VUMC members continue to pledge strong support for Mission and Outreach. We are able to continue 100% fulfillment of conference askings for World and New England Missions. This has been a year filled with devastating floods, droughts, hurricanes and earthquakes in our nation and around the world. Much of our support has gone to UMCOR's disaster relief programs. However, we have continued to support individual programs as well.
Globally:
• We continue support of Dr. Belinda Forbes in Nicaragua, although on a reduced basis.
• Our sponsorship of our foster child, Erube James, in Milawi, Africa continues as well.
• Through the Foster Harvey Foundation we help to support sewing schools in Vijaywada, India.
• Friends of Children provides programs for children - feeding, education, counseling, therapy - on state, national and international levels.
• Through the Haitian Health Foundation, VUMC provides many material items. Two of the women who work closely with this program, Odette Bosse and Michelle Farris, gave a presentation to VUMC members on the area served in Haiti and showed how many of the items donated are recycled into materials for the people of Haiti. (i.e. an old sheet will become items of clothing or items for a layette, an old shower curtain may become the bottom of a sleeping pad.
• Heifer Project International: This is our "coin jar" project and is largely supported by the recycling of refundable bottles and cans brought in by members and redeemed by the mission committee. We were able to send $680 this year.
On a National basis:
From the myriad of mission areas in this country, but with a limited amount of resources, we have been led to support--Hattie B. Cooper Community Center in the Roxbury section of Boston; the Four Corners Native American Ministries, and the Aviation Ministry in Anchorage, Alaska.
Locally:
Our focus is on food and shelter. Monies go primarily to support the Tri-Town Fuel Bank. Support in other local areas is mostly of a material nature, and it is here that the generous hearts of VUMC members show. There are on-going collections of materials for the Tri-Town Pantry, Cornerstone Soup Kitchen, and Tri-Town Shelter. In addition, month long food drives are held twice a year, "Souper Bowl" Sunday is observed, food baskets are filled for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and a garden is planted to provide fresh vegetables in the summer. There are also collections of labels and boxtops for education, and of materials to assemble health kits for UMCOR. Scarves, hats and mittens are collected for the cold weather.
Mission and Outreach members have organized drives for "back-to-school" clothing, candy & calendar sales to support church and mission projects.
Three members of VUMC will be joining a VIM team going to Slidell, LA, the first week in November.
As always, we give thanks to the Lord for caring and giving people in our midst and we ask His guidance in the use of the talents and material gifts entrusted to us.
Submitted,
Lydia Dingle
Chairperson
VUMC Mission & Outreach
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