A Letter from Lindy Oct 6

Beloved Pilgrims,

Your church has been in conversation about how Pilgrim might support the recovery
efforts of Hurricane Helene from Florida to Tennessee. We believe one of the most
effective ways to do so is to pool our resources with others so that our collective impact is greater. There are a number of ways in which you could respond:
 
The national ministries of the United Church of Christ have issued a church-wide appeal to help in the recovery efforts and you can add to our denominational efforts to support those who have experienced unimaginable loss as they recover from disaster and their plight fades from the headlines. Your contribution to this appeal will ensure that communities are supported and accompanied for years as they rebuild.
 
The Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, a member of NCVOAD (North Carolina
Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster), coordinates all volunteer/non-profit
agencies in correlation with state & federal organizations for disaster response. They have issued their coordinated response which includes financial donations that can be directed to Week of Compassion , Disciples disaster response ministry, in which 100% ofour gifts go toward relief efforts. Designate your monies toward the 2024 Hurricane.
 
Both the UCC and Disciples of Christ invite all churches to participate in putting together much needed CWS Hygiene and Clean Up Buckets for Western NC (see list below). UCC churches can receive matching grants through Global H.O.P.E. Kits can be dropped off at Hillyer Christian Church in Raleigh.

Mark Webbink alerted me to Operation AirDrop in which private pilots are transporting supplies to affected areas. The Refuge Church is receiving supplies to be transported to the Charlotte airport and Mark indicated supplies are also being received at Raleigh Executive Airport in Sanford. He also provided this link for donations via the NC Disaster Relief Fund which will be directed to local relief organization here in North Carolina. Our friends at The Refuge Church is coordinating supplies through this effort and have invited us to join them.

As all communication to date has encouraged and invited, let us pray for all those
touched by the ravages of this storm and pray that through our efforts, the people
affected will feel God’s embrace through our actions.

grace and gratitude,
 
Pastor Lindy

(she/her) why pronouns matter

Hygiene Kits List

When people are forced to abruptly leave their homes because of emergencies, they may not have time to pack the things they use on a daily basis like toothbrushes or soap. But after a few days without these items, they definitely miss them. Your hygiene kits offer a refreshing daily boost for someone when supplies are hard to come by. Please remember to send $2/kit to CWS to cover the costs of processing.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

  • … One 1-gallon Ziploc bag

  • … One hand towel measuring 15"x28" to 16"x32" (No fingertip, bath, dish, or micro-fiber towels.)

  • … One washcloth

  • … One wide-tooth comb removed from the package (Found at discount dealers like sallybeauty.com. Search for wide tooth pastel comb to see example)

    • Must be sturdy with at least 6” of teeth

    • No pocket combs or picks

    • Rattail and combs without handles are acceptable

  • … One fingernail or toenail clipper (Either one is acceptable. Remove from packaging.)

  • … One bath-size bar of soap in the original package

  • … One toothbrush in the original package

  • … Ten standard size Band-Aids

All items must fit inside the Ziploc bag. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal before boxing. Do not add any extra items or toothpaste. A tube of extended expiration date toothpaste will be added to each hygiene kit just prior to its journey.

Cleanup- Bucket List

Hurricanes, floods and other disasters are happening more frequently. When our neighbors around the world experience these unforeseen circumstances, you can make the road to recovery easier with CWS Cleanup Buckets. These buckets are full of essential home recovery supplies that are needed after a disaster strikes.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

…One 5-gallon bucket with resealable lid (If reused, please scrub clean. Do not use a bucket that has held chemicals of any kind. No screw lid. Advertisement on the outside acceptable.)

  • … One 4-8 oz pump spray air freshener

  • … Five scouring pads (No stainless steel or pads with soap in them. Remove from packaging.)

  • … Seven sponges, including one large

  • … One scrub brush (With or without handle.)

  • … 18 reusable, lightweight multipurpose dry cleaning towels (No terrycloth, microfiber or paper towels. Remove from packaging.)

  • … One 32-64 oz or two 25 oz bottle(s) of liquid laundry detergent

  • … One 16-34 oz bottle of liquid disinfectant dish soap

  • … One 12-40 oz bottle of liquid concentrate household cleaner that can be mixed with water (No spray bottles.)

  • … One package of 36-50 clothespins

  • … One 50-100 ft clothesline (Cotton or plastic line.)

  • … Five dust masks (N95 particulate respirator dust masks preferred; No surgical masks.)

  • … Two pairs of heavy-duty, waterproof dishwashing gloves (Latex-free, non-surgical. Durable for multiple-use. Remove from packaging.)

  • … One pair of work gloves (Cotton with leather palm or all leather.)

  • … 20-28 heavy duty or contractor type 30-45-gallon trash bags on a roll (Remove from

    packaging.)

  • … One 6-9 oz bottle of non-aerosol insect repellent (Pump spray bottles must have protective covers. Packs of 10-20 insect repellent wipes also acceptable.)

    All cleaning items must be new and all liquid items must be capped and securely tightened. Place all items into the bucket, making sure they are packed securely to avoid damage during shipment. Snap the lid on tight and seal with packing tape.

    Please do not enclose cash or checks inside of the kits or the boxes. Please send all monetary donations to: CWS, PO Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515 or pay your shipping online at cwskits.org/shipping.

Melinda Keenan Wood