We get to serve this weekend, come join us

This weekend is our turn at the Day Center. With Christmas right around the corner, this opportunity can only increase our appreciation for Jesus' birth. If you want to help, just let me know and we will make it happen.

Here is a copy of an email I sent on the Deacon Careline earlier today.


Hello,


We get to serve the homeless again this weekend!! Please consider adding one of these opportunities to your Christmas Celebrations. Here are the plans for both Saturday and Monday. Please let me know how you can help.

For Saturday
We are cooking sloppy joes at the church on Friday at 1pm
The center is open from 10-2 and need to have volunteers at the center at 9:30 to greet, serve, organize and transport.

For Monday
We are cooking roast pork at the church right after the 10:30 service on Sunday to allow people to go caroling later that day
I will provide lunch for the cooks
We will heat the food on Monday morning
We need to have the food at the center by 1:30
We serve from 2-6 and we need people to greet, serve and organize supplies.
A Christmas party is happening at this time and we get to join in singing Christmas carols.


Again, please let me know how you can serve. This would be a great addition to your celebration of Christ’s birth.

Have fun,
Dennis Allen
410-465-0150x11
dennis@bethanylanebaptist.org

Update on needs - Nov 29

I visited the Center today and here is what is needed and not needed.

Things we don't need
Heaters - The Center was given a generous donation and dozens of heaters were purchased at a great price.
Boots - As noted before, all the needs have been filled
Pants, shirts - As of know, the inventory is in good shape

Things we do need
Food!! - The pantry is not in great shape. If you got a food card last Sunday, please purchase the item and bring it in
Hoodies - These are still in demand. Large and x-large.
Socks - As usual, you can't go wrong with tube socks

We need to thank and praise God for how He has supplied the needs of heaters, boots and some of the clothes. It is truly amazing to see God in action. He is a good God.

Women's boots have been bought!!

At the Thanksgiving Eve service at church a person handed us $300 to be used for the boots!!! They also gave us $100 to be used for food.

Today, Chris and I took advantage of the Black Friday sales and got great deals on all the boots that were asked for. We went to two stores and, can you believe it, we got fantastic parking spots each time.

I will be taking the boots to the Shelter tomorrow. God accomplished yet another job through His people at our church. He is so awesome.

Woman's boots are needed

At the Center, there is a very long list with the names of everyone who needs boots. There must be about 40 people on this list. Fortunately, a donation has been made by another church and it will be used to purchase a large percentage of the boots.
I hope you noticed that the donation will cover a large percentage of the need. This is where we get involved. Of the percentage that won't be covered by this donation, there are 7 women who need boots and we are responsible for supplying these boots. They need waterproof, insulated, lug soled boots for the winter. Here is who needs the boots along with the size (women's size).
Anne 7 wide
Linda 7
Viona 7
Stacy 8.5
Holly 10
Denise 9.5

That is only 6, I know we can do this. If you want to purchase a pair of boots, please let me know so I can make sure we don't double up on any of these needs. Please send me an email at dennis@bethanylanebaptist.org or call me at 410-465-0150x11.

We need food!!

On Sunday the 23rd, the youth will be handing out cards that each represent a food item we need in the pantry. We are getting very low here at our church and the pantry at the Day Center is not in good shape as well. I know there will be a lot of shopping going on for Thanksgiving, please help this ministry by taking a card or two, purchasing the item and returning it the next time you are at church.

Update on Center Needs -- Nov 7th

For clothes we need
1. Hoodies, hoodies and more hoodies of all sizes
2. jeans, t-shirts, jeans, socks
3. heavy winter coats that are waterproof

Clothes we don't need
1. sweaters, they don't like the because they take so long to dry
2. we have been getting summer and business clothes, we really don't need this stuff

Food
We handed out a ton of cards a few weeks ago. If you took one, please purchase the item and get it to us. The pantry at the Center is really low
The youth will be handing out new cards in a few weeks

Tents, sleeping bags and blankets

Tent heaters - rumor has it you can buy these at Walmart for about $50. We estimate we will need about 40 total!! A list has been started at the Center. See my previous post for details on this

Prayer - We have ministered to about 150 different people since July!! Pray for the homeless, the volunteers and for Anne and Joe as they lead this incredible minsitry!!

We get to serve on Saturdays!!

We are now partnering with another church on the 3rd Saturdays of every month!!! The center is open from 10-2 on Saturday and we will need people who can cook, server, drive, talk, listen and just hangout. Our first Saturday is on November the 15th.

If you want to get involved, just let me know.

Help Needed on Other Days

If you loved serving with Bethany Lane and want to do more or your schedule did not allow you to serve on Monday afternoon, there are openings on many of the other days the Center is open. Many of the days are being staffed by smaller churches and groups and they need individuals to come and join them. Here is a part of an email Anne sent out to explain what is needed.


Mondays (2:00 - 6:00)
Drivers are needed for all but the 3rd Monday of the month

Wednesdays (This could change with the changing schedule, right now 4:00-8:00)
Each Wednesday we need an additional driver who can drive the 8 passenger van.
The second and third Wednesdays of the month we need hot food for 50, and additional volunteers.
The fourth Wednesday, we have plenty of food, but could use additional volunteers.

Saturdays (10:00 - 2:00)
We need hot food for 50, plus additional volunteers for the first, second, and third Saturdays of the month.

The Fifth Monday, Wednesday or Saturday.
Every month we have an additional day. Hot food and volunteers are needed for these days


If you want to help, let me know and I will get you in touch with Anne.

Colder Weather Needs

The weather has gotten much colder and as a result, our homeless friends have a new set of needs. Please consider helping out by donating these things

1. A Coleman Sportcat 1500 btu tent heater. That's right, they actually make heaters for tents and several of these were given out last winter. We know these heaters saved lives last year. Here is what they look like:

I found them at amazon.com for $45. I did not see them at Dick's or Sports Authority. If anyone finds a local place, please let us know.

2. Propane tanks - This was a close second to socks. When we did deliveries in the winter, everyone asked if we had any propane tanks. We will need a ton of these this year. They can be bought at Walmart and several other places. They look like this:

3. Socks, work boots, coats, gloves, hats -- All the typical warm weather stuff is needed.

4. Tents, sleeping bags and blankets -- see previous posts for examples of tents and sleeping bags.

As usual, if you get any of these items, just drop them off in the foyer the next time you are at church. If you purchased an item and want the purchase price to be put on your contribution records, make sure I get the receipt with your name and what item you bought.

Food Donations

We are always in need of food for the Homeless Ministry. We collect food for the deliveries we make twice a month, for the food pantry at the Day Center and for our food pantry right here at the church.

Right now, we are communicating the food needs through 3x5 cards that have the different items printed on the cards. Once or twice a month, the youth will hand out these cards at the conclusion of both our services. On days the youth are not handing out these cards, you will find a stack on the table in the foyer. Just look for a sign that looks like this:

When you get one (or more!!) of these cards, simply purchase the item the next time you are at a grocery store, bring it in the next time you are at church and we will do the rest. You will see a place to put the items in the foyer of the church. Just look for signs like this:

Sock, socks, socks, socks!!!

One time while we were delivering food out in the woods, we had a bunch of socks to give away. We asked if they wanted a package of socks, and the reply was something like this - "These are more valuable than gold! Yes, I will take all that you can spare." Another said they would trade the food we were offering for socks.

The big issue is the lack of laundry facilities. When they get too wet or dirty, they have to be thrown away. The need is great. If you purchase socks, get white tube socks like these. Get a lot of them please.

If you feel lead to help in this way, just bring them to church the next time you are here. You can plase them with all the other Homeless Ministry donations in the foyer.

Tents and Sleeping Bags needed

One of the big needs at this time for the Homeless Ministry is tents and sleeping bags. As you can imagine, both of these items see a lot of use and they actually wear out. The cold weather is also right around the corner and the need is great.

Our Homeless Friends have requested tents that are tall enough for an adult to stand upright inside the tent and the sleeping bags be rated for 20 degrees. Here are a few examples to help you if you feel lead to help in this way.

Tents:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8223663
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8223664
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3172286
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2529491

Sleeping bags:
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3030046
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3131037
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5646060

If you purchase a tent, please bring it to church the next time you are here and place it with the rest of the Homeless Ministry donations in the foyer. All donations to this ministry are tax deductable, just bring the item with the receipt and I will have that amount be added to your donation records here at the church.

How you can get involved

The only way we can attempt to meet the spritual needs of those we meet is to first address their physical and emotional needs. This blog will contain several ways you can be involved with God in this new ministry. Check back often as the needs change often.



As always, please be in prayer for this ministry. God has lead us here and we need to make sure He is always leading this effort.