Outreach

Reaching out with tangible love to our neighbors in need.

As we begin 2013, Outreach wanted to give you a summary of how we followed Christ’s command to love one another and serve the least of these during 2012.

LOCALLY:

We continued sponsorship of a family in the NOVACO program, with our mentor putting in many hours to this family.  We made a financial donation of $2,000 and supported them at Christmas.

We cooked, transported, and served 12 meals to the ladies at Bethany Shelter in Washington DC.  (4th Sunday of each month)

We also cooked and served a Thanksgiving feast to the ladies.

We cooked and delivered 11 meals to the homeless in Fairfax County through the FACETS Hot Meals program. (4th Thursday of each month)

We filled 50 Easter baskets for local children through FACETS.

We filled 50 Christmas stockings for the Salvation Army.

We held 2 rummage sales to raise money and provide a service for area residents.

We collected school supplies for FACETS.

We provided 500 weekend lunch bags to local children through Food for Others.  Each bag costs approximately $5.00 and contains food the child can have during the weekend when they aren’t receiving their school free lunch.  We are looking at the probability of adopting a school to provide these on a regular basis.

Weekly sandwiches to the local shelter. (Thursday am)

Tuesday night food distribution for Food for Others.

Made donations of several thousand dollars to families in financial need.

Building was available to several community groups in need of space.

Heart’s Afire wrote messages of hope to nursing homes, prisoners of conscience, etc.

NATIONALLY:

A mission team went to Pine Ridge in South Dakota for our annual Lakota trip.  Members of Good Shepherd work with team members from a few other area congregations to provide home repair work, children’s activities, and relationship building.

Money was given to UMCOR through our Giving Tree to go toward relief from Hurricane Sandy.

INTERNATIONALLY:

The youth participated in the World Vision 30 hour famine, raising several thousand dollars for this organization.

Sunday School classes raised money for several groups with bake sales, hot chocolate sales,etc.

Our Lenten campaign raised $20,000 for the Christian School of New Vision under the direction of Ludner St. Amore in Haiti. In addition, many members sponsored a child on a monthly basis.

Medical/missions team visited Christian School of New Vision in May.

Money went to Heifer International as part of our Giving Tree.

A Stop Hunger Now event was held, putting together 25,000 meals at a cost of $6,500.