OUTREACH with Cinda Locker
The holiday season has arrived, and there are many worthy opportunities for giving. Each year, our church raises funds or donations for Eagle Village and Pineview Homes. Gifts and donations need to be at the church no later than Sunday, December 14th . The Shoe Box Ministry has been a long-standing opportunity for giving in our church as well. If you wish to continue or begin that ministry, Hobby Lobby stores have shoe boxes you may pick up. You may want to contribute to the Christmas baskets that are delivered to our police, emergency services, and other caregivers who work on Christmas Eve. There are other worthy organizations in the community you might want to consider. A local food pantry, Our Brother’s Keeper, the Susan Weatlake Cancer Center, to name a few. A monetary gift is always welcome, but another alternative is to give of your time. Volunteer to work at any one of the local organizations. Be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Are you looking for a way to get involved in your community? Let me tell you about the Family Services Program at Reed City Area Schools. The Mission of the program is to help families thrive by offering support, care, and resources, and by providing a safe place to connect and work on individualized goals to succeed. The program is part of the district's Student Support Team. This program is available to all families with students in the school district.
How can you help? There is a need for individuals with the ability to assist with specific workshops, including Budgeting and Finances, Job Readiness, Health and Wellness, Cooking and Nutrition, Parenting, and more. Everyone has a skill set they can share with others.
What are yours, and how can you share them?
Are you interested in finding out more about these opportunities?
Contact Heather at hpeffer@reedcityschools.org or 231-287-7128,
or Michella at msaxton@reedcityschools.org or 231-287-4312,
or Natasha at nbancroft@reedcityschools.org.
The next mission meeting is Thursday, November 13th at 11 a.m. If you have a heart for missions and/or outreach, you are welcome to attend.
Mission Trip Planned
For those interested, there is a weeklong mission trip to Tijuana in the works for Saturday, April 25, 2026, returning on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The tentative schedule includes:
Saturday, April 25th – Travel from Grand Rapids to San Diego; rent a van to take us to Tijuana. Shop for groceries after we go through customs (there is a Costco in Tijuana!)
Sunday, April 26th – Attend a bilingual church with a staff member from Spectrum Ministries.
Monday, April 27th – Visit a Senior Home, bringing food and supplies, and interacting with residents through activities.
Tuesday, April 28th – Visit the City Dump to take food and visit with families living there.
Wednesday, April 29th – Spend the day with staff to either build a 10’x20’ home, add on to an existing home, or make home repairs.
Thursday, April 30th – Community Outreach Day – We will Spectrum Ministries regular scheduled outreach day in a neighborhood for a fun time, helping with crafts, games, food distribution, seasonal snacks, and other fun activities.
Friday, May 1st – Visit to an orphanage, taking food, interacting, and playing with the children. Pack up for departure on Saturday. Dinner outing to a local restaurant.
Saturday, May 2nd – Back through customs to the airport for the trip home in the morning.
The schedule is a sample of what the trip will involve. The cost of the trip will be approximately $1,750 per individual, depending on the cost of airfare, and includes amounts for projects, van rental, dorm fees, and food for meals we will prepare at the dorm for our group. An itemized list will be provided at our first organizational meeting.
The full cost will not be due all at once; it will be broken down into monthly payments. We are also planning fundraisers for the trip to help reduce the cost of the trip significantly. Also, the cost is based on 10, but if we have 12 going, it will be at least $300 less per person on that alone. Our goal is to have each participant pay half of the $1,750 and raise the remaining funds.
YOU WILL NEED A PASSPORT! If you do not have a passport, please apply for one now due to processing time. If you have a passport, please check your expiration date for renewal if needed; your passport must be valid with at least 6 months before expiration at the time of the trip.