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Shady Grove Missions:
Planting Seeds of Faith from the Grove Around the World
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pine
August 10, 2010 - School time is approaching and Ahmed, Yasir and Jihan at the Thurman Mission House are excited (and anxious!) about going to school. When you go shopping for school supplies for your children, could you pick up a few extra supplies for them? If you could help with providing school supplies, click here for the list of supplies needed. There will be a basket in the Fellowship Hall where you can drop off the supplies or you can drop them off at the church office or bring them by the Mission House and say hello. Also, Hikmat was a taxi driver earlier in Iraq and needs help to learn the rules for the written driver’s test and needs help learning the Virginia rules. Another need is for clothing. If you have gently used clothes to give to them, Aalia (mom) wears a 10/12 (medium), Hikmat (dad) a 44short/2XL, Jihan (girl 7), a size 5, Ahmed (boy 16) an adult XL and will need khaki colored pants for school, Yasir (boy 14) an adult large. We also still need a helmet for one of the boys who love riding their bikes, a wallet for Hikmat, and international calling card minutes so they can contact their grown daughter and son still in Iraq. Another way to help both the family as well as our church youth is through gift cards, a percentage of which go to the youth, especially to Walmart, Target, and Food Lion. The family needs shoes but will need to try them on. Any of these items can be brought by the church office, fellowship hall or taken directly to the Mission House.
August 5, 2010 - Hikmat and Aalia are so grateful to finally be out of an Iraqi refugee camp, safe with their children Ahmed, Yasir, and Jihan with us in Virginia. They have been learning how to work appliances in the mission house and had their initial health and county visits. Their greatest need is to learn English. The father speaks a little English, but the others are all just beginning to learn. Also, Hikmat was a taxi driver earlier in Iraq and needs help to learn the rules for the written driver's test. If you would like to be a part of this journey, driving them to classes, helping them learn or practice in their home or yours or providing materials to help them learn, please contact Nancy LePage at (804) 261-0605. Another need is for clothing. If you have gently used clothes to give them, Allia (mom) wears a 10/M, Hikmat (dad) a 44short/2XL, Jihan (girl 7), is a size 5, Ahmed (boy 16) is a Men's Medium, Yasir (boy 13) a youth Men's Small. Yasir and Ahmed are enjoying riding their bikes and are very thankful for your donation to them. Jihan has been given a helmet, but both of the boys are still in need of one. Lastly, if anyone has a fairly updated computer that they could donate to the family, it would be extremely helpful as there are a number of computer programs that could be utilized to help them improve their English. If the computer was wireless, it would be even better. Also, a TV and DVD player are on the “wish list.” Again, please call Nancy LePage if you have any questions.
It’s Apple Gleaning Time! If you can reach up or bend down, pick up an apple, and put it in a basket, then you have all the necessary skills to make a difference and help feed the hungry! Won’t you join us on October 1st – 3rd for the annual SGUMC Apple Gleaning Trip to Winchester, Virginia? We will stay at the beautiful Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center on top of the Mountainside of Harmony Hollow, adjacent to the Shenandoah National Park, glean for apples (last year we picked over 5,000 pounds of apples) and deliver them to the local food bank who distributes food to 30,000 people per month through 70 agencies in 7 counties. We will also go on a hayride and enjoy other fun activities at a local orchard as well as participate in a traditional Love Feast Worship Service on Saturday night.
MARCH needs your help more than ever! There are families who are in great need, especially in this economic climate. As homelessness and financial distress continue to rise in our area the need for your help is rising as well. Because there are a greater number of children being fed through the food bank, our focus is on kid friendly and hearty foods such as stews and soups, peanut butter, canned tuna and meats, macaroni and cheese and healthy snacks. All non-perishable food are greatly appreciated and needed as we enter a critical time at the food pantry. As always baby foods and formulas are in high demand. Everyone deserves a healthy meal and we distribute or donations where they are most needed.
CARITAS
Our goal for these weeks is to provide a safe, comfortable and loving environment for these men and women in crisis. Please prayerfully consider how you can help to make a real difference in their lives this week! Please check this site for upcoming dates.
HOW CAN I HELP?
1. Hearty, nutritious dinner (Prepare, Serve and Clean Up) for approximately 45-50 people – Caritas guests, Caritas workers, and volunteers. Guests arrive at about 6:30pm. Dinner should be served when they arrive. Please review your menu with Nancy LePage in advance to avoid duplicate meals. She will advise in advance when she learns of any allergies or food restrictions.
2. Enjoy dinner, conversation, games, movies or other activities such as crafts, instruction on stress management, job search and resume writing, budgeting, bible stories, or just be available for the evening and show you care. Use prayer and your imagination to see how you can be a blessing to these ladies in need…and you’re welcome to bring your children with you!
3. Provide massages, haircuts, manicures, pedicures or makeovers in the evening after dinner. Mending and alterations are also very helpful. You don’t have to be a professional…just enjoy helping them feel better.
4. Hot or Continental Breakfast (Prepare, Serve and Clean Up) for approximately 44 people – Caritas guests, Caritas workers, and overnight volunteers. We would like to serve a hot breakfast at least four days on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Continental breakfast on other days should include hard boiled eggs, meats and cheeses as well as fresh fruit, cereal and bread products. Breakfast should be available at 7:00 am.
5. Prepare bag lunches for 40 people. Prepare and place lunches in decorated paper bags the day before. The children’s Sunday School classes will be decorating bags for our guests. Please review your menu with Nancy LePage in advance to avoid duplicate meals. She will advise you in advance when she learns of any allergies or food restrictions. Each lunch should include a hearty sandwich, chips, bottle of water, healthy snack, fruit or fruit cup, and dessert. (Yes, a big lunch – it’s all they have to eat all day!)
6. Drive guests to the Shady Grove YMCA for showers on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday evenings.We need 4 to 6 people with cars per night to drive our guests to the Y for showers and return them when done. Towels and toiletries will be provided. (8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.)
7. Laundry. We need 4 to 6 people per day to do laundry (wash and dry at home or a Laundromat) for our Caritas guests. You would pick up the laundry in individual bags in the evening after 7pm and return them, washed, dried, and folded, the next day by 8pm.
8. Overnight Support (9:00pm – 7:30am, 8:00am on Saturday and Sunday). We need 2 people per night to stay overnight to assist CARITAS staff if needed. (Rarely are overnight support volunteers called on to help.) There will be CARITAS staff present. You will stay in the Fellowship Hall in a separate room with a door on an air mattress and stay until our CARITAS guests leave. The bus is scheduled to pick them up at 7:30 a.m. (8am on Saturday and Sunday) Breakfast will be served! Sleep and volunteer at the same time…what could be easier!
9. Provide supplies to support our guests during the week. A complete list of supplies is on the church web site and in the sign-up area. Some are:
Paper products, plastic cutlery and napkins
Various drinks (bottled water, milk, juice, coffee, etc.)
Toothbrushes/toothpaste, deodorant, razors, combs
Fruit, bread & milk (provided several times during week.)
Healthy snacks, bread and condiments
10. Make a cash contribution for supplies and unforeseen needs.
Shady Grove Helping Hands - This program developed by our mission committee is inspired by the nationally known program “Christmas in April”. People of our congregation and local community are nominated for assistance by themselves or others to have much needed home repairs done on their property. Eligible persons must be unable to do the work themselves and unable to afford the work to be done by a professional. The work is done by parishioners donating their time and skills. If you are interested in nominating someone in need please pick up a form at the church office.
Would You Like to Join the Mission Committee and Help Plan and Coordinate the Church’s Mission Projects? Your help is needed and would be greatly appreciated. I guarantee a fulfilling and rewarding experience! We are looking for coordinators for several projects. Our next meeting is Monday February 2nd at 7pm in room 205 Please come or contact Nancy LePage at 261-0605 or nacagma@verizon.net for more info.
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