Ripple Effects

This year we are hearing from old friends who have enjoyed our History of PCHAS magazine. They tell us that the little orphanages that began in Texas and Missouri have had a ripple effect across generations. These three women have vivid memories of meeting children from our Itasca home: 

Kathy Trammell Scruggs, of San Antonio, remembers that her parents, members of First Presbyterian Church in Houston, hosted children a couple of times from the Itasca Home in the 1960s. “I must have been 10 or 12 when my mother said that an orphan was coming to spend a week with us,” she recalls. “I am so thankful that my parents wanted to give to orphans the love and generosity that God wants us to give. Their example of unconditional love has become more and more influential in my life. It blesses me to see the growth of the ministry that the Presbyterians have developed for families and children. I praise God that there are many resources today for, not only orphans, but struggling families, single parents, and foster children who are being helped by PCHAS.” Kathy adds that she recently referred a friend, one raising a granddaughter in a heartbreaking situation, and that the PCHAS staff is already providing encouragement and hope.

Marsha H. Williamson wrote that her grandparents, Mary Lee and George Vandiver, were house parents at a cottage for young women. Their daughter, a high school senior, loved living with the girls and sharing her parents. The Vandivers were still working there when their granddaughter, Marsha, was born. “I have hugely fond memories of being a part of the girls’ lives and sharing a bedroom with them,” Marsha says. “Mama prepared meals two times a day and one time a day we all went up to the dining hall for lunch. Papa farmed and took care of the cows. Lots of great memories!”

JoAnne Campbell, age 94, also remembers a blessing that her family received from PCHAS. When she was raising her own children, she belonged to Irving First Presbyterian Church. An adult Sunday School class there took home-baked sweets once a month to Itasca’s cottages. Then one summer, she says, “The Home needed host families for its children to spend some summer days ‘away.’ That’s when a big blessing came to the Campbell family. A dear young lady named Avon was with us for some summer days.” Mrs. Campbell asked her four children this year what they remember of Avon. “They all said they loved her and wished she had been in their lives longer! Might you have Avon in your records, tell her we still love her. Thank you again!”

Stories such as these remind us of the greater good which surfaces as we help others. Not only do we change the lives of those in need, but we also create ripple effects on the world around us. May all of our ripple effects be blessings and memories to cherish for generations. 

Our History of PCHAS magazine is available here. To find out how you can be involved with any of our programs, please contact us.