June McCleneghen blesses the RTCANY/ Saratoga backstretch and Pine Grove Christian Camp racetrack families with her talent, time and energy and smiles and cherished keepsakes are the result!
Stop by the Recreation Hall or surrounding buildings at Saratoga Racecourse, say from chilly, damp, early April, to equally chilly damp almost November and you will almost certainly catch a glimpse of a woman in love.
Stop by the Recreation Hall or surrounding buildings at Saratoga Racecourse, say from chilly, damp, early April, to equally chilly damp almost November and you will almost certainly catch a glimpse of a woman in love.
June McClenegh, who heads up the RTCANY’s Saratoga program, which is a division of the parent chaplaincy, is in love with Jesus and she can’t contain herself! She loves the Lord so much she and her equally so enamored husband and partner in ministry, Frank, just can’t get enough of Him.
In a swirl of activity any given day, June and her many volunteers are likely to be doing a myriad of tasks involving the ministering to backstretch workers and families’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs. June embodies the RTCA commitment as such and one of her joys in embracing this credo is in offering a craft night for women on Wednesday evenings next to the Rec. Hall. Not only does she hold the class, she writes the grant that affords the supplies to carry it out!
Above, talented volunteer Paula Schultz helps create original greeting cards that beg to be framed and hung on a wall. Below RTCA Executive Committee member Arnie Frazee prepares Women’s Ministry Representative Chaplain Lee Alphen’s secret recipe Fluffernutter roll-ups.
Nothing makes crafts more challenging than some marsh mellow spread on your fingers!
Be it wreaths to give life and make pretty the entries to where these ladies live, beaded jewelry or adorned boxes to keep it in, or perhaps tie died tank tops that drew a full house of 20 participants, every week June and her wonderful assistants carefully plan and then present the women with a beautiful project that will bless them for time to come. I personally, while visiting Payson Park Training Center in south Florida saw one of the wreaths that were made here, carried a thousand plus miles, adorning the entry of a dorm room there. These are treasures made to keep and bless June’s beloved flock when they leave and head away; north, south, east or west. Every time that keepsake is worn, viewed, toted around, you name it, the one who made it will remember someone loved them uniquely and specially enough to design a way to imprint that love upon their hearts forever. Gee, does that sound like someone we know?
Be it wreaths to give life and make pretty the entries to where these ladies live, beaded jewelry or adorned boxes to keep it in, or perhaps tie died tank tops that drew a full house of 20 participants, every week June and her wonderful assistants carefully plan and then present the women with a beautiful project that will bless them for time to come. I personally, while visiting Payson Park Training Center in south Florida saw one of the wreaths that were made here, carried a thousand plus miles, adorning the entry of a dorm room there. These are treasures made to keep and bless June’s beloved flock when they leave and head away; north, south, east or west. Every time that keepsake is worn, viewed, toted around, you name it, the one who made it will remember someone loved them uniquely and specially enough to design a way to imprint that love upon their hearts forever. Gee, does that sound like someone we know?
June McCleneghen is a woman in love, and she’s showing it by spreading that love, as Christ would have her, to those who are so needing to know they are special, precious and unique in His heart. Thank you June for being His love in action, and for the tireless work you do in His name!
Amy Bondon, RTCA Inc. Secretary
