Mission Committee
Elder ~ Adam Simon
The Missions Committee represents our Church and in obedience to God, as we endeavor to reach out to those in need. Our responsibilities include supporting the missions activities of our youth, financial assistance to our missionary, Deng (Samuel), contributing to the missions efforts of the greater Presbyterian Church, and contributing to organizations in the Kalamazoo area who assist the needy.
Our scope of assistance in all these areas is attributed to you, our congregation, through your annual pledges. The Missions budget is determined annually as a percentage of the planned income pledged by our members and friends.
We thought you might like to know a little more about how we support our community. The following are organizations who offer numerous and varied types of assistance to people in the Kalamazoo area. We contribute financially to them, as their reach is so much farther than ours would be on our own.
MINISTRY WITH COMMUNITY
This is an organization in Kalamazoo whose mission is to “empower people to make positive life changes”. Services include laundry facilities, showers, mail receipt, and telephones for job and appointment related calls. They assist people looking for housing, and provide lockers for people to keep their belongings. In addition, they provide breakfasts and lunches daily. Funding comes from private donors, churches, some grants, and foundations. They also accept donations of food and personal care items.
OPEN DOORS
This organization provides housing for people who are employed but trying to get back on their feet. They also provide emergency, short term, housing and overnight shelter. Open Doors purchases homes and buildings, and converts them into small, affordable apartments. Their funding comes from churches, private donations, grants, local foundations, and rent paid by residents.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AREA 16
This nationwide program is to help persons with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through year round sports training and competition, and by increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs. Special Olympics is for children and adults, giving them the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, have joy, and participate in sharing their gifts, skills, and friendship.
YWCA DOMESTIC ASSAULT CENTER
The YWCA Kalamazoo is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen community. The YWCA Kalamazoo is the only domestic violence shelter in the county. The shelter provides transitional housing to women and their children, therapeutic services, and so much more, for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES
The Agency offers a continuum of behavioral health, child welfare and crisis services as one organization – board members, staff and foster parents – with a unity of purpose. All services are strength-based and client-centered, supporting individuals and families as they create healthy changes in their lives. Family & Children Services is dedicated to – and known for – best practices in human-service delivery in the community.
SHALOM
SHALOM is an acronym for Self-Help Alternative Living Opportunities of Michigan. SHALOM exists to serve adults living with developmental disabilities. We are people focused, Christ centered and community supported. The Shepherd’s Barn, Connection Depot Thrift Store, Woolery and Farm are means to serve those we have been called to love. Our desire is to reach all people with the love and wholeness we ourselves are receiving through Christ.
S.A.F.E. PLACE
S.A.F.E. Place exists to provide safety to, empower and advocate for victims of domestic violence and their families. S.A.F.E. Place envisions a future where all people enjoy the right to safe, healthy relationships. S.A.F.E. Place believes that people are best able to make their own choices leading to the safest outcomes for their unique situation. Staff encourage survivors to explore their choices while learning of new resources. In doing so survivors become confident and empowered. The programs offered are voluntary and free of charge. A survivor may choose to participate in any, all, or none of the programs. Survivors may change their mind whenever they would like to and can be assured that their values, lifestyles and life choices will be honored.
RICHLAND FOOD PANTRY - (through Loaves and Fishes)
Our food pantry works through Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. We are responsible for Richland and the surrounding areas for providing food every weekday for those families in need. People and groups generously donate food, personal, and household items to our pantry, and weekly, a dedicated volunteer takes inventory of our kitchen and orders cartons of whatever is needed from the Loaves and Fishes warehouse. Monetary donations are very important too, as we can purchase whatever the warehouse doesn't have, or special items. Monday through Friday, we have terrific folks who come in on their assigned days, to fill the orders we receive from L&F.
The Missions Committee thanks the congregation,
who makes our support of these organizations possible.
Elder ~ Adam Simon
The Missions Committee represents our Church and in obedience to God, as we endeavor to reach out to those in need. Our responsibilities include supporting the missions activities of our youth, financial assistance to our missionary, Deng (Samuel), contributing to the missions efforts of the greater Presbyterian Church, and contributing to organizations in the Kalamazoo area who assist the needy.
Our scope of assistance in all these areas is attributed to you, our congregation, through your annual pledges. The Missions budget is determined annually as a percentage of the planned income pledged by our members and friends.
We thought you might like to know a little more about how we support our community. The following are organizations who offer numerous and varied types of assistance to people in the Kalamazoo area. We contribute financially to them, as their reach is so much farther than ours would be on our own.
MINISTRY WITH COMMUNITY
This is an organization in Kalamazoo whose mission is to “empower people to make positive life changes”. Services include laundry facilities, showers, mail receipt, and telephones for job and appointment related calls. They assist people looking for housing, and provide lockers for people to keep their belongings. In addition, they provide breakfasts and lunches daily. Funding comes from private donors, churches, some grants, and foundations. They also accept donations of food and personal care items.
OPEN DOORS
This organization provides housing for people who are employed but trying to get back on their feet. They also provide emergency, short term, housing and overnight shelter. Open Doors purchases homes and buildings, and converts them into small, affordable apartments. Their funding comes from churches, private donations, grants, local foundations, and rent paid by residents.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AREA 16
This nationwide program is to help persons with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through year round sports training and competition, and by increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs. Special Olympics is for children and adults, giving them the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, have joy, and participate in sharing their gifts, skills, and friendship.
YWCA DOMESTIC ASSAULT CENTER
The YWCA Kalamazoo is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen community. The YWCA Kalamazoo is the only domestic violence shelter in the county. The shelter provides transitional housing to women and their children, therapeutic services, and so much more, for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES
The Agency offers a continuum of behavioral health, child welfare and crisis services as one organization – board members, staff and foster parents – with a unity of purpose. All services are strength-based and client-centered, supporting individuals and families as they create healthy changes in their lives. Family & Children Services is dedicated to – and known for – best practices in human-service delivery in the community.
SHALOM
SHALOM is an acronym for Self-Help Alternative Living Opportunities of Michigan. SHALOM exists to serve adults living with developmental disabilities. We are people focused, Christ centered and community supported. The Shepherd’s Barn, Connection Depot Thrift Store, Woolery and Farm are means to serve those we have been called to love. Our desire is to reach all people with the love and wholeness we ourselves are receiving through Christ.
S.A.F.E. PLACE
S.A.F.E. Place exists to provide safety to, empower and advocate for victims of domestic violence and their families. S.A.F.E. Place envisions a future where all people enjoy the right to safe, healthy relationships. S.A.F.E. Place believes that people are best able to make their own choices leading to the safest outcomes for their unique situation. Staff encourage survivors to explore their choices while learning of new resources. In doing so survivors become confident and empowered. The programs offered are voluntary and free of charge. A survivor may choose to participate in any, all, or none of the programs. Survivors may change their mind whenever they would like to and can be assured that their values, lifestyles and life choices will be honored.
RICHLAND FOOD PANTRY - (through Loaves and Fishes)
Our food pantry works through Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. We are responsible for Richland and the surrounding areas for providing food every weekday for those families in need. People and groups generously donate food, personal, and household items to our pantry, and weekly, a dedicated volunteer takes inventory of our kitchen and orders cartons of whatever is needed from the Loaves and Fishes warehouse. Monetary donations are very important too, as we can purchase whatever the warehouse doesn't have, or special items. Monday through Friday, we have terrific folks who come in on their assigned days, to fill the orders we receive from L&F.
The Missions Committee thanks the congregation,
who makes our support of these organizations possible.
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YWCA Domestic Assault Center
353 E. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Emily Deering 269-345-5595 269-385-3587 (Domestic Assault Hotline) 269-385-3587 (Sexual Assault Hotline) [email protected] Shalom 6276 Riverview, Kalamazoo, MI 49004 Kelly Lewis 269-382-3840 [email protected] S.A.F.E. Place P.O. Box 199, Battle Creek, MI 49016 Melissa, Stacey, Tina 269-965-7233 i[email protected] |
Ministry With Community
500 North Edwards, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Kelly Henderson 269-366-3099 http://ministrywithcommunity.org Loaves and Fishes Donations to Richland Food Pantry 8047 Church St, Richland, MI 49083 Marsha Zick 269-491-1320 [email protected] Family and Children Services 1608 Lake St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 Courtenay VanderMolen 269-488-7936 [email protected] |
Open Doors Shelter
PO Box 50102, Kalamazoo, MI 49005-0102 Stacey Vest 269.343.6064 ext 304 269.345.1431 (men's), 269.349.2119 (women's) http://opendoornextdoor.tripod.com Special Olympics Area 16 50505 Meadow Oak Trail, Mattawan, MI 49071 Chris Maynard 269-491-0000 [email protected] |
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KALAMAZOO "MINI MISSION TRIP"
A HUGE thank you from the Mission Committee, and from Open Doors, to those who participated in the Mini Mission Trip! We spent our two days painting stairways at an Open Doors apartment building. It was hot, and a little messy, but we had fun! We met some of the residents, who were very grateful for our work. Missions is grateful to Kendall and Mark Jennings, Joyce Dishon, Catherine, Rebecca and Ben Gibson, and Ashleigh Webb. Serving God by serving others. |
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