Each communion Sunday, the first Sunday of the month, we put little brown envelopes on the pews for contributions to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund. In approximately a month, we have helped nine people and families with emergency assistance for rent and utility bills totaling $645.00. We have also given funds to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter to be used for security deposits, and to the Salvation Army for purchase of gloves and mittens. And several more requests are pending while we wait for more information.

This year the number of requests has been higher than previous years, undoubtedly a reflection of the poor economy. All the requests are handled in confidence in ways that respect those needing help, while also keeping in mind faithful stewardship of your gifts. In some cases, the recipients readily acknowledge that they have made some poor choices and decisions. Others are caught in circumstance beyond their control. In all cases, they are children of God in need of assistance.

The most common requests for help are for housing and utilities. Other requests might be for heating oil, which we usually refer to other agencies because they have greater resources, although occasionally we partner with another church for a minimum delivery; prescription medicines; diapers; clothing; and food beyond what is available at the Food Pantry. We do not normally give aid for transportation expenses. And to avoid getting into dependency relationships, we usually only help a person or family once in a period of a year.

Your generosity makes possible the church’s concrete response to their needs. 100% of the moneys donated to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund are used to help people in need – even the bank fees have been waived.

‘’The world is witnessing the devastation caused by the HIV-AIDS virus on every continent, among all races and at every age level. The Nyumbani Hospice/Orphanage (in Nairobi, Kenya) was founded to care for a small segment of that population – children in Kenya who have inherited antibodies from their mothers that cause them to test HIV at birth.

‘’Hundreds of thousands of these infants are abandoned because (parents) are too ill themselves to take care of anyone else. 75% of these abandoned newborns are not actually infected with the virus – they will test negative several months later when the mother’s antibodies are no longer present.

‘’Nyumbani provides a home to these abandoned children. Those who ultimately test negative are adopted or placed in foster care. The children who are truly HIV positive remain at Nyumbani where they are given loving physical and medical care.’’ (from Nyumbani brochure)

Janice E. Conway, Kay Conway’s daughter and Martha Cobb’s sister, is on the Board of Directors for Nyumbani-USA. Last summer Martha traveled with Janice to the orphanage. Kay has shared with us that the children there need mittens. Their winter, which is very cold is in June, July and August. However it is not too early to start knitting mittens for any age child – baby through teenager. If you like to knit and want to pass the time during our long winter knitting away by the fire, this would be a great project. Please bring your mittens to the church office and we will send them on their way. Thanks for helping these special children.