The Season of Giving starting on Nov. 4, 2018 was our time to support local, national and international charities. This year we substituted the Heifer project for Samaritan’s purse and added Episcopal Relief and Development, particularly for their hurricane relief fund.
Thanks to all who worked on promoting the contribution to these funds and, of course, those who contributed. The results are as follows:
1. Heifer Project – $2,507.85. This included a raffle that raised $200
2. UTO – Fall Ingathering was $563.32 (Spring ingathering was $325.36 for a total of $888.68 for the two ingatherings in 2017). The comparative total in 2017 was $757.09
3. Village Harvest – $1,250. Separately, Giving Tuesday on Nov. 27 yielded another $1,267.50. Giving Tuesday in 2017 contributed $1,010.
4. Episcopal Relief and Development– $1,400
5. ECM Thanksgiving – $287.50
$237.77 was spent for Thanksgiving food for 5 families. They exceeded their scope in 2018 by adding 2 families this year.
6. ECM Christmas -$547.50
$1,333.09 ECM spent for food and gifts for 3 families for Xmas
Helmut Linne von Berg provided the following information for the Christmas portion:
Family # 1 – A mother with two children, ages 6 and 4
Family # 2 – A mother with one child, age 2
Family # 3 – A mother with 5 children, ages 11, twins age 7, 4 and 3
“The delivery was made on Christmas eve morning. There was clothing and toys for all the children, including 5 bicycles; one mother said when she saw the bikes “that will make the kids so happy.”
“A healthy Christmas selection of food was also provided. Everyone was very thankful. The living conditions in the trailer park where these poor children are growing up is pitiful. Let us all count our blessings! If there are funds left over in the ECM fund, we will make further efforts to help those in real need in cooperation with Caroline Social Services, via Anne Tyree, Assistant Director.”
The total ECM project, Thanksgiving and Christmas totaled $835 compared to $1,135 in 2017.
Not included in the Season of Giving were donations to the Endowment Fund which were $375.