2011 Mission Work 

January - We will participated in Souper Bowl for Hunger. January 14 we will host a 7,500# produce truck from Feeding America West Michigan by a grant from Muskegon Community Cooperating Churches. Soup and Sandwiches will be served on Sunday, January 30th and the profit used for "Share the Blessing" Food Pantry.  

February - Blanket Sunday Members can purchase blankets from CWS for $5 each. Blankets can be used in many ways: a table cloth, carry belonging, carry a person or baby, to keep warm, to make a tent, to provide comfort, & to provide clothing. A number of them have been noticed around people in Haiti! This month we host a 7,500# produce truck on February 24th. 

March: We will collected for One Great Hour of Sharing. During March & April a complete account of all donations to our food pantry will be kept and sent in and matched by donations collected by Mr. Feinstein. Each year this gentleman donates 1 million dollars in the fight for hunger and in doing so encourages others to give. Each food item donated will be counted as $1 donated. Financial donations will be counted at face value. Remember $1 will buy 6#s of food items at Feeding America. Fresh produce only cost $.06 #.  This month we hosted a 7,500# produce truck on the 14th.

April: Feinstein Hunger Drive A gentleman call Allen Feinstein has for years, during the months of March & April, encouraged organizations and individuals to pledge money to help fight hunger. WLCUCC then encourages people to donate to the pantry which is matched, depending on the amount Mr. Feinstein raises. Each item can be counted as $1, a dollar is $1, or the item can be counted according to its weight. Each pantry is awarded at least $250. We can buy a lot of food from Feeding America West Michigan with that money.  

May: Strengthen the Church is an offering that helps UCC churches reach out in the community to people who are unchurched. A church in New York has helped many families by providing spiritual food, financial help and a family home for people in need. We collected $101 last year. 

June: Noisy Offering will be used for VBS expenses.  This program is offered free to children in the community. We are planning on doing Lighthouse Kids.  

July: Noisy Offering will be used for Backpack Give Away. We usually collect enough items/financial donations to fill at least 35-50 backpacks.  Backpack Give Away is held at Lebanon Lutheran Church. 

August: Noisy Offering for ???. This month we will participate in Pasties for Habitat and will continue collecting for Backpack Give Away.  

September:  Noisy Offering will go toward CROPWALK.

October: Noisy Offering this month will be used for UNICEF. CROP Hunger Walk Event (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Oct. 2nd.  Our church has been involved in the Cropwalk for over 20 years. Jack Lamoreaux is on the planning board and works hard to make this a successful project.  Last year our church hosted the starting point for the walk. A portion of the 25% that stays in the White Lake Area has previously been given to our food pantry, "Share the Blessing".  We had about 35 people involved who raised about $2,000. Brook Kelley and Heather Hams were honor with gift certificates for their large support. Over 2000 communities across the country participate to raise funds for hunger fighting agencies, including our pantry and for international relief. CROP rebuilds houses, provides food and medications and builds wells for clean water. Coat Drive: We will once again collect clean, nice winter coats, boots and snowpants for the Giving Tree & Kidz Klub.  UNICEF: has been a part of the mission of our church for over 20 years also.  Children of the church will go door to door & collect. They'll dress in costumes and delight many adults who live around the church. Neighbors in Need (NIN) NIN is a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the U.S.  One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives and advocacy efforts. We take a collection on World Communion Sunday.

November: Noisy Offering will be for the Food Drive for the hungry. We will also have a food drive. Financial donations will be used to buy needed items from Feeding America West Michigan

December: Noisy Offering will be taken for Veterans of the Cross. Our main focus this month is the Giving Tree hosted by St. James Church. In 2010 we filled over 80 tags for at least 15 families. 

Marilyn Ryan, as well as the Bree, Elwood, Keith and Pam Koebel, deliver Meals on Wheels to elderly people in our community almost every Tuesday. Donations of cookies are always welcomed by the clients.

Thanks to Diane Johnson for the wonderful job you are doing with benevolence and as our financial advisor.