Backpacs and Pakistan Response

Backpacks for Kid’s Sake


Many of our United Methodist Churches attended and actively participated at our introductory breakfast last week. The program was introduced and we enthusiastically endorsed the goal of offering food for the 6500 elementary school children throughout central Virginia. The program is offered through www.FeedingAmerica.org and will be managed by the Blue Ridge Community Food Bank and Gleaning for the World. Area churches large and small as well as local business leaders will be helping to coordinate the program.

The first school served will be Bass Elementary in Lynchburg. In addition, Blue Ridge Community Food Bank is already helping at least one Elementary school in the Amherst area. Also, several of our churches are sponsoring Body Camp Elementary in Bedford. They have already obtained funding and working with the Roanoke area Food Bank.

“Backpacks for Kid’s Sake” is well underway.

Check out our Facebook page – “Backpacks for Kid’s Sake”

If your church chooses to be involved but did not participate in the breakfast, please email our office or check with your pastor. We have a DVD video, a sample backpack and commitment cards that can be distributed to each church. Bulletin inserts are also available and you can get a copier-ready insert by emailing Ishmael Labiosa at ismaell@gftw.org.

 

Pakistan

The situation in Pakistan continues to worsen. Yet the response by our churches has been mild in comparison to Haiti and other areas affected by tragedy.

UMCOR is in the area offering help right now. They are operating on limited funds and could use our help. You can help by giving a donation to your local church and earmarking it to either Pakistan or UMCOR.

I have been in conversation with Ray Buchanan and other staff members of “Stop Hunger Now.” I was hoping to coordinate a “Stop Hunger Now” 100,000 meal event again but was unsure enough people would turn out from the community at large.

Several of our churches suggested that we do the 100,000 meal commitment but at four or five different churches instead of one big location. That way we could still work together for a large number but spread it out among several of our churches.

 

I thought that was a great idea and we’re working on that now.

Possible church locations that have volunteered:

• Epworth UMC – Rev. Joe Shoop
• Timberlake UMC – Rev. Rob Colwell
• Centenary UMC – Rev. Rick Ecklund
• Rustburg UMC – Rev. Liz Ecklund
• Fort Hill UMC – Rev. Phil Waltz
• Chestnut Hill UMC - Rev. Becky Cloud

 

We could still get the community support by advertising all of the times and places and actually give more choices as to how people could participate. Dates are being set and organized. More will come out of our district office soon.

 

Important Dates to keep on your Calendar

 

 

September 9: 10 & 7 - Charge Conference Orientation, Court Street UMC

 

September 7: 7:00 PM - Common Table, Fort Hill UMC

 

September 14-15 - Clergy Workshop and Training, Blackstone, VA

 

October 5: 7:00 PM - Common Table, Fort Hill UMC

 

October 12: 9:00 - District Clergy Meeting, Court Street UMC

 

October 21: 9:00 - District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Court Street UMC

 

October 22-23 Lay Speakers Training, Location Fort Hill UMC

 

October 30: 9:00 - Staff/Pastor/Parrish Relations Training, Court Street UMC

 

November 2 Common Table, Fort Hill UMC, 7:00 pm

 

November 24-26 Thanksgiving Holidays, District Office Closed

 

December 5 District Charge Conference, Amelon UMC, 3:00 pm

 

December 11-12 Lynchburg District hosting Cabinet Meeting

 

December 23-28 Christmas Holidays, District Office Closed

 

January 29, 2011 Leadership Training Event, Heritage UMC 8:30 am - 2:00 pm