Our Unit's mission study this year was done by zoom on Saturday mornings April 10th and 17th.
Twenty-two women attended. Thanks to Janet for all her tech skills and work she put into running the program.
Linda, our education and interpretation coordinator, put together a very informative and interesting program. Celeste, Unit President, opened the meeting with prayer and a litany was given by Celeste and Pat.
Ann, our unit treasurer had a power point presentation to help us understand where our money goes.
She explained the accountability and transparency of keeping the financial records.
The first Saturday we looked at National/International mission support and the 5 channels of Mission Giving. Most money is collected through pledges. All pledge money goes to support the conference and national mission work, none is kept locally. However, you do not have to pledge to be a part of United Methodist Women, a pledge is voluntary and the amount you give is totally up to your discretion.
Dottie shared about what our pledges money does by using the www.unitedmethodistwomen.org website looking at the section entitled How We Spend Your Money.
A Kin-dom web was created using the different National Missions and International Missions we explored. The Prayer Calendar is a great resource for a daily reminder of mission work. This web was created from just 180 Prayer Calendar missions readings. The Response Magazine highlights many ways that United Methodist Women support missions. As individuals, circles or a unit we could not do all the work to help women, children and youth that our pledge money accomplishes.
Linda shared about the ways we can support United Methodist Women programs and issues in other ways then financial. She presented some opportunities for giving our time and talents for mission work on a national and regional basis. Using www.unitedmethodistwomen.org you can listening to Faith Talks and sign petitions on issues of concern. Climate Justice and Racial Justice opportunities for action were highlighted.
The zoom meeting on April 17th was opened with prayer by Pastor Dawn.
Sharene read the purpose.
This Saturday's focus was how we support local missions. Ann talked about how this money is given, mostly through the Circles donations and the unit's two fundraisers.
Evelyn shared how we choose our mission focus. As UMW we have our own mission selection team, it is separate from our church mission team. There is a woman from each Circle on the team. An agency being considered for our support has a request form to fill out. They are visited and interviewed by some members on the team. Using all this information the team then decides what agencies the unit will support that year. We work along side this agency for we are a mission with, not to, an organization.
The highlight of this meeting was hearing from these agencies and all the ways they help.
Trish told about
Faith Neighborhood Center. It started at our church 49 years ago. It is now located in Groveland, and out growing that building. Since the pandemic it has gone from helping 1450 families to 2,000. The Center is open to anyone who needs food regardless of yearly income because so many households have lost jobs of at least one person in the family. They are providing food to a doctor's office for it was noticed that people were losing weight because of choosing to buy needed medicine and not being able to afford groceries. They were feeding 800 children a week since they were not in school getting breakfast and lunch and soon with summer vacation. You can help with volunteering and food donations.
Janet talked about Well of Hope which is in the south part of Lake County and is a food bank for 4 counties, but 83% are from Lake. It also has a thrift store and will take donations of clothing and good usable furniture.
Karen and Pam shared about Days for Girls. Our involvement with this started in 2017 with the UMW program Call for Prayer and Self Denial talking about maternal health. Girls in many countries often can't go to school during their period and miss a lot of education. The kits Days for Girls make are usable for three years and help change these girl's and women's lives. The Clermont chapter has sent 200 kits through Doctors without Borders to South America. Kits have been given for homeless women to use in Orlando and Groveland. Grace Mission in Texas wants kits to be sent for use by the immigrants. The chapter meets once a month to trace, cut, fold and sew. Anyone can help. Many women do the sewing at home. You can find out more at Clermontfl@daysforgirls.org
Denise shared about
Forward Paths Foundation. They work with young adults who have aged out of foster care. Those who age out 50% are homeless and in 2 years will be incarcerated or die. This foundation has been meeting a need for helping this population with a home for 8 years. It now houses 22 youth, of which 20 were laid off this year. 1/3 are from South Lake, 1/2 from Leesburg, and the rest from other areas. Forward Paths helps them with day care, jobs, and school information. For a youth to be in their program they are required to be learning a job skill, getting an education or working. Recently in one day Forward Paths received 8 calls from young adults, 23 to 25 years of age, that want to go back to school so they can get a better job. A big problem has been transportation. The Lake Tech school is in Eustis which is 7 miles from the homes they rent. In the near future Forward Path will be putting little houses on a property in Eustis which will only be 1 mile to Lake Tech. One need that was mentioned was for mentors in the Clermont area.
Linda talked about
Anointed Community which is located in the Else Tomlin Community Center in Groveland. They have many programs that help those in need. The Women Ignite Network helps single women with children. They have computer classes. The GEM program helps with tutoring for children and youth from 5 to 24 years of age. Those 16 to 24 can volunteer and gain job skills. They are helped to write a professional resume, and through Career Source be paid $11 and hour while volunteering. Anointed Community provides Meals on Wheels. There is also legal assistance with filling out immigration forms. The WIN mobile app gives people help with budgeting, parental guidance, prayer, and agencies to contact. It is a great resource.
Linda shared about
LovExtention. She gave us a nice tour of their new location in Tavares. They work with the elderly and disabled adult in Lake County and the Villages. She said yes even at the Villages many seniors need help. LovExtention is all volunteer and has been helping this need for 20 years. This last year they saw an increase from 600 needing support to 900. Many seniors were afraid to go out to the store for food and supplies, or they filled the car up the first of the month and there is no more money for gas after that, also children who have lost their jobs have moved in with their elderly parents so now the food has to feed more then one. Volunteering and donations are needed.
Cyndi talked about
Habour Hope which provides mentors to survivors of sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is very active here in Florida.
There is Volunteer Orientation on line the last Tuesday of every month. Then if you want to learn more and become active with Harbour Hope there is a two day empowered training. There are prayer, mentor, awareness and education opportunities. You can go on Facebook @harbourhopeintl
Throughout the year they encourage and support the survivors with SONshine baskets, school supplies and Dignity stockings. Donating items for these events or becoming a volunteer are ways to support Harbour Hope.
This was a great study about many missions and how we can do God's work. We learned how UMW puts love into action at all levels of the organization.
