A ministry at Shell Point Retirement Community gives canceled stamps a new life in a way that benefits children in Latin America. Each Tuesday and Friday, 60 Shell Point resident volunteers at the Alliance Stamp Ministry donate time to trim, sort, and bundle used stamps to sell to collectors.
Since 1972, The Alliance Stamp Ministry has contributed more than $924,000 to Publicaciones Alianza, a publishing company based in Argentina that prints Christian books in Spanish. Recently, the president of Publicaciones Alianza, Daniel Fanderwud, journeyed from his country to see firsthand how the hard work of these volunteers translates into words on the printed pages of these books.
“Stamps have a second life,” said Jim Riccitelli, a resident volunteer who serves as liaison to the Stamp Ministry from The Village Church. “And it may provide eternal life through use of these books in Latin America,” added Treva Crump, Shell Point volunteer co-leader for this effort.
(L-R) Visiting recently from Argentina, author Debora Steffens and Publicaciones Alianza President Daniel Fanderwud join Shell Point Stamp Ministry volunteer co-leaders Treva and Ben Crump and display some of the Spanish-language books printed for use in Sunday schools in Latin America and around the world. (Mary Kay Grimaldi/Shell Point Retirement Community)
Each Tuesday and Friday, 60 Shell Point volunteers fulfill their mission along a long row of tables to trim, sort, and sell stamps to raise funds to provide Spanish-language books for Latin American children. (Kathy Grove/Shell Point Retirement Community)
About Shell Point Retirement Community
Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers, Florida. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care for its 2,400 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access with free dockage, a championship 18-hole golf course, and other recreational and educational activities. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.orgor call 1-800-780-1131.
