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“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
The Outreach Ministry Team has decided that, during this crazy Covid season in our lives, we want to encourage the congregation to adopt a Year of Cheerful Hearts. Similar to “paying it forward” and “random acts of kindness”, we will provide a number of options to extend Christian love in our community and in the world. Please print or save this quarterly list and discuss as a family what you would like to do each month. We would also love to hear what else you’ve been doing, with the hope that we can expand our church’s ministry. Please send your ideas to one of the Outreach Deacons: Kathy Hostetler, Kris South, or Gina Ahern.
JANUARY
Make a fleece blanket! We have found a “new to us” local organization called Jill’s Blankets, which makes fleece blankets for cancer patients. The effort was started by Jill Ward, a local attorney who began making the fleece blankets while she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. Jill noticed both she and other cancer patients shivering during their infusion treatments and recognized the warmth and comfort these blankets could provide. Sadly, Jill passed away in 2013, but her husband decided to continue the effort in her memory. Other churches and organizations have joined in. Learn more at jillsblankets.org.
The blankets are easy and inexpensive to make. Absolutely no sewing is required, and during this time of Covid, they can be easily be made in the comfort of your own home. Of course, once it is safe to meet together again, we will schedule blanket making gatherings. If you have ever helped in the past making fleece blankets for our CARITAS guests, then you are already an expert and know how much fun these are to make! 😉
This effort will be headed by Outreach team member, Kristin Kim. If you are interested in making a blanket from home, you can find instructions HERE. Contact Kristin Kim via email or at (804)339-8165 if you have questions or need additional instructions on how to make the blankets.
Sign up to give blood through the Red Cross HERE. One donation can potentially save up to three lives!
Clean out your closet and donate your décor and furniture to the Habitat ReStore or the CARITAS Furniture Bank. Click the following links for a list of what each organization accepts: ReStore or CARITAS.
FEBRUARY
Celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17 with an activity, large or small, to help others. Send us a picture and tell us what you did!
Purchase a new or donate a gently-used elementary school book to benefit Richmond Public School’s Lit Limo. The Lit Limo is a converted school bus that brings hundreds of books to RPS students to help implement their reading strategies and create excitement about reading. Drop off your books at any time to the bin in the Outreach Closet.
Collect food and cleaning supplies to benefit Central Baptist’s Broken Loaves Food Pantry and HomeAgain. Set aside a box in your house where you can collect your donations all month long! Click HERE for the donation list. No contact drop-off will be at the church from 10 a.m. till noon on February 27.
Make a donation for the Souper Bowl of Caring. For over 30 years, the Souper Bowl of Caring has been driving grassroots efforts using the energy of the Big Game to illustrate the collective impact of tackling hunger locally. Since 1990, over $163 million has been raised for almost 10,000 local charities around the nation and the world. Mail or drop-off your donation check to the church anytime leading up to the Super Bowl on February 7.
MARCH
Sign up for our first Habitat build project of 2021 on March 27 by clicking HERE. Also, take a look at the other build dates in 2021 to see if there’s another date that works for you and/or your family.
Sign up to make bagged lunches for Friends of the Homeless. On the second Thursday of every month, we provide 100 bagged lunches for the homeless who are served by this ministry. The Outreach Team pays for the food, you just have to purchase the grocery items, assemble the lunches, and deliver them to Broomfield CME Church. Interested in assembling 50 or 100 lunches? Contact Susan Williams.
Tell your neighbors and friends on social media about our ongoing pop top collection drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Drop off your pop tops anytime to the bin in the Outreach Closet in the Narthex. Click HERE for more information.