A The Dana and Nelda Snider Hope Fund

The Dana and Nelda Snider Hope Fund was established by their family and friends in order to commemorate the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Their journey together is a ministry nurtured through their lifetime devotion to the Church of the Brethren. They have a long association with the Middlebury Church of the Brethren, the home church for Dan West, founder of Heifer Project, now known as Heifer International. Nelda fondly remembers attending Sunday school classes led by Mr. West. She recalls how he would pose thought-provoking questions to begin each class and end the class by encouraging young minds to review their opinions and deepen understandings. Their personal mission within the church has been the same, to be stewards for learning and nurturing. Each year they attend the Brethren Church Annual Conference looking for ways to enrich their church family. They both served in volunteer staff positions, Dana as Time and Talent Coordinator and Nelda as Christian Education Director. Recently retiring from those positions, Nelda continues as senior organist for the early service and many special events and both remain active in Stephen Ministry as peer counselors. They can also be found supporting or participating in community projects such as the Annual Crop Walk to fight hunger.

Nelda and Dana always find hope and strength through relationships. The tools they gained as Marriage Enrichment Seminar leaders strengthen all their relationships. Nelda nurtures others through individual acts of support, sharing meals and writing notes of encouragement and affirmation. She occasionally joins Dana on his favorite community projects with the Kentucky Mountain Housing Project, Brethren Disaster Relief, the Jimmy Carter Habitat Blitz and the Habitat for Humanity building projects. They are true friends of the earth. Nelda is recognized for her “reuse or recycle” attitude and helps organize the annual church garage sale to raise funds for the church and make resources available to others. Dana’s love of trees and willingness to share his gift of planting has earned his community, Middlebury, Indiana, the “Tree City USA” designation. Each year, Dana and Nelda set aside special time to be together and renew their spirit. They can be found enjoying each other’s company at the Annual Older Adult Conference at Lake Junaluska, S.C. and the Chautauqua Institute in New York.

Their interest in nurturing the needs and hopes of others has been vocation as well as avocation. Upon retiring from the secondary education system Nelda was honored as Manchester College Alumni Teacher of the Year and Dana was named Indiana’s Secondary Counselor of the Year. Dana continues to work earnestly for National Dollar’s for Scholars Foundation, having received the “Founder’s Award” for his commitment to helping youth finance their education.

They embrace a lifestyle of living, loving and learning that inspired their family and friends to establish this fund in their honor.

May these resources inspire hope for a future of peace and prosperity around the world.

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