Grimes, 51, succumbed to cancer.

I wrote a Dec. 24, 2009 story about the Grimes family and the home makeover that was funded and conducted by their friends, community volunteers, public safety groups and businesses.

The day I visited the couple’s newly renovated house in Midwest City, Michelle Grimes was up and moving around, talking to friends who had gathered to help the family move back into their home. She said she was appreciative of all the efforts that friends Scott and DeAnn Warful had made to coordinate the huge community project that resulted in the newer, comfortable surroundings.

The renovations were completed just in time for the family to move in and have Christmas together in their refurbished home.

Michelle Grimes’  illness was one of the main reasons her friends rallied to make the family’s home as nice as possible.

She and her husband, Dan, had been in ministry together for many, many years and were known for their love and compassion for others.

It’s good to know that what she gave freely, came flowing back to her in such a unique way.

My thoughts and prayers are with Dan Grimes and the Grimes family.

(PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN: In this December 2009 photo, Scott and DeAnn Warful stand with Michelle and Dan Grimes inside the Grimes’ newly remodeled home in Midwest City .) 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor       

It’s a three-year-old outreach effort of the Central Oklahoma Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

People in churches throughout the metro area will distribute Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer information and prevention packets to mothers in their congregations.

These ”pink ambassadors” signed up months ago to get the packets. Forty-eight churches, two nonprofit organizations and two sororities will be distributing the packets, filled with a pink Komen handheld fan, a bookmark, breast self-exam cards and educational pamphlets, on Sunday, Mother’s Day.

Lorna Palmer, executive director of the Komen central Oklahoma affiliate, said the outreach effort has been successful, with about 10,000 packets given out this year. The first year, 5,000 were given away and 7,500 were distributed the second year, so the effort is obviously growing.

“It’s honoring mothers — everybody has one,” she said.

“It’s a great way to remind them that we want them to be here and to be healthy.”

Palmer said Pink Sunday has helped Komen for the Cure reach communities that may not hear about Komen and the lifesaving educational material any other way.

“It is an opportunity for us to education women in another setting.”

To sign up for Pink Sunday packets for next year (there’s already a list), call 526-2873.