sacrifice in love and give three hours one morning a week.

Won’t you pray with us, that God’s people will respond to this need.

God did send encouragement for us one day this week when we received an offer of help from an unexpected source. One of our homeless men asked if he could help. Oh, my, yes! So he filled lunch bags, carried storage bins between the workroom and the garage, and did whatever was asked. Such a blessing.

He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

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01/05/2026

The 2025 report for Chaneni House is in, and the numbers are amazing.

4,762!
That is the number of clients we served at Chaneni House in 2025!
Total of food bags was 1,374. That is an increase of 957 client visits and 205 food bags over 2024. And that number does not include the homeless lunches we gave out every day.

Another amazing number. That total number of clients means we gave away approximately 45,000 items, not counting food.

Thank you to our amazing volunteers who are experiencing this increase every day. If you believe in this ministry, please consider whether you can volunteer for two hours one time a week. You may talk to Cindy Bottemiller or Jan Tannenbaum at church or call Hope Carr at 460-694-9422 for more information.

Always thank you to our faithful supporters. Your generous donations have kept up with the increase in need.

God does regularly show his approval of this ministry as we remember the words of Jesus:
“Inasmuch as you have done it for one of the least of these, you have done it for me.”

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