Health Kit Update: Thanks to all who contributed and assisted with assembling UMCOR Health Kits for Haiti last month. We packed 52 Health Kits to send to the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot and ultimately for distribution to Haiti. We will continue to assemble the kits as items are collected. The items still needed for the Health Kits are itemized below; we already have plenty of toothbrushes, soap and washcloths to make another 25 or so kits. Help us help the Haitians! Please leave your items in the hallway on the counter across from the elevator at Church. The deadline for this shipment is 4/30/10.
- 1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", No kitchen towels) Approximately $1.50 each at WalMart
- 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized) I found these at the Dollar Tree @ 3/$1.00.
- 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers (2 for $1.00 at Dollar Tree)
- 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
- $1.00 to purchase toothpaste
(NOTE: UMCOR Sager Brown is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)
- Money to ship these kits to the UMCOR Depot in LA
A Month In The Life at Abba House
Mission Newsletter Archives
January
February
Operation Christmas Child Update: Each month, I will suggest an item for you to purchase in preparation for “Shoebox Season”. By the time we pack our Shoeboxes, we will have a nice selection of items for the children in need. This month’s items are combs, brushes, pony tail holders, barrettes, & other hair accessories.
How to Give Without Spending:
Start cleaning out your closets! Here are the items that we will need in the next few months:
Clothing drive for Haiti: Due to distribution issues in Haiti, we will not send clothing or other items until further notice. Donations of money and Health Kits through UMCOR are the best route of contributions at this time.
Clothing and household items: these are for Red Bird Mission as outlined above.
Spring Yard Sale: We will set a date in the near future for the Church-wide sale. Consider donating your items to the “general sale”; proceeds will go to both the Building Fund and Missions Fund. We will also have tables to rent for selling items on your own. We welcome a bake sale booth, hot dog vendor, etc. This will be a great fund-raising activity for a Sunday school class or other group. I need volunteers to help coordinate! Please call me!
Please contact me if you would like to submit an article or have any questions: tldickerson@cvty.com.
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Spotlight
This month’s spotlight is Ric-Rack. Ric-Rack is a local 501C3 charity that provides food, clothing and household items to Dawson County’s needy families. Located on Hwy. 9 just north of downtown Dawsonville, they serve as the local Food Bank and have a wonderful thrift store full of bargains. Members of Bethel UMC were very instrumental in the establishment of the Ric-Rack, including Jean Greenway and Cindy Burks. Many of our members currently volunteer either in the Food Bank or thrift store.
The Ric-Rack depends on donations of food to feed local hungry families. Bob Maxfield, the Director of Ric-Rack, was a guest speaker at the UMW meeting in March. He said that in February, 2009, they fed 180 families. In February of 2010, they fed 300 families, equating to nearly 7 tons of food. He estimates that 80-100 of these families are homeless, and they live here in Dawsonville. Although the Ric-Rack receives donations from Food Lion, Wal-Mart and the Atlanta Community Food Bank, they rely heavily on local families, churches and civic organizations for donations. Proceeds from the thrift store buy more food, too.
Recent changes at the Ric-Rack include expansion of their building by 1/3 and the acquisition of a truck. They can now pick up donated items at your home.
Mr. Maxfield requested assistance with food bags for school kids who will be at home this summer. Currently, 400 of our Dawson County kids are enrolled in the reduced or free lunch program; that is almost the entire population of one of our elementary schools. We need to help the Ric-Rack supplement their diets with healthy meals and snacks from June-August. They also need non-food items, including diapers, toiletries, soaps, shampoo, and laundry detergent. These items can be placed in the appropriated cans at Church. Ric-Rack always needs good volunteers, too! Please contact them if you can assist.
The UMCOR Hotline
In Today's Hotline:
 CENTRAL AMERICA: TROPICAL STORM AGATHA RELIEF
US: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TENNESSEE
US: GULF COAST OIL SPILL
HAITI: ENVISIONING A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
US:KNOW YOUR STATUS
US:TORNADOES RIP THROUGH OHIO
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Other on-going Missions Projects
Beans and Rice Sundays: On Sunday, February 14th and the second Sunday of each month going forward, we will collect non-perishable food for the Ric Rac Food Pantry. We will have permanent cans for food collection with an emphasis on the second Sunday. Please consider donating healthy protein foods including tuna, peanut butter, canned ham, etc.
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Missionary Update: We are currently unable to establish a “Covenant” relationship with a GBGM Missionary, which includes monthly monetary support, for a commitment of 3 years. We are not able to make this commitment due to the mortgage payment on the new Church building. However, we will support Red Bird Mission in Kentucky with money raised via projects (yard sale, etc). Red Bird Mission needs our donations of clothing and household items (both for the community and for goods to sell in their thrift store). Please start collecting; more details to come.
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Mission Trip Update: We are planning a summer trip to Red Bird Mission this summer. We will take a truckload of donations to Red Bird, perhaps 2-3 times per year. Please contact me if you would like to join the trip.
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Abba House: We also need a coordinator to establish contact with Abba House and determine their needs for volunteers and potential projects for 2010. Please contact me if you can fill the role of coordinator or as a volunteer. They need your help!
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Ric Rac: We need a coordinator to establish contact with Ric Rac and to set up a calendar for volunteers. Please consider filling this position or volunteering at Ric Rac. We need at least one additional volunteer for our Food Bank commitment and other volunteers to work in the Thrift Store. |
Soldier’s Boxes: I received a thank you note from my cousin Meg Vessels, a Navy Pilot deployed in the Persian Gulf. She thanked “the whole Bethel UMC family on behalf of the squadron” for the packages. “It really feels good to know that we have people back there thinking about us, especially at this time of year.” She thanked us for our support and prayers. Let’s plan to send more boxes in June and December of this year. |
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