HELP FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN   

          Our Christmas-in-July celebration will include the traditional invitation to bring gifts for a mission need, just as the three wise men brought gifts to Jesus.  This year our Children’s Health Pantry is the mission need.  The Pantry provides basic health care kits through social service agency workers for at-risk children and their families . 

Recent increased calls for kits have strained the budget.  In May, the number of kits requested was 163, almost double the previous monthly average.  Even before May, the budget was strained.  We are asking the congregation for help. 

There are two ways to help:  a financial gift in memory of or in honor of someone, or a contribution of designated products for the kits.  Cards for the financial gifts and a list of designated products will be available. 

The purposes of the Children’s Health Pantry are to: 1) supply resources to agency workers to use as learning tools for children and their parents toward improved functioning and futures, and 2) help with emergency needs.  The personal care kits for children are age-appropriate; in addition there are kits of household cleaning supplies and lice eradication products.  (The New Book project, a companion ministry, has separate funding.) 

Eighty percent of the kits go to Harrison County children and their families.  Ronald McDonald House is the major out-of-county recipient, where parents and siblings stay while a critically ill child is hospitalized.   

We need your help in continuing to provide basic health care kits for emergency needs and for children who are victims of neglect, poor parenting, homelessness, poverty and other detrimental circumstances.  Our Children's Health Pantry can facilitate positive life changes for children.