August 22 is the 4th Sunday of the month and the recipient of the Outreach Offering will be The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Since 1982, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been feeding our neighbors in need and leading the community to end hunger. They provide food to our members in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. These independent pantries, meal sites and shelters are on the front lines of emergency food assistance in our region, providing sustenance to individuals, families, seniors, children and people with disabilities (including veterans) to lead healthy and meaningful lives. Thank you for any gift you are able to give for those facing hunger in our region. If you write a check please put “Outreach” in the memo line.
Haiti Relief On Saturday, August 14, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the southwest portion of Haiti. This devastating earthquake was followed by Tropical Storm Grace on Monday night and much of Tuesday. More than 1 million people, including more than half a million children, have been impacted by the back-to-back disasters, and the death toll is close to 2000. Episcopal Relief & Development and its partners are responding immediately with direct assistance to vulnerable households in the region, as partners plan long-term recovery. Your generous gift can provide assistance to help people in the wake of these disasters. To assist in these efforts, visit episcopalrelief.org/haiti-relief.
We are relieved that Bayonnais was not affected by the recent earthquake. The school buildings at St. Matthieu are constructed to be earthquake-resistant. UNICEF reports that 94 of 255 schools were destroyed or damaged in South Department alone, one of three regions in the earthquake zone. Please pray for them and know that your support for Haitian education matters very much.
2021 Haiti School Uniform and Library Book Campaign – Weekly Update: Let’s keep up the good work of providing school uniforms for 200 students at St. Matthew’s School in Haiti. It is almost the start of the school year and we only have 63 uniforms to go in addition to supplying funds to purchase books for the school’s new library. A $60 donation will cover the cost of a uniform, textbooks, and other basic school supplies for one student. An additional donation of $25 will make a valuable contribution towards filling the library shelves.
Our Goals: Our Progress:
200 Uniforms: $12,000 137 Uniforms, 63 to go
Library Books: $ 5,000
Total Campaign: $17,000 $ 8,205 Raised, $8,795 to go
If you are able to help, please make checks payable to “Grace Church” and write “Haiti School Uniforms” on the memo line. You may also give via the church website by clicking the “Give” button and then selecting “Haiti Ministry” in the “To” drop down box. Donations in any amount are most welcome. Thank you. Subscribe to the Haiti Ministry blog at graceinhaiti.org/blog!
The Stewardship campaign: To date 170 pledges have come in totaling $464,786 – most encouraging, we have several new pledges. To those who have pledged God bless, to those who have yet to pledge please pray and pledge so our Vestry can budget for 2021. If you need a pledge card, please contact the office (413) 256-6754 or Tom Dougherty at (413) 563-7321. You can mail us your pledge or drop it off at the church. Letting us know now what you hopefully will give in 2021 helps us to better plan for the year.
The Amherst Survival Center is in need of donations for their personal care pantry. Items needed: Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Shampoo, Menstrual products, Incontinence products.All donations can be dropped off in the back of the church. For more information, please contact Kevyn Smith at kevynsmith09@gmail.com
St. Nicholas Bazaar The bazaar is back, and will be held on December 4 this year! Small donations (one or two boxes) may be dropped off in the undercroft, just inside the door from the walkway. If you have a larger donation, please contact Joan at jobrien82@gmail.com, as space is currently limited. Please remember – items should be clean and in good condition. And please, no bedding, clothing (except scarves), textbooks, VCR tapes or players. Thank you!!