Outreach donations for 2010-2011 focused on three categories, HOMELESSNESS, HUNGER and HUMANITY. The organizations we supported include House of Hope ($1,000), Worcester Fellowship ($700) and tornado relief in western Mass. ($2,000). We contributed $200 for vouchers for Bedford Food Pantry patrons to use at the Bedford Farmer's Market.

The House of Hope provides shelter for homeless women and their children and transitions them into stable housing. Early childhood teachers give educational support to young children. Graduate students tutor the older children. Mentors train young parents who need job skills to find employment.

The House of Hope food pantry supplies non perishable foods to families leaving the shelter.

They continue to need bed linens (full size bed), paper goods, cleaning supplies, toddler care basics, and any/all food items. All is appreciated.

Thank you to all who contributed school supplies and cloth bags for the thirty-eight school bags which have now been sent to Church World Service. The bags will be distributed to children in impoverished schools, refugee camps or other difficult settings where the tools for learning are so badly needed.

On Sunday, January 28, 2007 the Outreach Board distributed their booklet identifying and describing all of the current outreach projects at First Church. This 26 page booklet has a bright yellow cover; if you did not get one and would like a copy, please stop by the church office or read/download the PDF version below.

Participants in our knitting ministry knit prayer shawls to give to those who need comfort. And our knitters have been busy! If you have been in church recently to see the shawls on the altar waiting to be blessed, you would have seen a rainbow of colors.

A BIG THANK YOU to all who are helping with this ministry!! Every shawl counts. So it doesn’t matter if you knit fast or slow, every one you do is appreciated. If you have never knit a shawl and would like to be a part of our ministry, instructions and assistance are available by contacting Nancy Guetersloh.