Ongoing Missions
- Arcadia Center for Needy: Clothes and canned foods
- Immokalee Farm Workers: Clothing and hygiene products. We make monthly trips to deliver the items.
- New York Mission Trip: In June of 2008 we are planning a mission trip to Niagara Falls, NY for the mid-high group. And although the magnificent waterfalls of Niagara Falls are what attract most to this area each year, we are attracted for a much different reason. We are going to make a positive difference in the residents of Niagara Falls that battle economic problems and poverty. Just as Jesus unselfishly fed the poor, cared for the sick, brought people together, and worked amazing miracles, we too are going to be as much like Jesus as God will allow us to be. This is a Christ-centered trip were the youth will have opportunities for work projects and outreach; working alongside numerous social service organizations to support children’s ministries, the elderly and the homeless.
Monthly Missions
January: Heifer Project
Heifer’s mission is to work with communities around the world to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth, and there are several giving opportunities that help achieve that mission. You’ll be amazed at the difference charitable giving and a simple animal gift can make in the life of a struggling family. www.heifer.org
February and March: Pajama Project and Souper Bowl
Pajama Project
“The Pajama Project provides new, warm pajamas and books to children in need in the United States, and around the world, many who are waiting and hoping to be adopted. These are youngsters who may not know the comforts of a mother or father to tuck them into a cozy bed and read them a bedtime story. Too many have been abandoned, most deprived of any love at all.” www.pajamaproject.org
Souper Bowl Sunday:
Please join us on February 3rd at 9am as the Christian Education Committee hosts the Souper Bowl Sunday Kick-off Breakfast. Bring in your brown bag full of canned foods for the needy and enjoy a breakfast on us.
April and May: Family Tree
Now it is time to show God’s love in a different way by loving one another like never before within our church family. There will be a cutout of our “family tree” in the Narthex on Sunday mornings and in Pfrangle Hall the rest of the week. But the tree will start out as just a trunk with empty branches. It is our job to help it grow. There will be cutouts of leaves and every time you do a good deed for one of our church family members write that deed down on a leaf and attach it to the tree. It might be as simple as giving someone a call to let them know you missed them on Sunday or baking bread for a member in a retirement park. You might help a new member feel comfortable by sitting by them in church or giving one of our kids a hug. The possibilities are endless! Help our tree to grown by nurturing our church family and share God’s love.
June, July and August: Linus Project
“Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission statement, which states: It is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.” www.linusproject.org
Preemie – 16 X 16, 20 X 20 – these are to be sewn in pretty flannel fabric for preemie isolettes. The NICU likes them for holidays too, like prints for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s, 4 th of July, etc. they lay the babies on them and it cheers the parents and nurses up.
32 X 32 – Crocheted with baby yarn for preemie newborns
36 X 36 – for newborn babies
Toddlers – 45 X 50 to 52
Kiddies - 45 X 58
Preteen - 45 X 60 to 65
Teens - 45 X 72
All blankets should be sewn, quilted, crocheted or knitted in washable fabrics or yarns and in child-friendly colors. Please no dark colors.
We deliver to the Charlotte County Pregnancy Crisis Center, Children & Families Services Safety Divison, Chara House for homeless mothers with children to age 4, Bishop House for homeless pregnant mothers, Peace River Hospital’s Emergency Room, Fawcett Hospitals five-bed pediatric ward, Charlotte County Schools Teen-Parent Program, Hospice, individual children that we hear about, Venice Pregnancy Crisis Center, Sarasota Hospitals NICU unit and Pediatric Floor (Charlotte County children use both), YMCA Character House in Sarasota for teen moms age 13 to 17, the Ronald McDonald House in Tampa, the children’s cancer center, heart center and kidney center all in Tampa.
September and October: Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child
It is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project that sends a message of hope to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes. Children from the ages of 2-14 will be receiving our gifts.
From September 1st until our Fall Carnival on October 31st we will be collecting clear plastic shoe box containers from the Dollar Store. Bring in as many as you can each time you pop in there. Bring them to church with you (there will be a bin in the Narthex) or drop them by the church office. We are using plastic shoe boxes since these are going to third world countries and regular shoe boxes will not hold up to get the items to these children. Pick up any of the items listed below when you see them on sale (after the school rush when school items are on sale would be a great time to get some stuff). Bring them to church or the church office. If you would rather donate money to purchase the boxes and the items to fill them…feel free to drop your donation in the offering plate, just make sure that the memo line or the envelope have “Operation Christmas Child” clearly marked.
Please note: You don’t have to bring in completed boxes. You can bring in empty boxes, items for the boxes, and or donate money. Every little bit helps.
Gift Ideas (All items should be new):
TOYS – something to love
Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, puzzle, yo-yo, blocks, trucks, cars, doll, clip-on earrings, hair accessories, can even a hand-made toy if you knit or crochet, etc
EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES – something to do
Pens, pencils, markers, pencil sharpener, coloring books, stamps and stamp pads, small notebooks, chalk, stickers, glue sticks, etc
HYGIENE ITEMS – something to use
Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of wrapped soap, etc
OTHERE ITEMS – something to wear
Gloves, scarf (can be handmade- knit or crochet), sunglasses, cap, hat, bracelets, socks, etc
Please Do not include the following:
Food; Medicine or Vitamins; War Related Items (guns, soldiers, tanks, or knives); Large clothing items; Fragile items; Liquids (bubbles, shampoos, bubble bath); Dangerous items (marbles, choking hazards, sharp objects); or Novels
November and December: Angel Tree and Jesus’ Birthday
Angel Tree
Right now, an estimated 2.3 million children have a mom or dad in prison. The number is huge – but so is the opportunity. Angel Tree is a ministry that reaches out to the children of inmates and their families with the love of Christ. It seeks to transform the lives of these families and to reconcile them to their Heavenly Father and each other. At Christmastime, volunteers from our church purchase and deliver gifts to the children of inmates in their parent’s name. Each gift delivery also presents an opportunity to share the love and hope of Christ with each family. Through Angel Tree, these children feel a parent’s love, despite their absence. (due to the office by Dec 14th) www.angeltree.org
December 21st: Birthday Party for Jesus
Bring in “baby” items; diapers, bottles, crips, clothes, blankets, etc. All items will be given to the Arcadia Pregnancy Center, Breath of Life
Breath Of Life Pregnancy Center
P.O. Box 1892
Arcadia, FL 34265
Tel: 863-491-5528