GLEANING OPPORTUNITIES DURING HUNGER ACTION MONTH
Gleaning: the act of colleting leftover crops from farmer’s fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest to provide for less fortunate people. (See Leviticus 19:9-10, 23:22, Deuteronomy 24:19-21, Ruth 2:3)
Gleaning Opportunity at Marker Miller Orchards in Winchester:
If you are interested in receiving information about this opportunity, please contact Sharon Evick at sharonevick@comcast.net.
Fourth Sunday Food Collection for Loudoun Hunger Relief. Please see the list below of the items that are frequently needed. They also accept grocery cards. Thank you for your generous donations throughout the year!
1. Dry beans
2. Whole grain pasta, rice
3. Fresh fruits & vegetables
4. Whole grain cereal
5. Canned meats (tuna or chicken)
6. Healthy cooking oil (ex: olive)
7. Peanut butter
8. Low Sodium soups (under 350mg per serving)
Thank you for supporting our Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale!
Harmony’s Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale is being held on Saturday, November 19 from 9am to 2pm. Thank you to all who have already contributed your gently used and vintage items held during the Bazaar.
We’re still collecting for our Christmas Shoppe. So, please take a moment to look through your Christmas decorations, old jewelry and earrings, and other holiday-themed items for our Shoppe. Thanks for being on the lookout for:
* Costume and nice jewelry including adult earrings, necklaces, bracelets.
* Any preowned or new Christmas/winter items: ornaments, décor, nativities, angels, cookie-making items and tins, etc.
New Resource to Expand Food Access Information for Loudoun Residents
The Loudoun Food Providers Network, a collective of numerous Loudoun County food pantries started by Loudoun Hunger Relief in 2018, has launched LoudounFeeds.org. This brand new website has an up-to-date and detailed list of food resources for Loudoun County residents.
Whether you need food, or would like to volunteer to get food out into the community, check out LoudounFeeds.org to connect with these organizations!
To read the full article from LoudounNow regarding Loudoun Feeds, click here
UMCOR Advance #982450: The United Methodist Committee on Relief has a special section on help for the Ukraine at: https://umcmission.org/umcor/ukraine/ Your Mission Committee is considering fundraising and direct donation opportunities to UMCOR over the next few weeks. We’ll be inviting you to join in as these efforts are organized. Meanwhile, please visit the web site for more information. Our United Methodist Church has a strong track record of being quick to respond but also having a lot of “staying power.” Help for people in the Ukraine as well as future potential refugees will be a long-term commitment for the UMC and we will be taking guidance from the District as it evolves.
Visit the following links for information about our contributions to LAWS and Loudoun Missions Foundation:
Community Giving: Loudoun Missions Foundation
Pennies for Potatoes
Look for the big water jugs by HUMC’s doorways to drop off your contributions. Because “spare change” may not be as readily available in our move to cashless payments, you can also donate directly to the Society of St. Andrews at. https://endhunger.org/. Mary Preston collects up our loose change and donates it to the Society of St. Andrews that, as of November 2021, had shared 49,527,057 servings of fresh food with soup kitchens, food banks and pantries, low-income housing projects, etc. across the US.
Community Food Pantry
Thank you to all of the kind folks who provide non-perishable food items, check on, and stock the Ted Cody Memorial Food Pantry just outside Driscoll Hall. You can sign up to join in the Pantry project by clicking on the following link: Community Food Pantry
Missions Card Outreach to College Students
Did you know that according to Pew Research (https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/), “fewer than six-in-ten Millennials identify with any branch of Christianity, compared with seven-in-ten or more among older generations, including Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers.?” The article linked above is an interesting read published in 2015 based on 2014 data unlikely to have changed in the last 8 years. As students move away from home, a variety of studies have shown that there is higher potential for them to fall away from their church community as they seek meaningful social connections elsewhere.
It’s in the context of this challenging trend that your Harmony Missions Team, led by Judy Fry and Roxanne Tipton, has been conducting outreach to HUMC-based college students for several years. Throughout the year, and at holiday times, Judy and Roxanne request an updated address list for our far-flung student members from Robin Good, our church administrative assistant. Then they write personalized and loving notes to each student member to let them know that their HUMC family is thinking of them and praying for them and their future success. Sometimes they include cheery items like magnets or photos to help our students stay connected with our church during this busy time in their lives. Our students have reported that they are happy to receive in-real-life mail at a time when so much of our communication is digital.
You can help support this terrific outreach mission by making sure that you have updated your student’s address with Robin. Thanks!
Community Giving Report
As part of our service and outreach mission, HUMC supports causes and organizations internationally, regionally, and locally. Your Missions Committee will provide a periodic report featuring the ways your faithful contributions are working in our community.
Our Lenten devotions explore the Lord’s Prayer and we focus on the beginning of this familiar prayer and the full meaning of “Our Father.” We are called to love one another as a family no matter the circumstances. It is with this commandment in mind that we have developed our long-term relationship with the Backpack Buddies Program in Loudoun and families and children in need at Hamilton and Lincoln Elementary Schools. And we are not alone in this work. Many organizations and individuals collaborate across a variety of school-based food distribution programs to ensure children can access nutritious meals. There are so many ways we can connect with our communities and work here on earth to help anyone in need, anyone who is hungry, and anyone who is hurting, as we prepare to meet Our Father in heaven.
- For several years HUMC members have provided food to school children on weekends and during school breaks.
- Fifteen volunteers take on weekly shopping and delivery to meet our community need.
- HUMC’s Youth Group also helps with sorting and packing the bags
- Working with Hamilton and Lincoln Elementary School Parent Liaisons, families can confidentially receive aid to ensure their children don’t go hungry.
- HUMC works locally but Backpack Buddy programs exist in a variety of forms across the U.S., e.g. via Feeding America.
- You can learn how to join in from our team lead, Roxanne Tipton.
- You can learn more about Backpack Buddies Loudoun at https://www.bbfloudoun.org/about-us and Feeding America’s national efforts at: https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/hunger-relief-programs/backpack-program
HUMC and Teens Opposing Poverty: Leadership across generations
Teens Opposing Poverty (TOP) began in 1987 at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church with outreach to homeless people in Washington, DC. In 2005, the group expanded to cities in Virginia serving the homeless as well as seniors in subsidized housing and low-income homeowners who cannot pay for repairs. TOP brings together over 1,000 volunteers from over 50+ youth groups, including Harmony’s, to serve low-income people. HUMC’s youth and congregation have helped homeless people in Washington, DC in partnership with DC TOP for almost a decade and have conducted service projects and visits (like the one coming up on April 2) with Johnson Williams Apartments (JWA) in Berryville, VA. JWA is a low-income residence for seniors developed in the early 1990s in a refurbished historical building built originally in 1928 to house a training program and high school for Black students.
- HUMC donated winter clothing and gift cards to DC TOP in November 2021
- HUMC volunteers conduct regular visits to Johnson-Williams Apartments including one coming up on April 2
- Our HUMC congregation made a $1,000 financial contribution to the Teens Opposing Poverty Ministry in 2021
HUMC at Johnson Williams Apartments, a relationship fostered our HUMC teen members and TOP
DC TOP homeless community outreach
Sources:
https://teensopposingpoverty.org/
https://www.communityhousingpartners.org/properties/johnson-williams-apartments/
https://clarkecounty.pastperfectonline.com/photo/DC9932DB-D8CC-4FF3-907F-250641102213
Salvation Army
HUMC works continually with the Salvation Army Potomac Division. You can learn more about their work, donate to support their community efforts, and volunteer with them by visiting: https://salvationarmysouth.org/
Mobile Hope:
Mobile Hope Stays committed to their “Listen for the Honk” program while at the same time helping at risk youth in our community. Visit https://mobile-hope.org/
Loudoun Hunger Relief (LHR):
LHR continues to work urgently to make sure that they are able to serve everyone who comes to them for food. Visit https://www.loudounhunger.org/ to see opportunities for donating time, food, money.
Tree of Life:
Tree of Life Ministries is available during this challenging time. They provide food deliveries, food to-go meals, and a food pantry. Contact and email information is listed at http://tolministries.org/food-purcellville.html as well as information about volunteering and donations.
Society of St. Andrew (SoSA):
SoSA’s mission statement is simple: to bring people together to harvest and share healthy food, reduce food waste, and build caring communities by offering nourishment to neighbors. Visit https://endhunger.org/ for the opportunity to donate.
Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS):
LAWS’ commitment to provide free and confidential services for anyone who has experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse. If anyone is aware of anyone in need, share with them the LAWS’ HOTLINE number 703-777-6552. For opportunities to donate to this important community resource, visit https://www.lcsj.org/donate-to-laws/
COVID-19: Loudoun County’s Response:
During this time of community need, residents, businesses and government are pulling together to respond. Here are suggestions for what you can do to help your neighbors, as well what the county is doing in response to the crisis. https://www.loudoun.gov/5322/COVID-19-Loudoun-Countys-Response
Pet Pantry Serves Fuzzy Family Members
Loudoun County Animal Services, Loudoun Hunger Relief and the Humane Society of Loudoun County have partnered since 2013 on a pet pantry to help people who can’t afford to feed their dogs and cats. And just like the human food pantry, the pet pantry has seen a surge in demand at the same time that donations and fundraising became more difficult.
Are you interested in donating to pet food pantries visit the web site at: https://www.loudoun.gov/3020/Pet-Pantry to learn more
HUMC’s Missions MinistryOur Missions Ministry encourages the people of Harmony UMC to contribute to missionary service under the direction of God. The Missions Committee works to make the greatest use of the Lord’s resources for mission efforts by supporting donations/collections and outreach/Mission Trips in three areas: Local, US, and International.Harmony UMC has a passion for leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We are committed to serve inside and outside of our church walls. We believe when people engage in service, it leads new friendships, life changing experiences, and growth in your relationship with Jesus.
The Missions Committee maintains mission policy, plans for mission opportunities and projects, develops and promotes means for involvement in missions, monitors activities of missionaries, and manages the mission’s budget. The work of the Missions Committee supports Harmony Church and coordinates with other ministries and committees within the church.
Mission Committee Members
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- Joann Ballard, District Representative
- Tracy Cody
- Sharon Evick
- Judy Fry
- Marsha Keim
- Marcey Kellogg, Co-Chair
- Mary Preston
- Joy Smith
- Sharon Thomas
- Roxanne Tipton
- Becky Haines – Chairperson
- Clarin Gaucher, Youth Member
Harmony Mission Policy and Proposal Application process
In an effort to better communicate and coordinate mission initiatives/activities in the church, we have put together a process to bring forth new mission opportunities.
ONGOING: LOUDOUN HUNGER RELIEF
This is one of our many missions to provide food for the hungry. Escalating costs of housing, health care, food, transportation and utilities provide challenges for more and more families to make ends meet. The working poor, senior citizens, the ill or disabled, the homeless, and children are helped every year by Loudoun Hunger Relief. Harmony designates the fourth Sunday of each month for food collection but donations are welcome anytime. The collection bin for donations is in Driscoll Hall. Following is a list of food items most needed:
- canned meats (tuna/chicken)
- rice
- beans
- pasta
- low sodium, hearty soups
- cereal/breakfast items
- canned tomatoes
Emergency Contact NumbersHave you ever had anyone ask you where they can find food or shelter for the night? Maybe you’ve seen a person with a sign on a street corner or someone has asked you for money to help with food. Here is a list of phone numbers of organizations that offer assistance to individuals/families — safe shelter, warm meals, gas/utility money, etc.
- Cold Weather Shelter, 571-258-3033
- Good Shepherd Alliance, 703-724-1555
- Heifer International, www.heifer.org
- Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS), 703-777-6552; (Spanish – 703-443-2810)
- Youth & Children Services (LAWS), 703-771-3973
- Loudoun Cares, 703-669-4636
- Loudoun County Youth Shelter (behavioral), 703-771-5300
- Loudoun Drop-In Shelter, 571-258-3033
- Loudoun Emergency Homeless Shelter, 571-258-3033
- Loudoun Hunger Relief, 703-777-5911
- Mobile Hope, 703-771-1400
- Salvation Army, 703-771-3371
- Tree of Life, 540-441-7920
Listing of Mission Organizations
Click on this link to see a listing of mission organizations we work with along with Mission opportunities. Look for the links throughout the document for more information.
Listing of Mission Organizations
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