In just the same way, faith, if it have not deeds, is by itself a lifeless thing. James 2:17
Local Missions
For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. Matthew 25:35
One Tuesday each month from September to May, we provide and serve a lasagna supper in conjunction with St. Thomas of Underhill Center. The Salvation Army feeds 60-75 homeless people on a daily basis. Our lasagna suppers not only put food in the mouths of those who are hungry, but also relieve the cooking staff at the Salvation Army from the responsibility of providing and serving dinner for 9 days out of the year.
Last year we provided 54 lasagnas, 27 large cans of fruit cocktail, approximately 10 dozen cookies, 30 volunteer servers each donating 1 ½ to 2 hours of time, and 9 drivers to transport food. Our children made 30 lasagnas and 4 dozen cookies during Sunday Un-School and Children’s Church, and February’s supper was created and served by members of the Youth Group.
Ecumenical Ministry Jericho-Underhill-Essex Center Food
Shelf
As a member of the Ecumenical Ministry, we send a representative to the monthly Ministry meeting at various churches in the area. These meetings provide the opportunity to review the workings of the Food Shelf / Clothing Ministry and outreach programs, and interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our local Food Shelf and Clothing Ministry is open one Saturday every month, 12 months a year. The Food Shelf provides one week’s groceries per household to our neighbors in need. “Staple” groceries include canned goods (soups, tomato sauces, tuna, fruits and vegetables), fresh produce (potatoes, onions, apples, oranges, eggs), bread, peanut butter and pasta. In addition, patrons can browse a miscellaneous table for items of personal taste, such as cereals, rice or pasta mixes, condiments, baking mixes, snacks and toiletries. Donated clothing is also available for those in need.
The Food Shelf services on average 18-25 families, or 45-60 people.
The Ecumenical Ministry’s outreach programs include providing scholarships so that local children can attend summer camps. Extra care for families in special need has been offered in the form of limited payments of utility or household bills. All outflow of funds are carefully monitored and reviewed at each monthly meeting. In 2003, $184.16 was paid directly to utility providers in relief, and $796.71 was paid to fuel providers.
Our obligation as a member of the Ecumenical Ministry is to provide volunteers to staff the Food Shelf in the month of February. We provided 10 volunteers (including 5 children) this year for the Friday afternoon set-up, and 4 volunteers for the Saturday morning distribution. Other volunteers have helped on various occasions. We also support this ministry by maintaining a food drop box in our narthex, and through individual donations of funds.
Monday Senior Meals
Every Monday, we provide space for area seniors to gather and share a meal together. The meals are catered through the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging. Our responsibility is to set up tables and chairs in the narthex after church on Sunday, and provide a greeter when the seniors arrive on Monday. The Senior Meals program provides a welcome space for our neighbors who otherwise may not have the opportunity to get out into the community
Committee on Temporary Shelter
Since 1982, COTS has been providing emergency shelters for people in need, and service programs to help those people make the steps toward independent living. Each year COTS serves approximately 1600 homeless adults and children. The organization maintains two Family Shelters, serving up to 15 families at one time, a 36-bed temporary shelter, as well as a Daystation that is open 7-days a week and serves 700-800 people every year.
COTS also provides affordable housing in three locations in Burlington for people moving out of shelter.
On May 2nd, the organization hosted its annual COTS Walk in order to raise funds and public awareness of homelessness in our community. We sponsored a team of 5 walkers, who raised over $300 for the cause. We have also provided volunteers to ferry donated goods to the shelters from area residents.
Adele, Claire and Kelly decided to do something to help hungry children in our community. So they filled mason jars with soup fixings and cookie ingredients, and sold them at last year’s Not-At-Your-Home-Show-Party and other events. They raised close to $400, which they split between the Jericho-Underhill-Essex Food Shelf and the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger.
How precious is thy loving-kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings. Psalms 36:7
Children’s Home of Cromwell
The Children’s Home is a treatment facility of 71 children, ages 8-18, who, for many reasons, are unable to live with their families. They are children who have suffered abuse and neglect, are socially maladjusted, and have emotional and behavioral problems. CHOC operates under the auspices of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and serves children of all faiths with a commitment to their personal spiritual development. The Center is located in Cromwell, CT.
As a church, we have committed to sponsoring 15 senior high boys. In addition, eight individual families have elected to sponsor specific individuals. Sponsorship includes remembering birthdays, sending cards to celebrate the holidays, or mailing a note of encouragement from time-to-time.
We collected donations last June toward the purchase of sporting equipment, and in November-December we contributed $480 for Christmas gifts. In February, children in Sunday Un-School created Valentine’s cards. There are a number of teens who have birthdays during the summer months, for those of you who would like to send a card.
Global Missions
For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Deuteronomy 15:11
Covenant World Relief
Covenant World Relief is the international humanitarian aid arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Its mission is to offer relief, rehabilitation, and development in Christ’s name to the “poorest of the poor” in our world community.
In October, we participated in Covenant World Relief’s annual “soup can” fundraiser, and raised $1,057.
On Easter Sunday, we held a special offering in relief of Sudanese refugees living in refugee camps in Chad. In that one offering, we raised $846. We held a second offering the following Sunday, and raised an additional $100, for a total of $946.