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Local Missions
Local Missions' News (Updated 10/1/2007)
Go to Local Mission News
Local Missions' Ministries
Adopt-A-Highway
Angel Tree Camping
Angel Tree Christmas
Christmas in April
Food Drive
Furniture Donation Program
Gabriel Project
Love Fund
Mitten Tree
MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
Ramp Building
School Supply Drive
If you are interested in learning more about Local Missions at KIUMC, please contact Krista Pettit at 410-643-3316 or send an email to localmissions@kiumc.org.
NOTHING BUT NETS 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
To Basketball Players and Coaches:
I am writing to invite your participation in a three-on-three basketball tournament being held at Kent Island High School gymnasium on Saturday, November 10, 2007. The tournament will help raise money for Nothing But Nets, a United Nations charitable foundation whose mission is to provide mosquito netting to rural families in Africa for malaria prevention.
Malaria is a disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Infected humans experience severe flu-like symptoms that can result in anemia, organ failure, coma and death. This devastating disease infects more than half a billion people a year and kills between one and three million. Ninety percent of those who die of the disease are African children. Africa is home to the deadliest strain of malaria and the mosquito species best equipped to transmit the disease, and many areas in Africa lack the proper infrastructure and resources to fight malaria. Malaria accounts for up to half of all hospital admissions and outpatient visits in Africa, and illness and death from malaria cost Africa approximately $12 billion a year in lost productivity.
Despite the devastation caused by this disease, malaria is both preventable and treatable. Malaria, once ubiquitous throughout much of the world, has been brought under control and even eliminated in many parts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Yet in Africa, with increasing resistance to anti-malarial drugs, struggling health systems, political instability and widespread poverty, malaria infections have actually increased during the last three decades. One of the simplest and least expensive ways proven to prevent the disease is through widespread use of insecticide-treated mosquito netting to sleep under. Bed nets serve as a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur. Pyrethroid insecticides, which are safe for this prescribed human use but are highly toxic to mosquitoes, are woven into the net fabric. A family of four can sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net, safe from malaria, for up to four years. However, the ten dollar cost of each net still inhibits their wide-scale use.
The Nothing But Nets tournament will consist of half-court games played by two teams of three players each. Teams can be groups of three adults or three children within a specific age group. Age groups will include middle school, high school, 18-30 and 31 and over. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each age category and to overall Tournament champions. Registration, including a ten dollar registration fee per player, is required by October 27. On the day of the event, team check-in will begin at 8:30am and games will commence at 9:00am. All proceeds from the event will go to Nothing But Nets.
If you are interested in registering for this event or volunteering as a court monitor, please contact Susan Lamont at (410)604-3505 or download the registration form and additional trounament details.
Hope to see you at the tournament!
Sincerely,
Susan Lamont, Tournament Co-Organizer
PERSONAL EMERGENCY KITS
Personal emergency kits provide supplies one needs in an emergency, such as a power outage, hurricane etc. The kits include a personal first aid kit, emergency contact cards, flashlight and radio, pencils and paper, blanket, whistle, along with important information regarding safety during emergencies. These bins are for the elderly and disabled within our congregation. PICK UP these kits in the back of the sanctuary. When the first 10 emergency kits are taken, please sign up to receive one in the upcoming weeks.
SHELTER SIGN UP
Sign up for shelter shifts will begin TODAY in the fellowship hall. Look for sign up a table and information! Please help make this ministry successful!
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
The Pettits are facilitating a book called "When Dick and Jane Grow Up" by Dr. David B. Hawkins. This book focuses on seven growth steps to marital maturity by identifying attitudes from childhood that keep couples from experiencing a full and satisfying marriage. Please join us in room 108 (room change) at 11:00-12:00 from September - December 2007. You are welcome!
MITTEN TREE
Look for the Mitten Tree in the hospitality room in mid October. We will be collecting gently used and new mittens, gloves, hats, scarves for school-age children. They are given to local agencies to distribute to children in need.
ADOPT A FAMILY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
KIUMC will again be supporting local families within our community during the Christmas season. This program connects KIUMC members with community people in need of Christmas help. The help can come in the form of food, fellowship, shopping for gifts, purchasing medicines and/or necessities etc. etc. This year the focus will be families and individuals who are elderly or disabled. (The focus will not be on families with children since they are adequately served thru the Adopt-A-Bear program). This is a GREAT project for Sunday School classes, small groups, families individuals etc. etc. Call Krista Pettit to get connected with a family: 410-643-3316.
Adopt-A-Highway top of page
Those helped: The local community
Adopt-A-Highway program allows volunteer groups to pick-up litter along non-interstate roadways as a community service.
KIUMC has adopted a stretch of highway from the corner of Hwy 18 and Dominion in Chester extending one mile east.
Hands on Opportunities:
Pick up trash
Contact Person:
Krista Pettit
410-643-3316
Angel Tree Camping top of page
Those helped: Local children of prisoners
By every measure, prisoners’ children are the most severely at-risk children and youth in America. Studies indicate that children of prisoners are five times more likely to end up in prison themselves.
Angel Tree Camping provides children of prisoners the opportunity to attend a local, Christian camp during the summer months. Church members provide support by purchasing camping items, such as a flashlight, backpack, and suntan lotion. Local Missions, with the help of the Angel Tree program, provides monetary assistance.
Hands on Opportunities:
Purchase camping items
Deliver and pick up children from camp
programs
Contact Person:
Suzanne Ponds
410-643-1047
Angel Tree Christmas top of page
Those helped: Local children of prisoners
By every measure, prisoners’ children are the most severely at-risk children and youth in America. Studies indicate that children of prisoners are five times more likely to end up in prison themselves.
For some 20 years, Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree® has been reaching out to the children of prisoners at Christmas time. “The Angel Tree Christmas program has been tremendously successful, reaching millions of at-risk kids across the country, but we realized that more needed to be done because the need and the hurt of children of prisoners goes so deep,” said Prison Fellowship Founder and Chairman Chuck Colson.
Angel Tree Christmas collects and distributes presents to children of prisoners during the Christmas holiday. People are asked to choose a name from several displayed on a Christmas tree and purchase age appropriate toys and clothes. The items are then wrapped and delivered to the children of prisoners requesting assistance.
Hands on Opportunities:
Adopt a child and purchase toys and clothes
Deliver items to local children
around Christmas time
Contact
Person:
Bobbi Bell 410-827-5345
Christmas in April top of page
Those helped: Local families in need of major home repairs
Christmas in April selects several area homes in need of repair every year in our local community. Area churches then adopt homes and volunteers spend one Saturday in April fixing up the residences. Most of the materials are donated and a majority of the work is done by volunteers.
In 2003, KIUMC worked on 3 homes, doing general carpentry, plumbing, painting, cleaning, laying carpet, and many other tasks. There is something for every skill level, even the unskilled!
Hand on Opportunities:
Help with home repairs, all
skill levels are desired
Contact Person:
Christopher Pettit
410-643-3316
Food Drive top of page
Those helped: Local people in need of food
The food drive is held the first Sunday of each month. Non perishable food items are collected and delivered to Living Waters Food Bank. The “Special” of the month include peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti and sauce etc.
Hands on Opportunities:
Donate food
Volunteer at Living Waters Food Bank
Contact Person for
food donations:
Krista Pettit 410-643-3316
Furniture Donation Program top of page
Those helped: Local families in need
Due to an overwhelming need for furniture, used home furnishings are collected and distributed to families in need of such items.
Hands on Opportunities:
Donate home furnishings
Use of pick up truck
Pick up
and deliver furniture
Contact Person:
Krista Pettit
410-643-3316
Gabriel Project top of page
Those helped: Families in crisis pregnancies
The Gabriel Project is a grass-roots, faith-based, non-profit organization which meets the practical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women and families facing crisis pregnancies in the spirit of Christian solidarity. Kent Island United Methodist Church currently assist three to five families every week with material goods, such as bassinets, cribs, strollers, high chairs, toys, clothing, and diapers etc. Angel friends is an outreach of Gabriel Project where two women are assigned to befriend a woman in a crisis pregnancy.
Hand on Opportunities:
Donate gently used maternity, infant, baby, and toddler items
Use of a truck to deliver goods
Deliver items to families
Angel friends
Contact Person:
Krista Pettit 410-643-3316
Gabriel Project Help line 1-800-533-0093
Love Fund top of page
Those helped: Local residents facing financial hardships
The Love Fund is a resource available to local residents and church members that are facing tough times financially. The fund is designed to help individuals or families by paying a bill for an essential service that they currently are unable to pay.
Contact:
Church Office 410-643-5361
Mitten Tree top of page
Those helped: Local school age children
At the beginning of the fall season, a tree is displayed on which to hang hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves. At the end of the collection period, these winter items are given to elementary school guidance counselors to be distributed to children in need of these winter items. Winter coat donations are also accepted.
Hands on Opportunities:
Donate winter clothing items
Deliver clothing to local schools
Contact person:
Krista Pettit
410-643-3316
MOPS top of page
Those helped: Mothers of Preschoolers
MOPS is a program designed for mothers of young children (conception through kindergarten age) to foster relationships and share Christ with other moms who are trying to be better moms, wives, homemakers and friends. The meetings are held at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church.
Hands on Opportunities:
Attend enjoyable meetings
Group leader
Financial recorder
Communications
Craft committee
Hospitality
Special events coordinator
Contact Person:
Michelle Tuttle, Safe Harbor Church
410-249-0154
Ramp Building top of page
Those helped: Local residents who require a ramp to enter their residence
Ramp building projects are headed by Steve Walters. They determine the ramp configurations, materials and labor. A team of skilled and unskilled laborers is then compiled to build the ramp.
Hands on Opportunities:
Ramp building, skilled and unskilled laborers
Project coordinators
Contact Person:
Krista Pettit
410-643-3316
School Supply Drive top of page
Those helped: Local children in need
At the beginning of each school year, hundreds of school supplies are collected and donated to area elementary schools. Items include scissors, glue, notebook paper, folders, back packs, and pencils etc. Guidance counselors distribute the items to needy children.
Hands on Opportunities:
Donate school supplies
Deliver school supplies to area schools
Contact Person:
Krista Pettit
410-643-3316