February Community Outreach Update

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13:34, NLT)

Hello WCC! It looks like we’re starting to get some tastes of spring. Hopefully it’s not too far off. With that said, we’ve got some great opportunities at the tail end of winter to serve our community and learn more about local needs and partners, as we continue to live a life on mission. Welcome to the February edition of WCC’s Community Outreach Update…

SCHOOL CARE CLOSET NEEDS
Our School Support Ministry Team has enjoyed partnering with local schools on numerous projects – one of them being the addition of “Care Closets” at almost all of our local schools, including the launch of a new closet at Mentone Elementary School. This month, we’re reporting urgent needs from Eisenhower and Mentone’s closets.

Eisenhower Closet Needs:

• 8/10 Boys’ Sweatpants
• 10/12 Boys’ Coats
• 10/12 Girls’ Sweatpants or Athletic Pants

Mentone Closet Needs:

• Hygiene Products: Boys & Girls Deodorant, Body Wash, Shampoo & Conditioner, Toothbrushes & Toothpaste, Hairbrushes
• Boys Pants (4T – 14/16)
• Girls Pants (4T – 14/16)
• Socks (boys & girls)
• Underwear (boys & girls, all sizes)

You can drop off items (clothes must be lightly used or new) at the school or in the Outreach Tubs behind the Info Center at WCC. Please bag or box the items and mark that they are for a Care Closet. Check out the Eisenhower Care Closet on Facebook for up-to-date needs throughout the year. And you can find up-to-date needs from Mentone through their Buddy’s Closet Facebook Group. Got questions or want more details about our School Support Ministry, contact: Greg Demopoulos, 574-268-0188, x256.

FELLOWSHIP MISSIONS RESIDENT NEEDS

Our friends at Fellowship Missions have some urgent needs to support the residents. This month, they have an emergency need for:

• Lunchbox Snacks (individually packaged like chips, pretzels, granola bars, etc.)
• Hair Conditioner
• 9″ Laminated Disposable Dinner Plates
• 12 – 16 ounce Laminated Disposable Soup Bowls
• Men’s Athletic Shorts (Sizes L, XL, 2x, and 3x)
• Bottled Water

You can always find an up-to-date list on their website to check in at any point before buying items.

FOSTER/ADOPTION/VULNERABLE CHILDREN SURVEY

WCC is in the midst of helping to develop a Collaborative Community Network to support vulnerable children and families. It’s one of the “called spaces” WCC seeks to collectively impact our community in a positive way and we believe we all can do something to help. To do that, we are wanting to get a baseline assessment of the experience and interest in our own congregation. Whether you have prior or current experience with adoption, foster care or kinship placement, or you’d be willing to come alongside adoptive and foster parents with “wraparound care,” or you just have an interest in learning more, please fill out this form and select all the statements that would apply to your experience or interest. Got questions, contact: Greg Demopoulos, 574-268-0188, x256.

LOCAL EVENTS

HABITAT APPRECIATION EVENT – Saturday, February 17, 3-5pm

If you’ve been a volunteer, financially supported, or would like to learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County, this one’s for you! Bring your family and friends and come enjoy light food, conversation, and door prizes. Updates will be made at 4:15pm by Habitat’s Executive Director, Ben Logan. RSVP through their Facebook Event.

CCS LOVE THY NEIGHBOR LUNCHEON – Thursday, February 22, 12pm

Meet some of the Combined Community Services staff, board members, and guests for lunch at Warsaw Community Church from 12-1pm to learn about the incredible work they do, while celebrating stories of love and care right here in Kosciusko County. For more details and to register for the luncheon, visit CCS here.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE – Saturday, February 24, 1pm

Bowl for Kids’ Sake is a grassroots fundraiser taking place in Kosciusko County at The Bowling Alley in Warsaw. This is an opportunity for the community to come together to support the work of BBBS as they strive to create new mentor matches. The event features plenty of fun and prizes to go along with the bowling. Sign up online.

NEWS AND TEXT ALERTS
As a heads up, when we have urgent needs, we often send a quick text message to our Community Outreach Response Team. You can sign up for the text message alerts by texting the word WCCRESPONSE to the number 877-329-2240.
 
Thank you for making an eternal difference at WCC, in our community, and around the world!