Missions
The missions of Wilson are varied and far reaching. Here are a few examples of ways that the folks at Wilson are helping out those in need:
Westside CARES
Weekly Report for 11/18/2009 from Trinity UMC
Here's this week's food pantry needs:
Dressing, canned milk, cranberries, canned green beans and cream of mushroom soup
Served this week:
The Food Pantry fed 43 Families and 132 People
Commoditie Boxes were handed out to 66 Families and 179 People
Westside CARES Thanksgiving Baskets
We will be supporting this worthy cause again this year. Wilson has been asked to provide at least 40 jars of jam or jelly along with one or more hams or turkeys. There is a box in the Taos Room for your donations of jams and jellies. Please have them in by November 18. We will pick up turkeys and hams from those who wish to donate on the morning of November 19. Point of contact is Terry Piddington.
Lord’s Dinner
The Lord’s Dinner (soup kitchen) ministry sponsored by Westside CARES is a mission commitment Wilson UMC has honored and been dedicated to serving for several years. Many people have volunteered their time and faithfulness on the fourth Sunday each month to serve on a team to buy the food, prepare and serve it, and clean up after this dinner. In addition to the adults, young people are actively and enthusiastically helping including member’s children, Wilson youth, Christ the King Lutheran youth, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts.
Habitat for Humanity
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Please join us for the last Wilson volunteer build weekend of the year. We need volunteers to help with construction on Habitat for Humanity’s Apostles Build Home on Saturday, November 14. Please add your names to the Habitat sign-up sheet that will be posted in the Taos Room. You must be 16 or over to help, but no construction experience is necessary; and, there are a variety of tasks that will need to be done. There will be opportunities to help during either a morning or an afternoon shift. Thanks to the Wilson volunteers, who worked last month. We made a lot of progress, completing the roof framing and the building sheathing. The house is really taking shape thanks to the hard work of all the volunteers. If you have any questions, please contact Bob Vozzola or Rick Roberts. |
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Click here to visit the Apostle's Build webpage.
Heifer Project International
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With the advent of Rally Sunday just around the corner and the beginning of a new Sunday School year, I would like to emphasize the importance of your donations to the Heifer Project. Aside from the fact that your generosity ensures the most effective means of fighting poverty and hunger across the world, it also provides critical support in terms of natural disasters and catastrophe--the May 12 earthquake in China is one case in point. |
Heifer’s influence in China began in the mid 80s with only three projects. Since then, it has grown into serving more than 60,000 households with over 4.5 million animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbit, and poultry. In May 2008, however, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake caused severe damage; impacting thousands of people (Heifer’s central office located in Chengdu was just 50 miles from the epicenter of the quake). When disaster hit, HPI was ready. In spite of the fact that HPI is a developmental agency rather than a relief agency like the Red Cross, HPI personnel quickly implemented nine rehabilitation projects to help restore the lives of thousands of Chinese families impacted by this catastrophe. (More than 8,000 families participating in Heifer development projects were in the region hit by the quake). The fact that HPI promotes sustainable agricultural practices will help prepare these families to withstand any future cataclysmic events by remaining self-reliant. Probably one of the most heartening aspects of this incredible human effort comes from the number of other Chinese Heifer Project families outside of the disaster area that provided relief aid to the quake victims. In the truest sense of HPI, both money and livestock were sent in order to help others help themselves.
What can you do to help? Ensure the success of the aforementioned Heifer initiatives by donating funds. While donations can be provided a variety of ways, the easiest is through Sunday School (adult, youth, or children). During every class, a yellow envelope is passed around for collection. Just place your donation in the envelope, and the funds will be set aside for HPI. Wilson children can also use "Ark Banks" to help save money for Heifer. If your son or daughter would like to have some "extra banks" around the house, they can be found on the tables located in the narthex area as you come into the church. Looking for a gift idea? Donations can also be made on behalf of individuals celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations or any other special occasion. In fact, Heifer Project International donations make great gifts throughout the year for everyone in the family.
For more information regarding this program, please contact Don Veverka.
The Green Team
If you are interested in helping with the community garden planning, please contact John Sobecki at 598-8326 or e-mail at john.sobecki@gmail.com.
A Green idea: Going to a church meeting? Why not hook up with the other committee members that live near you and ride together. I know gas is cheap now, but it saves wear and tear, reduces airborne pollutants, and makes for good conversation!
Lawn Care and The Environment
As you buy garden supplies this year, consider organic fertilizer products. The residents of Pueblo and points south may appreciate it. The herbicides we all apply to our lawns effect the earthworms, birds, and wildlife we all love to experience here in Colorado.
Take a look at this Master Gardener's webpage and his recommendations for an organic lawn: http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp.
If you need to apply chemicals, consider:
- Weedban - it's made from corn gluten meal, a pre-emergent organic herbicide.
- If you need a more powerful product, try GreenMatch®EX. It's also organic and is made of lemongrass oil, a powerful, herbicidal essential oil that strips away the waxy cuticle from weeds’ leaves causing fast wilting (necrosis), dehydration, and death.
Reusable Grocery Bags
Remember, we sell our own Wilson reusable grocery bags. The cost is $2.50 each. Look for one of the Green Team sales in the Taos Room on Sunday morning.
El Paso County Recycling Directory
Got questions about what you can recycle, or where to take it. Click here to view El Paso County's Recycling Directory. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility
Did you know El Paso County has a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility? For more info, click here .
Multiply the Power of Your Donation To Westside CARES --
Donate through the Enterprise Zone!
Westside CARES is now recognized as an Enterprise Zone Organization. With this recognition, Westside CARES can provide donors with significant tax advantages. Any donor who gives a minimum of $250.00 per year to Westside CARES through the Enterprise Zone is eligible for a 25% tax credit on their Colorado State Income Tax. As an example -- a donor wishes to give $500.00 to Westside CARES:
- The donor writes a check payable to "EI Paso County Enterprise Zone" and in the memo line writes "Westside CARES."
- The donor sends the check to Westside CARES.
- Westside CARES records the check then delivers it to EI Paso County which makes a monthly distribution to all Enterprise Organizations.
- EI Paso County also sends a certified receipt to the donor for use with the Colorado State Income Tax Return.
The donor may reduce their Colorado Income Tax by $125.00 (25% of the donation). Instructions are included with the certified receipt. This tax credit is in addition to any allowed deductions on state or federal income tax. Please feel free to contact Steve Brown, 389-0759, with any questions about this valuable benefit.
UMCOR's 100-Ton Challenge
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Methodists show "Tons" of support for Fair Trade Through the United Methodist Committee on Relief's 100-Ton Challenge - which began May 10, 2008 and ended May 9, 2009 - United Methodists have purchased over 82 tons (or 164,000 pounds) of fairly traded coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks! United Methodist churches nationwide placed over 7,700 orders of Equal Exchange fairly traded products and 448 churches j oined the UMCOR Coffee Project during the Challenge. "Although the 100-Ton mark was not reached in quantity as we had hoped, the Fair Trade issue is indeed gaining momentum among United Methodists, so in essence we have met our goal," said June H. Kim, UMCOR's Hunger and Poverty executive. "We are hearing more and more from individual churches who are making strides in their communities to educate others about Fair Trade," Kim continued. "Churches are making just lifestyle choices to positively impact the lives of our neighbors here at home and abroad." Purchases through the project rose nearly 20 percent from the previous 12-month period, totaling over $1.3 million in sales, despite the weakening US economy. The UMCOR Coffee Project was the fastest growing faith-based partnership with Equal Exchange in 2008. Purchasers of fairly traded products become part of a partnership that helps farmers strengthen their co-operatives, stay on their land, care for the environment and meet their families' healthcare and education needs. In this difficult economic climate, small-scale farmers need us to continue purchasing their crops. Even though the challenge is over, you can still support Fair Trade by buying fairly traded products through the UMW’s mission project. Watch for the display on various Sundays in the Taos Room. |