This organization is involved in helping hungry families feed themselves and take care of the earth. The families are trained in the care of their animals and good agricultural practices so they can better themselves and become more independent.

Currently, the Heifer Project provides 27 different kinds of livestock to families in 47 countries. It began in 1944 as direct aid to 4 million families and through the training that they received, they passed their knowledge to other families and it has affected more than 24 million people in 128 countries around the world.

Our church became involved in this important mission in the spring of 2002 spearheaded by our Mission Committee and Sunday School Mission. They initially started the project but then soon thereafter, became an All Church Project. A goal was set for five goats for families in Africa to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in that country. The Sunday School alone raised enough to purchase 1 goat ($120), and the Church donated enough for 4 additional goats plus 3 flocks of chicks.

A goat is often called the poor man's cow, because goats can survive in extreme climates. They survive on eating grass, leaves and twigs. The world relies on milk to feed their children and a goat can supply a family up to 4 quarts of milk a day. If they have extra milk left over it could be sold or made into other dairy products such as cheese, butter or even yogurt.

Our Sunday School members participated in Heifer Project’s READ TO FEED Program during the month of May. Approximately $125.15 was raised and sent on to Heifer International to help families in need.   

Our Sunday School classes participated in this fundraiser. The Sunday School collections from January thru May, plus the sale of baked goods and plants, totaled $317.53. The items for the health kits will be purchased and sent out when the Sunday School classes begin in the fall.

New Beginings

This is an Ecumenical Program sponsored by the Wesley United Methodist Church. This program is designed to provider school clothes for children in need. Each child is supplied with a fall jacket, 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, 1 package of underwear, 1 package of socks, and a $30.00 gift certificate to "Bob’s Stores" towards a pair of shoes for the fall. This year we were able to get several churches involved in this wonderful community effort. Wesley United Methodist Church was able to clothe 12 children, St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church was able to clothe 11 children, St. John’s Episcopal Church was able to clothe 6, Grace Episcopal was able to clothe 1 and Windsorville United Methodist Church was able to clothe 1; for a total of 31 children. This is such a worthwhile program and I can remember going to school and trying to decide what to wear on the first day and how excited I was that I could finally wear my "New Clothes"! A big THANK YOU for everyone’s help and donations to this wonderful program.

Other Missions Programs that we support are the Visiting Nurses Association with the Thanksgiving Baskets, the Adopt-A-Family at Christmas through Human Services and the Youth Challenge out of Hartford, CT