In 2017, when I was asked to be the volunteer coordinator for our Outreach Ministry, the plan was to get the congregation more involved through service projects in the community. We started with drive-thru grocery collections the first Saturday of each month and they were successful in helping to provide groceries to our neighbors dealing with food insecurity. Then we added a service project every other month so congregants could sign up to help at Habitat for Humanity, do work projects at a local school, volunteer at Salvation Army, or other similar things. Then Covid hit and in April of 2020 we were no longer able to volunteer in groups, so we added another drive thru collection the third Saturday of each month to help meet the need of individuals and families served by non-profits. Our drive thru events have been very successful and local non-profits recognize RB Community as a congregation that gives generously. However, since Covid, we have had very few opportunities to be of service in the community. Non-profits are opening their doors again to individuals and small groups interested in helping serve their clients. Each month, in this article I will highlight a couple of ways you or your small group of friends can be involved in a one time or ongoing effort for a local non-profit. Quarterly, I will sponsor an all-church event that will replace one of our monthly collections. January Service Opportunities: Interfaith Community Services (Escondido) Sign-up by going to Interfaithservices.org/volunteer
Early Morning Breakfast Volunteer Cook/Server (6:30-8:30 am)
Minor Home Repair Handyman for Interfaith facilities
Pack sack lunches for clients (reimbursement available) Contact
to schedule for a packing event.
First Quarter Service Opportunity: On March 22, we will be packing 30,000 meals for families living in Baja and refugees living in camps near the border. We will need 90 volunteers to make this happen. Think about sponsoring a table group of 8-10 folks and sign-up to help once the link is active on the website. Each meal costs $.30, another way of helping with this event is to donate funds to underwrite the cost of the meals. Earmark donations to Missions – food packing event. People have different interests and that helps them contribute in ways that makes them feel like they are making a difference. It’s important that our Outreach Ministry try to find a variety of ways that encourages our congregation to be involved in the community as they feel time and skill allows.
January Drive-thru Collections January 4 – Grocery drive for 4 Community Care food pantry serving families dealing with food insecurity within the PUSD boundaries. January 25 – Gently used and new blankets for non-profits serving unhoused individuals and families.
It’s a New Year, let’s try some New Things!
Serving HIM Together, Elaine Johnson