Mission Outreach

A new missions forming:

Family Promise is a ministry to homeless families. The goal of this mission is to help folks over a rough patch and get them back on their feet. . If you can eat, talk or sleep you are qualified to volunteer for this ministry to homeless families. We expect to launch this mission sometime in 2010. Monthly meetings are held at Zion usually on the first Thursday of each month-7:00 P.M. in the Dining Room

Family Promise Quick Notes

1. -Targeted population: families with children going through a rough patch

2. -Components

a. 13 churches

b. Day center

c. Transportation- 14 PAX van

d. Development

3. -In-take interviews determine qualifications; background checks

4. -Churches house up to 14 people one week four times a year

a. Stay overnight in the church building

b. Three meals are provided a day (sack lunch to take to day center)

c. Beds are provided by Family Promise

d. Volunteers provide meals, company and sleepover

5. -Day Center provides showers, computers, phones, washer and dryer

6. -Average stay in the ministry 60 days

7. -Paid staff

a. Director

b. Social worker

c. Drivers-part-time

8. -Children attend same school while in the program

9. -Training is conducted for volunteers

10. -1.5% of annual budget to Family Promise National organization

Our ^{Our ongoing missions include:}

^{Angel Food Ministry: a low cost food
distribution mission. Anyone who eats is eligible. Food packets must be
ordered, then picked up on the designated Friday. Persons interested in
helping with this ministry and persons wishing more information may check
out the Angel Food Ministries page on this website.}

"FEED A NEIGHBOR" is a monthly food distribution to persons.. The Mission-Outreach Committee sponsors this special "feed a neighbor" program to help area families with a box of food for 3 days. This year we have added a hot meal to our distribution night. Persons may come and receive the food box and sit down to a warm meal. We distribute food on the last Thursday of the month. We also now have an emergency food distribution on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 12:00 Noon-1:00 P.M.

Number of God's Children Served in July

Zion's Feed-A-Neighbor food pantry supplied much needed food to four hundred thirty four (434) of God's children in August. Zion's Mission Outreach members served a nutritious meal in Zion's Fellowship Hall prior to the distribution to 142 folks. The next distribution of food and the Community Meal will be held on September 30, 2010.

Mission Outreach Committee

The Mission Outreach committee at Zion’s is dedicated to serving the needs of the community, the country, and the world through special offering envelopes and donations from the congregation.

Right Here in Lehighton

Throughout the year we support the Trinity Food pantry as well as stock our own food pantry for people in need.

We provide financial support to various community help/action organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Care-Net and Carbon County Prison Ministries.

Nation

We provide financial support for Phoebe-Devitt Homes, Bethany Children’s Home, Lancaster Theological seminary, CROP and Habitat for Humanity.

World

Through the Church World Service we donate to the Blankets+ mission, One Great Hour of Sharing, Our Church's Wider Mission, Neighbors in Need, Heifer project, and various disaster campaigns.

Mission Outreach

July 2010

Members Present: Barb Mathes, Bud Mathes, Sharon Berger, Andrea Bird, Jim Bird, Beth Cressley, Tyrone Systrunk, Barry Schupp, Thomas Johnston

The meeting opened with a prayer by Barry Schupp

Angel Food : Use of this program is dropping across the nation. This is not unique to Zion. Discussion followed on why. Sharon had some discussions with folks about quality of food being poor. Andrea has never received any complaints about the quality. Andrea states that in order to continue the program she would need a minimum of 50 boxes. Marketing ideas surfaced including schools. It was decided that during August’s ordering month, the volunteers will complete a phone survey during down time. They will call the folks on the database and ask them their opinion the quality of the food and if they could help them make an order.

People volunteered – 13
$1,104 spent for food
$477 Credit Card Orders
$364 Food Stamp Orders
$1945 Total Orders
Balance $534.37
The truck to transport food from Union Bvd. to Lehighton is donated every month by Zimmerman’s

2. Family Promise:

$1396.15 balance
10 churches committed
Fund Raisers in process

3. Feed-a-Neighbor

Number of people served – 124 families
Cost of the food -- $0

Amount of food – 6,000lb. of food at not expense – ongoing contributions not only at Second Harvest but also Strohmans, Giant, and a new contact is the Lutheran Congregational Services.

Number of people fed at dinner -- 120
Organization that served the food – Zion UCC. Thank you Judy Fatizinger, Sharon Berger and others who provided desserts

Number helping with food distribution – 20; Bud noted that 90% of volunteers do not belong to this church

Number volunteers serving the meal - 6
Balance $665.2

Clarification - June Feed a Neighbor Distribution had an expense for a truck rental – Exact fee is questionable. Tyrone unsure of anything more than $18 worth of gas. Need to check Karen’s financial statements for expenditure.
Discussion surrounding behavior of customers in line tonight. Customers are not being respectful of each other…butting in line, smoking, etc. It was decided to try having a constant "presence" in the line that is calming and this person will do some supervision to maintain order. Tom gets pulled to do some bulk lifting work and monitor doors, and this is when things get out of hand. Cheryl volunteered to "hang out" with the customers in line.
Will be sure a sign is made that says – "Thank you for not smoking on church property." Many folks need to be told repeatedly not to smoke on church property.

School Lunch Program – today served over 41 children. Started out with 7 on the first day. This is subsidized through the State Food Program at a certain rate/meal. Tonight, we are uncertain of the amount/meal and need to confirm this through the church office. There has been some hold up with the actual distribution of these funds by the state.
- Volunteers – estimated 16 total. On a daily basis, 5 volunteer.
- State reimbursement to Zion=$3.25 per student meal served.
Communications:
1. Bethany Childrens Home – Thanks for contribution of $41.67. This is perplexing as this check is not cut monthly. Perhaps they break out our lump contribution over months? Cheryl will confirm what this is all about.
2. Care Net – Baby Bottle Campaign. Second communication from this organization is a thank you for $500.
3. Healthy Smiles/Happy Kids – Thank you.
4. Lancaster Seminary – Thank you for $1000 contribution.
Old Business: None

New Business:
1. 25 Chickens donated to the church by the Ron and Tracy Graver – Sharon recommended using 6-7 of the chickens and make Bar-B-Q for the Lunch Program and use the remaining chickens for the Country Fair for Bar-B-Q. Cheryl moved, Beth seconded. Motion carried. THE CHURCH SECRETARY –HAS A THANK YOU NOTE FROM THE CHURCH BEEN SENT, KEN?
2. Pallets sitting on church property – Need to get rid of them. Both plastic and wooden.
3. Must be extra careful to clean up after ourselves since the church is currently without a sexton. Thank you to Beth who will take out the cardboard recyclables tomorrow morning.
4. Soap, Laundry Detergent, etc. - Maryland access from a group of churches that bring supplies up here. We put in our order and pick up through this organization named Lutheran Congregational Services.
5. Building update was provided by Cheryl.
6. Halloween Parade: Think about theme to market Zion until the next meeting.
The treasurer is authorized to make the following disbursements:

Prison Ministries $150

Victory House $250

OCWM $500 TO SUBSIDIZE THE CURRENT ENVELOPE CONTRIBUTION

Barry Shupp will take care of the paperwork required by the treasurer to make the disbursement.

Respectfully submitted: Cheryl Kunkle (From the airport in Chicago waiting for a connection)