Helping As We Are Able

The calendar’s ever flying by days, the cooler weather and the declining Covid numbers heighten the anticipation of this year’s holiday season more than ever. Gathering together safely seems like a real possibility! But when we think of all we do and buy to get ready to have people in our homes for even a short time, I was reminded of the grandmother who recently came to our Blessings for Children ministry. She had been referred to us by the Department of Children and Family Services because family circumstances meant her five grandchildren, ages 2 through 11, had just been placed in her home for an unknown time. Would any of us be ready for that kind of immediate life change? She said she needed “everything!” While we could not meet every need, thanks to our gracious church family, our outreach ministry met some of her needs for those children. She left with clothing, pullups, backpacks, and school supplies, along with lots of books, Bibles and Bible stories, resources to help with other needs, and our church’s prayer team covering them in prayer. Your encouraging support of this ministry allows us to give help, as we are able, to the unexpected families like this grandmother, other single families, divorced families, military families, hurting families, healing families, working families, unemployed families, and all families who God sends to the #10 2nd Street house. Thank you for joining with us to make that help in a time of need possible.

If you would like to join us in helping our area’s children in need at Blessings for Children, here are some ways to consider:  
 
Please pray for the ministry and all who participate. Be on the lookout for families you can refer to us for assistance.

Consider donating items we distribute to the children: diapers (size 4, 5, and 6 in particular), pull-ups, wipes, school supplies, children sized t-shirts, socks and underwear, children’s toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lice treatment kits, and toilet paper. A complete list of items we distribute can be found at shalimar-umc.org/blessings-for-children. You can donate items by stopping by the #10 2nd Street house behind the church any Wednesdays from 11:30am - 3:30pm.


Children’s bibles, bible stories, and activity books are always a joy to receive and distribute. Spanish language Bibles are always needed!

A financial gift designated to Blessings for Children through the church allows us to replenish the needed items we distribute weekly.          
               
New volunteers are always welcome, with no regular commitment required.

For additional information
Mary Jane Robertson
Email: mjr53@cox.net
Visit: shalimar-umc.org/blessings-for-children
Phone or text: (850) 499-6173
Open every Wednesday 12 - 3:30 pm