Charity and service to others planted the seeds for Tim’s Gift — The Love Ministry, which has recently opened with the hope that it will reach millions.

Two monetary gifts provided the seed money for this non-profit ministry.

After many extra hours of service in the Spell home during Tim Spell’s battle with cancer, hospice nurse Donna Reedy received a love offering from the Spell family. As a hospice nurse, Reedy is not allowed to take gratituity, she explained, but she agreed to take the money with the understanding that she would spend it on her patients and let Tim’s wife, Becky Spell, know how she was spending the money, she reported.

Using a sticky note, Reedy labeled the money “Tim’s Gift,” and she dipped into the funds only to buy things for patients to meet their individual needs that insurance could not cover. Some examples of the spending, Reedy noted, are flowers, body pillows, fans, a small refrigerator, wheelchairs, walkers, bedside commodes and a microwave.

Reedy did this for a year before Spell ever knew. When Spell was shown all of the receipts for Reedy’s purchases, she wondered how Reedy didn’t run out of money. Reedy was actually adding her on-call money to the love offering, something Spell called an “unselfish act.”

Once Spell was aware of what Reedy was doing, she got involved. “Mrs. Spell has broadened this,” Reedy commented, and “the ministry expanded to meet more than just medical needs.”

The second source of seed money for Tim’s Gift came through another donation of $50, which was given to Spell in a card from The Prayer Connection. She was told that the money was to be used for her ministry. “I asked, ‘What ministry?’,” Spell recalled. Later she opened an account at the bank with the money. When she was asked what the name of the account would be, she replied, “The Love Ministry,” unsure of where that would lead.

Merging the money labeled “Tim’s Gift” and the money in “The Love Ministry” account, Reedy and Spell decided to start a non-profit organization, and they named it “Tim’s Gift — The Love Ministry.”

The two ladies continued using the money and taking donations to help others. Last summer they were given fresh produce to take to people. They have also delivered million bells hanging baskets to many. The flowers are representative of Reedy’s hope “to reach a million different people in one way or another.” Reedy’s hope led to the formation of a mission statement for the non-profit ministry — “Reaching millioins giving hope and help.”

In Reedy’s agency, Advantage Home Care and Hospice, 64 patients have been served by Tim’s Gift along with numerous others in other agencies. In the past two years, more than $10,000 has been put into the ministry, Reedy reported.

“There’s so much you can do in your own community,” Reedy stated. She added that the response of people served by Tim’s Gift are “worth a million words.” “I wish you could just see the faces.”

“I’m just so excited,” Reedy exclaimed. “I thought it was just something I’d do on the side,” she added, noting that she never expected things to progress and expand into a public ministry as it has.

More donations have started coming in recently, she reported, and having obtained non-profit status, the ministry is prepared to handle the donations.

In recent weeks, the building in which Tim Spell used to sell insurance has been converted to the ministry’s headquarters. Reedy explained that the building was paid for and vacant so it was “perfect” to use for Tim’s Gift.

In addition to continuing the good deeds for people in the community, Tim’s Gift will also be a place for prayer and bible study. Prayer will be held every Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m. Bible study will begin on June 1 and continue every Monday night. Other ministries will also be held there in the near future, including support for widows, divorcees and youth.

Spell called the ministry a “hub of love,” explaining that it’s not a church or something trying to compete with churches. Reedy clarified, “It’s like a supplement to the church” and the goal is to “share God’s love with whoever needs it.”

Locals are excited to help with the ministry, as well. “Every time I turn around, there’s someone else saying, ‘What can I do?’,” Reedy articulated.

Brenda Nordin will be in charge of a card ministry for Tim’s Gift. She told Spell, “I’ve been looking for a way to give back, and this is it,” Spell relayed. Mayor Lew Starling has been offering his legal expertise to the non-profit ministry, Spell reported.

On Tuesday, May 5, Reedy and Spell announced its board of directors and honorary board members in the ministry’s first official meeting. Reedy called the board a “great, well-rounded group.” Each board member, Spell said, “brings a gift” to Tim’s Gift.

“This is not a church or a burden,” Spell suggested to the board. “Follow whatever God puts on your heart,” she advised as she encouraged each member to use their own gifts to serve the Lord. “When we’ve got love in our heart and we stick together and we love God, we will not fail.” Honorary board member Bobby Matthis added, “Time is short for all of us. Serve Him while you can.”

“We cannot sit around and mourn,” Spell declared. She doesn’t intend for Tim’s Gift to be a shrine to her late husband; rather, it’s “about outreach.”

Honorary board member Bobby Spell commented, “I feel like the ministry will give a lot of assistance to a lot of folks who would not have been touched before.”

Spell agreed, “The possibilities are endless ... I can see so many windows that can open ... God has given us so many gifts, and love is something everybody can have if we share love and cherish people and God.”

For more information about Tim’s Gift or to get involved with the ministry, visit the office at 108 Northeast Boulevard., Clinton.

Amy Kelly can be reached by phone at 592-8137 ext. 119 or by e-mail at sigov@myclintonnc.com.