Reiser Relief keeps wheels turning in Haiti

by Sue Austreng Staff Writer - ABCNEWSPapers.com
Saturday, May 7, 2011

Their hearts beating with boundless compassion and their wallets eager for bountiful harvest, some 500 guests attended the April 26 Bringing Hope to Haiti fund-raising event at the Courtyards of Andover.

The fifth annual Reiser Relief fund-raiser was staged at the Courtyards of Andover and guests did, indeed, to their best to “keep the wheel turning.”

That wheel – the wheel of life fueled by Reiser Relief projects providing fresh water, stocking food centers and funding education and eldercare facilities – is turning in the impoverished country of Haiti.

According to Doris Schulte, vice president of the Reiser Relief board, $55,000 in donations have been collected as a result of the event – and checks are still coming in.

editorial note from Reiser Relief May 14th "Thank you for generously supporting our Keep The Wheel Turning - Haiti Fundraising Event, held April 24. We are pleased to share that we raised $82,000 for Reiser Relief projects that evening. Praise God! We are so grateful for your participation!"


Money was raised at the April 26 event when guests purchased $5 general admission tickets, participated in live and silent auctions, purchased raffle tickets, paid entry fees to play a couple of games and bought copies of Rev. Bernard Reiser’s devotional book, “Reiser’s Ramblings.”
“We are so grateful for the generosity of so many people,” said Schulte.

Reiser, the founder of Reiser Relief and longtime priest at Epiphany Catholic Church, Coon Rapids, echoed Schulte’s sentiment.

“We are so grateful for the support from all of you,” Reiser said. “May God bless each of you most abundantly and know you are in my daily Mass and prayers.”

Fresh water project

In addition to Bringing Hope to Haiti fund-raiser money going to Reiser Relief’s Haitian service projects, a refurbished water truck will be sent to the Caribbean country, as well.

The truck, acquired and refurbished by Harri Rinta, will be used along with a second Reiser Relief water truck to deliver fresh, free water to 24 neighborhoods in one of the poorest slums in the western hemisphere.

Kevin McClellan, coordinator of the Reiser Relief fresh water project, said that the project provides yearly delivery of more than four million gallons of clean water to the poor in the Haitian slum of Cité Soleil.

According to www.ReiserRelief.org, the Reiser Relief water trucks deliver four 3,500-gallon loads of water, six days a week, 52 weeks per year to thousands of people.

That is the equivalent of 800,000 five gallon buckets of water each year.

Birth of Reiser Relief

Reiser Relief was formed by Reiser shortly after he returned from his first trip to Haiti more than a dozen years ago.

Since its beginning, as stated on its website, Reiser Relief has “helped to bestow new hope for many hundreds of God’s needy people through the generosity of a great number of people.”

Reiser Relief monthly expenses include:
• $2,000 to pay salaries for Haitian water truck drivers, maintain the trucks and buy fuel

• $2,500 for teachers’ salaries

• $1,250 to cover the costs of running two schools

Those interested in learning more about Reiser Relief – and those who would like to make a donation – should visit http://www.ReiserRelief.org.

Donations can also be sent to Reiser Relief, Inc., 1800 111th Ave. N.W., #320, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

All donations to the 501(c)3 non-profit organization are tax deductible.

Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com

Reiser’s Ramblings by Fr. Bernard Reiser Among Honorees at 2011 Book Festivals

Reiser’s Ramblings by Fr. Bernard Reiser Among Honorees at 2011 Book Festivals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) May 21, 2011 -- Minneapolis, Minnesota — Reiser Relief Inc announces that Reiser’s Ramblings by Fr. Bernard Reiser has been shortlisted in the Spiritual category nationally and internationally for the 2011 the San Francisco & 2011 Paris Book Festivals. The book was published in 2010 and Reiser's Ramblings won “honorable mention” in Spiritual category at the 2011 San Francisco Book Festival, and “runner-up” at the 2011 Paris Book Festival. In, January 2011, Fr. Reiser was honored by the local NBC affiliate Kare 11 Television with a 2011 “Eleven Who Care award”

All profits from the sale of Reiser’s Ramblings go to Haitian relief efforts sponsored by Reiser Relief Inc.


About the book: Fr. Reiser brings together a wonderful collection of “ramblings” that all of us can take home and take to heart. Father is a master in the art of spiritual storytelling; he engages, entertains, and challenges with undeniable hope. He has a gift and he shares it generously in this lovely book. Included are stories with the deep conviction that our human journey and our spiritual journey are intrinsically linked. He shares observations that are sometimes so wondrously obvious and visible, and he does it in a way that feels like you’re hearing from a close friend.

The book is 268 pages, 6″ x 9″ on white paper and is available in softcover (SRP $16.95) U.S. wholesale distribution is through Reiser Relief Inc Online availability through Reiser Relief and Minnesota retail locations: St. Maximilian Catholic Books, Elk River; Epiphany Catholic Church Gift Center, Coon Rapids; St. George Catholic Books, Blaine; Heaven Bound Catholic Books, St. Michael; and St. Nicholas Church, New Market.; Saint Patrick's Guild St. Paul.

ISBN: 978-0-615-36478-0
Publisher: Reiser Relief Inc.
Author: Fr. Bernard Reiser
Editor: Jacqueline Hilgert
Cover Artist: Mark Sanislo

For more information or to contact the author, visit http://www.reiserrelief.org/


About the author: Fr. Bernard Reiser is a long-time resident of Coon Rapids, Minn. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1949 after attending the St. Paul Seminary. Fr. Reiser was first assigned to Saint Mary of the Lake, White Bear Lake, as Associate Pastor. He served that community for fifteen years. In 1964, Fr. Reiser was selected to start a parish in Coon Rapids. Fr. Reiser bought seventy acres of farmland on which to build this parish and the Church of the Epiphany was formed. Epiphany parish grew from 150 families in 1964 to 5,000 families today. Along the way, Fr. Reiser added to the Epiphany campus an elementary school, a Perpetual Adoration chapel, a senior housing complex, an assisted living facility, a cemetery, and several outdoor shrines. He also led the parish to construct a spacious sanctuary. Epiphany is now one of the largest Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and in Minnesota.


Reiser Relief Inc. is a volunteer run non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Father Bernard Reiser, who has been involved with Haiti outreach programs for over 13 years; Bringing Hope To Haiti. Reiser Relief is based in Coon Rapids, MN and its mission is to help the impoverished people of the Caribbean country of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Operating with the mission statement “to help the impoverished people of Haiti with a focus on children and families – providing clean water, food, housing and education,” “The number one need is food and clean water,” said Fr.Reiser.


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Reiser Relief keeps wheels turning in Haiti

Reiser Relief keeps wheels turning in Haiti by ABC Newspaper May 7th 2011

by Sue Austreng Staff Writer

Their hearts beating with boundless compassion and their wallets eager for bountiful harvest, some 500 guests attended the April 26 Bringing Hope to Haiti fund-raising event at the Courtyards of Andover.

The fifth annual Reiser Relief fund-raiser was staged at the Courtyards of Andover and guests did, indeed, to their best to “keep the wheel turning.”

That wheel – the wheel of life fueled by Reiser Relief projects providing fresh water, stocking food centers and funding education and eldercare facilities – is turning in the impoverished country of Haiti.

According to Doris Schulte, vice president of the Reiser Relief board, $55,000 in donations have been collected as a result of the event – and checks are still coming in.

Money was raised at the April 26 event when guests purchased $5 general admission tickets, participated in live and silent auctions, purchased raffle tickets, paid entry fees to play a couple of games and bought copies of Rev. Bernard Reiser’s devotional book, “Reiser’s Ramblings.”

“We are so grateful for the generosity of so many people,” said Schulte.

Reiser, the founder of Reiser Relief and longtime priest at Epiphany Catholic Church, Coon Rapids, echoed Schulte’s sentiment.

“We are so grateful for the support from all of you,” Reiser said. “May God bless each of you most abundantly and know you are in my daily Mass and prayers.”

Fresh water project

In addition to Bringing Hope to Haiti fund-raiser money going to Reiser Relief’s Haitian service projects, a refurbished water truck will be sent to the Caribbean country, as well.

The truck, acquired and refurbished by Harri Rinta, will be used along with a second Reiser Relief water truck to deliver fresh, free water to 24 neighborhoods in one of the poorest slums in the western hemisphere.

Kevin McClellan, coordinator of the Reiser Relief fresh water project, said that the project provides yearly delivery of more than four million gallons of clean water to the poor in the Haitian slum of Cité Soleil.

According to www.ReiserRelief.org, the Reiser Relief water trucks deliver four 3,500-gallon loads of water, six days a week, 52 weeks per year to thousands of people.

That is the equivalent of 800,000 five gallon buckets of water each year.

Birth of Reiser Relief

Reiser Relief was formed by Reiser shortly after he returned from his first trip to Haiti more than a dozen years ago.

Since its beginning, as stated on its website, Reiser Relief has “helped to bestow new hope for many hundreds of God’s needy people through the generosity of a great number of people.”

Reiser Relief monthly expenses include:

• $2,000 to pay salaries for Haitian water truck drivers, maintain the trucks and buy fuel

• $2,500 for teachers’ salaries

• $1,250 to cover the costs of running two schools

Those interested in learning more about Reiser Relief – and those who would like to make a donation – should visit www.ReiserRelief.org

Donations can also be sent to Reiser Relief, Inc., 1800 111th Ave. N.W., #320, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

All donations to the 501(c)3 non-profit organization are tax deductible.

Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com

My heartfelt thank you for your generous gifts at our annual Haiti fundraiser

My heartfelt thank you for your generous gifts at our annual Haiti fundraiser. You certainly are serving Christ in a most magnificent and glorious way with your gift and we are most grateful and blessed for having your support. You have, in a very personal way, shown love and caring for God’s neglected children and adults.

Thank you for your dedication to serve these very, very needy people of Haiti.

As you know, we live in a world facing extreme challenges. It is truly heartwarming, therefore, when someone goes to great lengths to help those in need. There is so much need among the families and communities where we are working. I can assure you we will find important use for your kind donation.

Reiser Relief provides essential services to aid Haitians in their day-today efforts for survival. These services include providing fresh water, stocking food centers, and funding education and eldercare facilities.

Many of our outreach projects are in or near Cité Soleil, a slum near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. Reiser Relief funds a water truck that operates six days a week, delivering fresh water free of charge — a lifesaving resource to numerous impoverished Haitians who use five-gallon buckets to haul this water back to cardboard shanties or tin shacks that serve as family homes.

My trips to Haiti have been an experience of a lifetime, never to be forgotten. The scenes of Haiti will always remain fresh within my mind and heart. I will always maintain a determination to alleviate a little bit of suffering as best I can. All humans are made in God’s image and likeness, and they deserve to be treated with dignity, honor, and to have at least the bare essentials of life. The reward for those who help the poor will certainly be most bountiful on the last day, as our Lord said: I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers and sisters, you
did it for me. (Matthew 25:40)

God’s love and generosity toward us is often taken for granted. Considering the many gifts we all enjoy, it is worth our time to pause and say, “Thank you, God!” Through helping others, we do express our gratitude for all the gifts we enjoy. Likewise, your gift is an expression of gratitude — a thank you sent to God.

Our work is inspired by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. With the help of supporters like you, Reiser Relief can continue to save the lives of the extremely impoverished people of Haiti. May God bless you most abundantly for your support! I thank you and assure you that you shall
be included in my daily Mass and prayers.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Bernard Reiser
President - Reiser Relief Inc.

April 26 2011 Haiti Presentation - Annual Charity Fundraiser by Reiser R...

Bringing hope to Haiti fundraiser - Kare 11 New Video

See the Kare 11 Sunrise News video 4/22/2011 Bringing hope to Haiti fundraiser

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/920213/242/Bringing-hope-to-Haiti-fundraiser

Haiti Relief Event April 26 2011 - Andover, MN by Reiser Relief

March 11,2011

Dear Friends,

This letter is my personal invitation to join me in our efforts to help the neediest people in the western hemisphere.

On April 26,2011, Reiser Relief is hosting its annual Haiti fundraising event. The event will once again be held at the Courtyards of Andover and will be an evening filled with fun, opportunities to renew relationships, along with information on how you can help support our project work in one of the world's poorest nations. Reiser Relief provides food, water, education and housing to the citizens of earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

We are reminded that during our Lord's life, He continually encouraged His followers to reach out to those in need. This event offers you the perfect opportunity to follow His call to serve. Your continued financial participation means thousands who are hungry will receive food, education, and fresh drinking water.

At the April 26 event, you will learn how Reiser Reliefs 2010 efforts are bearing fruit and you'll have an opportunity to help us fund the current year's initiatives. We accomplished some beautiful work for God in 2010 and I am hopeful you can join us for this special evening as we look back and move forward.

"Save the Date" to reserve space on your calendar for this important event. Feel free to invite a friend or neighbor to share this evening with you. If you are unable to attend, please consider sending a financial contribution to help us in this important and great endeavor.

I will be sure to keep you up-to-date on how our work progresses as together - we keep the wheel turning! God Bless each of you most abundantly. You are in my daily Mass and prayers.

With blessings,
Father Bernard Reiser
President, Reiser Relief Inc.
1800 - 111th Avenue NW #320
Coon Rapids, MN 55433 USA
http://www.reiserrelief.org

Reiser Relief Inc. 501(c)(3) Corporation - All donations are 100% tax deductible