Oct 2009 Missions

DEAR NORTHWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH MEMBERS AND FRIENDS:

The information below summarizes an upcoming mission opportunity and the results of our previous mission effort.

OCTOBER 2009 MISSION - STRAFFORD COUNTY HOMELESS SHELTER

The October Mission is the Strafford County Homeless Center in Rochester. SCHC is a local non-profit organization that has been operating for 10 years in a ranch style home donated by Waste Management. It is a cold shelter, meaning it is only opened from October through April for localhomeless families and single parents. Offering shelter, food, case management, love and support, its mission also links homeless individuals to community social services, employment opportunities, continued education, medical/legal services, drug and alcohol support services, and low-incomehousing possibilities. Funding for the Center is through local churches and private citizens, and relies on a volunteer-based staff pool. Your donations can be cash, supplies (i.e.: personal hygiene products, bedding, office supplies, ink cartridges, paper, postage stamps), or volunteer time for 5-6 hour shifts on weekends through the winter. Our own Jan Grande is the Shelter Director, so please contact her with any questions.

SEPTEMBER 2009 MISSION RESULTS - A LIGHT FOR ZIMBABWE & UCC UKAMA PARTNERSHIP

The Northwood Congregational Church membership and friends donated 9 boxes to "A Light forZimbabwe." In addition to personal donations of supplies, we purchased about $227 of items to supplement the shipments. As the attached photo shows, we collected and boxed 2 mountain bikes, medicine/first aid supplies/eyeglasses, library and text books, school supplies, paper, clothing, sewing items, and many other needed items. The boxes were delivered on October 2, 2009 to the gymnasium of New England Pentecostal Ministries in Pelham, NH (see photo of portion of boxes). These items will be put in a 40-foot long container box which will take about 8 weeks to arrive in Zimbabwe and hopefully all items will be distributed to their intended recipients by Christmas. Thanks to one particularly generous donor, we are also contributing $450 to "A Light for Zimbabwe" of which $150 is to be used for shipping and $300 to be used for other supplies for the Zamchiya Church and Mt. Selinda/Chikore Mission. We we also able to send a check for $510.87 to NH Council UCC to be distributed between Zamchiya Church and other designated UCCZ Ukama Partnershipchurches in Zimbabwe. We trust and pray that all these donations will be put to good use and reach their intended recipients. We are proud of what we have been able to do this year and thank the congregation for their generosity to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe for this important mission!

Northwood Congregational Church

Mission Committee

Tom Bobowski