Namibia Fill the Container Drive
The Metro DC Synod’s Namibian Task Force would like to invite you to reach out a helping hand to Namibian children in need!
We would like to inform you of our upcoming Fill the Container Drive. We will be shipping a 20’ x 8’ container of donated goods to the children in the youth hostels located within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) synod.
These hostels provide food, housing, basic healthcare, and supervision for 1,650 children between the ages of 5 and 15, in locations near public schools. The children, often from very rural areas and/or orphaned due to HIV/AIDS are already vulnerable. Without these hostels, they risk losing access to an education as well.
The hostel program is currently struggling financially and is facing a 46% budget cut by the end of this year. At this time the majority of its funds are being used to provide food to the children. The goal of the Fill the Container drive is to help provide for some of the children’s other needs. The Namibian Task Force will be collecting gently used clothing and shoes, children’s books, school supplies, health kits, blankets, and toys.
We will be collecting donated items from Bethel members throughout June and any appropriate items left from the yard sale will also be included in our donation to the drive. Bethel Lutheran Church and its members will be playing a very key role in this synod wide project. We will be hosting the volunteers who are in charge of the sorting and packing of the donated goods.
From June 23-July 10 we will be receiving donation from other churches within our synod and storing them in the gym. If you are interested in helping with this drive please contact Mara Schleicher
What's Needed:
- Clothing and shoes for children ages 5-15
- Children's books
- School Supplies
- Health kits
- Blankets
- Toys
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Jean Fontana collects tabs from soft drink cans, soup, juice, etc. They are then sent to the Ronald McDonald House or to the Shriners Home to help pay for families to stay there while their child is/children are in the hospital.
Jean’s comments: “It is such a worthwhile cause and doesn't take a lot of effort. The best responses come from businesses or schools, etc. where a drink machine is located.”
The jar is in the sunroom on the counter.
For further information:
Jean Fontana |
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Far Team is Bethel's reach to Christian projects beyond the Synod and the greater DC area, continuing a long Lutheran tradition in global mission.
The Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod has three companion Synods [Namibia (Africa), Slovakia (Europe) and El Salvador (Central America)] toward which it directs its focus. Bethel has provided a Nambian pastor (who visited Bethel in October 2008) financial help to extend electricity into his church and its office. In 2009 we participated with a focus on Slovakia with special crafts for kids and an adult education speaker. Deena Bulick-Terry, from Bethel, is a member of the Synod's Outreach team and travelled to El Salvador as part of a LWR visit to assess local Lutheran and other areas needing partnership support.
In addition to the companion synods, Bethel supports ELCA Global Mission and Lutheran World Relief (LWR), including its efforts in Fair Trade projects and products. The Far Team began to support Lutheran efforts in Fair Traded coffee and chocolate by providing congregation access to these products and extending the support to the cooperatives and their families who are producers. Bethel members are able to buy quality products with full knowledge that the distribution chain is offering a fair return to the producers. Repeat customers are delighted that both the coffee and chocolate are delicious!
Bethel's Sunday school has supported ELCA World Hunger in the past; other related Bethel projects include blankets and personal hygiene kits for disaster relief efforts by LWR.
The Far Team went to New Jersey this past summer (“Sawdust and Sandals”) and helped rehabilitate a building that is to be used for job training.
The Far Team meets approximately every two months to share new insights, look at potential projects and develop ways to inform and encourage Bethel's extended reach and support to these regions.
Contacts: Mara Schleicher and Connie Houtz, co-chairs. |
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Team Leaders: Connie Houtz and Mara Schleicher - Fair Trade Coffee and Chocolate: Ongoing - Gifts of Hope: November and December - Companion Synod Sunday: January - ELCA World Hunger Coin Collection: Lent - Disaster Relief Housing Project: June or July The Far Team is working to provide stewarship to those in need outside of the Northern Virginia, D.C. area. |
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Have your tried the coffee or chocolate yet? Bethel members have purchased over $1,050 this year? Coffee and chocolates are bought directly from the farmers or cooperatives at market prices (fair trade) without a middleman. “Equal Exchange” and “Divine” process and distribute the coffee and chocolate with LWR as one of their sponsors. What we get is fine roasted coffee, luscious dark or milk chocolate. The growers get a fair price and Far Team just makes them available to you. The coffee is available in various roasts. Coffees/Chocolates can be purchased during coffee hour at $6.00 to $8.00 for 12-16 oz bags of ground coffee, $3 for box of 25 teabags. Chocolate bars are $1.50-3.00 depending on size. We are offering a variety of choices. Come buy and try it out |
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