BENEVOLENCE PROGRAMS
For I was an hungered,
and
ye gave me
meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took
me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and
ye came unto me.
Matthew 25:35-36
2010
BENEVOLENCE
This year we assisted more
that 60 families financially with their utilities, rent and other
necessities.
After the May flood, the
Churches of Christ Disaster Relief delivered 1½ tractor trailer
truckloads of
supplies and food to our fellowship hall. Our members unloaded and
organized
these items. They set up a help station where people filled out
paperwork,
cried and told us their stories. Our “store” was open for 14 days,
except for
Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and was manned by members of the
congregation, many of them working everyday. Over 200 families were
given the
supplies and food they needed immediately after the flood.
This Thanksgiving the youth
group’s annual food drive was a huge success.
Our members gathered to pack 66 food boxes and deliver them to
families
in our community. Each box included the
food for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and a turkey.
The annual Sharing Party is a
wonderful event that gives our neighbors and us a chance to get to know
each other
and for us to show our love and concern for them. This
year we had over 120 in attendance. We had
pizza and each child received a
present while having their picture taken with Santa.
After the party each family was sent home
with a food box (including a turkey) and presents for the children to
open
Christmas morning.
Each year, in addition to the
sharing party, the youth group has a toy drive of new and gently used
toys. This toy drive provides a toy to
children in our neighborhood who would otherwise not receive anything
for
Christmas.
During the year more than 130
boxes of food were given out to families coming by the church or
calling for a
delivery because they do not have transportation.
We would like to thank you for
your support of the Christmas Sharing Party in the Bend and all the
other wonderful benevolent
works our church does. Friends and
neighbors are able to see the love and care we have for others. We may never know how much good that has been
done and what our reaching out has meant to someone but the Lord knows
of our
efforts.
___________________________________
Last year,
2008: We assisted 84 families financially with rent, utilities,
medical, or
other needs.
We
offer a box of food for each family when they come by the Church office
and
fill out an application requesting assistance.
At
Thanksgiving, we delivered food boxes (that were sized for the number
of people
in the family) for a total of 75 families.
We also gave each family, a turkey or ham along with the boxes. Many of our young people and adult members
volunteered to fill the boxes with canned goods and other food items. Many of our young people and adults helped in
the delivery of the boxes.
As
the Christmas Holidays approached, the congregation made a special
collection
and donated $8,900.00 in cash for our Christmas sharing.
Food and gifts were given to 19 families with
44 children. Santa came by for the boys
and girls, so they could talk to him and sit on his lap.
This year, 2009: We have given and
delivered food to 55 families. In each
box we insert a sheet of Bible questions, tracts, a letter, and a
recent Church
bulletin, in hope that families will read the Bible, answer questions
about the
Church and study the Bible. We have
assisted 35 families with financial aid this year.
We have acquired several items of equipment
for the handicapped that includes powered wheel chairs, regular wheel
chairs,
walkers, crutches, etc. These various
items may be checked out for use by members who may be temporally
immobile, or
permanently handicapped. The office keeps
records of to whom the items are loaned and those people are expected
to return
the items when they are no longer needed, so others, that have needs in
the
future, may be blessed by having the equipment.
This report is
respectfully submitted
by, Joe Burns, Chairman of Benevolent Works Committee.
April 28, 2009.
Update
September 30, 2008
The number of people we
have helped this year through "Clara’s Closet":
From January 1
through September 30, 2008 clothes have been given to 162 people.
Update June 18, 2008
This
update shows only a portion of what the benevolence committee does at
the
church in the bend. This work is done
with the oversight and approval of our elders, and Al Akin served as
the
chairman of Benevolence Committee. I am
honored to have served on the benevolence committee since 2005.
A
wonderful thing about the benevolence program at Neely’s
Christmas Sharing Party
In 2002, Rick and Debbie McMasters started the Christmas
Sharing Party, providing gifts and food for the needy families in our
community.
Each year, gifts are purchased with funds donated by
members of the church, and wrapped by the “sewing ladies” who meet each
Wednesday.
Last year over $7,000.00 was donated for Christmas
sharing. The children get their picture
taken with Santa at which time gifts and food boxes are loaded into
cars at the
side doors.
Sewing Ladies – Visiting
the Sick
Our Wednesday morning sewing ladies made 450 pillows that
we delivered with a check to patients at
Serving the Orphans
We
were able to send a check to Potter’s Children’s Home where Jim Bill
McInteer
is a board member.
Feeding the Hungry
In October 2004 David and Cherri North began our food drive
for Thanksgiving food boxes which provides the children in the Bible
school
department a chance to participate in helping to feed the needy in our
community.
During the week of Thanksgiving each year, several members
of the congregation gather on Monday evening and put food in boxes. The food is then delivered on Tuesday. Last year, members of the congregation (of
all ages) delivered food boxes to 65 families in our neighborhood. Each family received a turkey and other
non-perishable
food items and a note from the Neely’s
In January 2006 we began stocking our food pantry, and many
families have been given food from this room.
In the bulletin each Sunday there is a food item that is listed
to bring
for the following Sunday. This enables
us to keep our food pantry stocked with varied non-perishable foods. Members of the congregation have delivered
food to families who had no way of picking up their food.
Clothing for Those in Need
In June 2007 Clara’s Closet was started by
When people need clothes, we often find that they have
other needs as well. For example: in May
2008, the “Closet” received a request for clothes for an elderly
gentleman who
had just moved into
The inventory for Clara’s Closet has continued to grow from
the generous donation of church members.
The area needed for the Closet has grown and with the help of
the
The Help of the Bible
School Department
Through the leadership of David and Cherri North, the
lessons of Matthew 25 have been put into practice.
Our young people are given the opportunity to
learn by doing good for others and to experience the joy of benevolence
work.
In December 2004 David and Cherri North started our toy
drive to make sure that children in our neighborhood receive new toys
for
Christmas.
In January 2005 David and Cherri North begin the coat
drive. Most of the coats are distributed
through guidance counselors at the Neely’s Bend Elementary and Middle
Schools. The rest were given to the
elderly at
In July 2006 Eric Rucker and Billy and Nancy Shipman
carried the youth group to
During the summer of 2007, the youth group led by Eric
Rucker, Rob Hatchett and Dr. David Adams met and painted the house of a
widow
who is a long time member of this church family – a sweet and precious
lady.
On Wednesday nights, our young people make and send cards
to our shut-ins. During summer months,
our young people put fruit baskets together and deliver them to our
shut-ins.
This month, June 2008, the
Continue to Serve
We have assisted many families with medical needs, utility
bills, rent and other necessities which have resulted in some of these
families
attending our church services and some have been baptized.
THE BENEVOLENCE
COMMITTEE
_______________________________
JOE BURNS