Missions
Alpha Supports Missions
Carolyn Phipps, Mission Committee Chair
MISSIONS:
-now through early March: Hannah’s Hope, supplies or monetary donation
-March 20: WOW dinner; volunteers needed to prepare and serve dinner
-monetary donation ($150) to Union Mission for Easter meal. I
-April 28, 2-4pm, Fellowship Hall: Alpha will host party honoring GUMC elder members (those 80 years old and older). details in planning stage. Lots of class member help needed!
*Team Read
The Team Read concept of tutoring or coaching developed by GUMC volunteers and Caldwell-Guthrie professionals was so successful at helping children learn the 1,000 foundational words of reading that Shelby County Schools (SCS) adopted it as the model for its schools. Without knowing these foundational or sight (or Fry) words instantly no one can read.
A study by SCS showed second graders who were coached gained nearly 200 more foundational words in a year than students who had no coaching. In addition, coached students performed statistically better on SAT II reading skill tests than non-coached students. GUMC first year results at Caldwell-Guthrie showed 73% of students gained 200 words or more (two Fry word levels), and our subsequent years were just as impressive.
GUMC’s Team Read includes more than 65 coaches during the year — providing second graders with a coach twice a week.
GUMC Weekend Food Program
Germantown UMC volunteers began a program in April of 2013, to provide food on the weekends to food-insecure children—children who often do not know where or what they will have to eat on the weekend. Currently, we are serving 350 children (identified as those most in need) due to the generosity of many in our church and community!
It takes $300 to sponsor one child for the school year. The food comes from the Mid-South Food Bank and is a nutritional assortment of cereal, fruits, vegetables, milk, juice, rice, protein foods; all child-friendly, and easy to prepare! The volunteer team packs the food and delivers it to Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary School, and the children receive the food on Friday afternoon—6 meals for the weekend!
Here are what some of the parents of these children told the Food Bank:
“It helps him to understand the importance of food. I always tell him not to throw any food away. He looks forward to Friday every week. It is an awesome program.”
“…I worried about how I was going to stretch what food I had for my children. I don’t have to worry. My children get healthy and wholesome foods each weekend.”
To support a child, give a check payable to GUMC and note it is for “Weekend Food Program.” Questions? Contact Barbara Schanson at barcons@comcast.net
Past Projects
Alpha has come through again – Monday Ethel and Bob Mathews delivered 5 complete move-in kits to Golden Cross Ministries! Carolyn Phipps had previously delivered one complete kit, making a total of 6. Additionally, we have food supplies and monies left so we can provide additional help. Faye Bartlett will help to put together another kit or two in September. Golden Cross is now working with the Memphis Senior Coalition and thus had 18 homeless move into Wesley Housing since the beginning of the year! The supplies we provide are so needed.
Other Alpha Class Supported Missions
The following is a partial list of Memphis Area mission that have been supported by the Alpha Class either monetarily or as volunteers. Member wishing to send private donations are encouraged to mention the Alpha Class of Germantown Methodist Church.
Germantown United Methodist Church, Flower Fund, Custodian Fund, & Spring Clean Up
GUMC Elder Care Ministries, including the new Elder Music Support program and Birthday Card Ministry.
Christmas Angel Tree Projects
Mid South Food Bank, 3865 S Perkins Rd, Memphis, TN 38118
Memphis Union Mission, 383 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38105
Golden Cross Senior Ministries, 1615 Appling Rd, Cordova, TN 38016
Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc., 1183 Madison, Memphis, Tn. 38104
Room in the Inn, 409 Ayers St, Memphis, TN 38105