This month’s recipient of the Mercer Savings Bank Giving Mission donation is the Do Good Children’s Memorial Garden in Osgood, Ohio.
The Do Good Children’s Memorial Garden is a project of the Do Good Ministry and Restaurant, which opened its doors in December 2019. Why a restaurant? According to Karen Homan, the Holy Spirit asked her to create a ministry point that would serve those who felt they were “too busy” to attend church due to their hectic schedules, but would still go out to eat.
With the help of numerous donations of time, money, and services, Homan purchased the site of the old Silver Spur restaurant at 25 West Main Street in Osgood, making way for Do Good Ministry and Restaurant. The building is about 10,000 square feet, and contains areas for numerous ministries in addition to the restaurant.
“You know, people are generous here,” says Homan. “All tips from the restaurant are given to a specific family or person within a family who has suffered an illness or accident or death. In just six months, we gave out $120 short of $160,000 [to these families].”
In January, Homan says, the Holy Spirit called on her again to create the Children’s Memorial Garden project. “He gave me an amazingly large sign,” says Homan, “on the confirmation to go ahead. And so here in a few weeks, it’ll be done.”
The Children’s Memorial Garden commemorates the lives of children who left the world too soon. There is a large arch that displays the children’s names, dates of birth, and the dates that they passed, as well as their family names.
At the restaurant, there is also a colorful play area for children to enjoy, as well as beautiful flower gardens.
“Every plant, every flower that we have here has a designated outdoor plaque, that tells you the story of how that plant might have served God,” says Homan. On the other side of the play area is a children’s splash park, for which the Mercer Savings Bank donation will be used. Visitors are also encouraged to walk the stations of the cross, and enjoy lunch in a picnic area, which includes bathrooms and changing rooms for children. There is even a koi fish pond.
In addition to the restaurant and garden, Do Good offers Bible studies for youth, teens and adults; a baby ministry for newborns that provides them with a free blanket, cap or bonnet; free “honor meals” for volunteers who have given to charitable organizations, and much more.
“That’s really what it’s all about,” says Homan, “to help your fellow man and to do so, not just because you’re doing it to be good, but to do it in God’s name, because the reason we do good is that He creates us to do good.”
Support Do Good Ministries and Do Good Children’s Memorial Garden
There are numerous ways to support Do Good Ministry and its Children’s Memorial Garden. The organization is always looking for volunteers, especially for its restaurant. Additional donations can be made directly through Paypal or by calling 419-582-GOOD (4663).