A Local Hero Needs “It’s a wonderful life” Miracle

Hi everyone, local Duluthians, and Twin Ports residents! If you are reading this RIGHT NOW you can be part of making a miracle happen for a local community hero who DESPERATELY needs one. Because he didn’t want to ask otherwise and waited 7 long years trying to turn it around himself working himself ragged at his age (he’s 74!). Until now. He asked that we put a fund together for him. This hero happens to be my father in-law and our family has been helping him the last couple of months with whatever we can. Purchasing food and giving what extra money we have to give. However his story is much more serious and truly requires more helping hands. So we are asking for all of your help. His name is Al Bergren and he’s been serving the community through the Union Gospel Mission for over 25 years! First as a van driver then worked his way up to Superintendent running the operations. UGM is a non profit focused on sending out heartfelt letters to every one in Duluth to gain funding outside of government grants to avoid the restrictions that come along with them in order to provide 3 meals a day, food, clothes, shelter, prayer and a safe place to be through the day for the many people you and I don’t see. Al and his wife Sharen both ran the Union Gospel Mission together until Sharen passed away 7 years ago with a tough battle of a slowly growing non-cancerous tumor in her brain which was not a beautiful thing and a terrible experience both for Sharen and Al. At which time Al was let go later that same year with a small retirement that has since dried up and left with heaping medical bills he’s still paying today. They had been married for 44 years! And not only did they work together every day but they also did EVERYTHING together. I can’t recall them ever getting bored of one another. She liked sci-fi films and he always made her watch chick flick romance movies. Haha we all light heartedly make fun of him for being such a softy. (He’s a true romantic). And for all those who know them, they can attest to how big of hearts they both have. HUGE HUGE HUGE! He then, at 68, a year after Sharen passed, took a counselor role for Stepping Stones (at a group home) to continue to serve and keep up with his gained debt and increasing medical bills. His heart always in the right place. This man has overcome years of alcoholism (sober 50 years). Enormous loss of many kinds. AND has been on the front lines with people on curbsides and alleyways at their darkest times. I feel Al is experiencing one of his darkest times in life RIGHT now. His mortgage just increased (and we are talking about a home that needs many repairs), his body is weakening (he now needs oxygen when moving around and his insurance won’t cover a portable tank which we’ve found to be $1,700. This has kept him home bound putting him into more of a slump mentally. He is on a therapy plan but getting out of the house would help him with that plan even more), he can’t get his vehicle out of the shop for a repair it needed, his tv was cut off Aug. 16th, increased medical bills (because I believe over this last year a lot of the weight from the last couple of years has just hit him). I know many of us are all going through hard times right now and so I understand if giving is going to be hard. I keep thinking of “It’s A Wonderful Life” film and George is thinking of ending it all and it’s almost Christmas! And in the end everyone came together in the community to give what little they had to keep George from losing it all. I think it’s because I feel how similar Al’s life is to George’s and I would desperately love to see the same miracle happen for Al this year. If you want to be a part of Al’s miracle even a $1 helps! $2000 is what we are asking and that gets him his temporary oxygen not keeping him from loosing his home or paying off medical bills. If you can please leave an encouraging comment even if you can’t give and please please please most importantly lift him up in prayer for his mental health, for God to give him continued courage through this hard time. Much love. Anthony and Kristi Murphy