2008 -- A Memorial Dedication

        We have designated the 2008 festival as "Remember Ruth" day.

 Ruth Mayer was the principal motivating force behind the establishment

of a festival collection and disbursement location for our area. Through her efforts

 our festival has blossomed after 8 years from a small church parking lot where just

a few churches from Stoddard County brought kits  to our present location

 where now churches from as far away as the Arkansas border to just south of

St. Louis bring kits worth a combined total of more than $76,000.  This amount

equals 12% of the total collected for all of the state of Missouri. 

          Sadly, Ruth died in 2007, leaving a legacy of dedication and service to the

Festival of Sharing, as well as a number of other philanthropic organizations. 

In her honor we ask that a special effort be made by participating churches to

collect family food boxes and paper products, two Missouri kits which Ruth promoted.

                    We will miss you Ruth,   but you will not be forgotten.