Mohawk District UMC

There are many needy families in the neighborhood around the Eastside Mission. Nancy has at least 12 families she is already working with directly. It is a joy to watch the kids go bounding up the front stairs of Asbury and getting homework help in a place they feel safe and loved.

Trinity UMC in Whitesboro has a monthly program called "Food Sense" which works through the Central NY Food Bank to offer food packages worth about $25 for $15.50 to anyone who wants one. If a person is food stamp eligible they can use food stamps.

Trinity's Food Sense program has generously offered to supply 15 December food packages to Eastside mission for distribution to those in need. (Each package will contain 1# pork chops, 1# ground turkey, 8 oz. breaded catfish, 1# bacon, 1 doz eggs, 32 oz pancake mix, 10 pk of hash browns, 1# frozen carrots, a can of sliced peaches, a package of frozen spinach, and two fresh produce items (usually a head a lettuce, and a bag of apples) ). More than one package will go to a family depending on the size of the family.

Trinity will take a special offering next week to try to match their gift.

We hope that every church in the district will do a special offering toward Food Sense packages to be distributed through Utica Eastside Mission. If we get enough money, we can begin to make this a monthly project so that families can have food throughout the year!

One of my parishioners even has the vision of simply knocking on doors of people that are in need in the neighborhood and handing them a box of food, whether they are currently involved in the Mission or not. We may not be ready for that, but think of the possibilities!!!!!

If your church would rather purchase some other items such as toiletries or children's items, of course they would be well used by the Utica Eastside Mission.

As you think about special offerings this Christmas, I hope you will seriously consider asking your congregations to participate in some kind of special donation to Utica Eastside Mission -- either as a direct monetary gift to support the mission, or through a donation to Food Sense or in some other way.

If your church would like to participate in Food Sense, you can make a check out to Utica Eastside Mission and write Food Sense on the Memo. Do the same with any other monetary donations and note the purpose.

Send checks c/o Marilyn Baissa, Trinity United Methodist Church, 8595 Westmoreland Road, Whitesboro, NY 13492. I'm doing double duty as Finance Secretary and Interim Chair of the Board.

If you have questions feel free to call me at 315-736-7233 (church) or 315-725-7727 (cell).

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving,

Marilyn Baissa

Trinity UMC

8595 Westmoreland Road

Whitesboro, NY 13492

315-736-7233