As we are regularly reminded, there are many in need around the world, especially in the event of natural disasters, but often we are not as informed as to needs closer to home. Red Bird Mission and Clinic, founded in 1921 and headquartered in Beverly, KY provides ministries in the Appalachian Mountains. Chronic poverty, lack of jobs, poor housing, and rugged mountainous terrain provide daily obstacles to residents in this isolated, rural, distressed area. Red Bird Mission strives to help through ministry in five areas: Education, Health and Wellness, Community Outreach, Economic Opportunity, and Community Housing Improvement.
CROP Walk – Sunday, May 20th, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., South Coast Botanical Garden.
The Annual Peninsula-Harbor Crop Hunger Walk will be held on Sunday, May 20, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the South Coast Botanic Garden. It is a stroller friendly course. This fundraiser which supports local, national, and international programs is designed to help alleviate hunger – 25% of the funds raised from the walk support local programs and 75% go to national and international programs sponsored by Church World Service. More information is available at https://www.crophungerwalk.org/peninsulaharborca and at cwsglobal.org. An excellent opportunity for a healthy and fun day, while helping feed hungry people at the same time! Lunch will be available for purchase. Registration begins at 10 a.m. with the walk starting at 11:00 a.m. A sign-up and information table will be on the patio following services on April 22, 29, and May 6.
Habitat for Humanity – Thanks to all who volunteered…
March 24 was a great success! It turned out that we had more volunteers from RHUMC than the Habitat site could safely handle, so several people rescheduled to work on an individual basis later this spring. Thank you, thank you! Painting, caulking, and laying flooring were just a few of the items accomplished by our crew. We especially appreciated Jackie Showalter and Patty Koester and their team who brought a wonderful lunch for everyone.
While at the build we learned about a special build day for women (over age 16), sponsored by Thrivent Financial, on Saturday, May 5 at the same site at 1950 Henderson Ave., Long Beach. If you’re interested, please call Kirstin Wilson at 310 372-3520 or email kirstin.wilson@thrivent.com by May 1, 2018. Lunch and a pink tee shirt will be provided.
If anyone else would like to individually volunteer (over age 16) please contact Chris Untiet, Director of Faith Relations for Habitat at chrisu@habitatla.org.
RHUMC Habitat Build Day – Saturday, March 24th, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.,
1950 Henderson Ave., Long Beach
Have you ever wanted a short-term commitment to help Habitat for Humanity? Last April, a group of RHUMC members traveled to Weed, California and spent a week helping build a house. Not many people can commit to a whole week in a distant location, but this next month we have a chance to help a local family in Long Beach! Watch for our signup tables the first Sundays of March. Come pick up a packet of information to participate. We need willing volunteers for these activities: work at the site (onsite training!) or prepare lunches for the workers. Not physically able to participate? You may support Habitat with your donations to ReStore (they’ll come pick them up).
Mission Committee Welcomes Volunteers
The Missions Committee is looking for smiling faces as we head into the new year. This is an opportunity to be involved with the planning of events which raise money and RHUMC involvement with both local and international Mission projects. It’s a friendly, low-key group whose aim is to be helpful where we are able. We meet monthly – usually for an hour on the second Tuesday of each month. Come be part of a fun group. Everyone is welcome! Interested? Please contact Bill or Barbara Leone at 310-377-2628 or by email.
Project: NEEDS
The first Tuesday of every month, RHUMC volunteers provide cooked hot meals prepared in RHUMC’s kitchen for Project: NEEDS, a mission and outreach ministry at St. Paul’s UMC in Redondo Beach. The need is especially great during the holiday season. If you would like to volunteer or help with the meal preparation on December 6, Mary Jane Schwebel would love to hear from you! She can be reached at 310-377-8780.
Sierra Service Project for Youth
Through acts of service repairing homes and community centers, Sierra Service Project invites youth into a closer relationship with God and to experience the transformative power of serving people who have a culture and life experience different from their own. Sierra Service Project offers week-long service projects during the summer for junior high and high school youth groups. Each summer, over 130 churches and 2,000 youth and their adult leaders join together at one of our six sites located in rural and urban communities across the western states.
At SSP, youth are safe to grow in their faith, learn new skills, and make new friends while serving those in need. Last summer volunteers completed 119 home repair projects and other types of community service. SSP serves the elderly, poor and marginalized. Our service is offered without strings attached and with respect and humility.
Information & Registration:
Jr. High Dates & Location: July 21, 2018 – July 28, 2018, Smith River, California
Sr. High Dates & Location: July 28, 2018 – August 5, 2018, Smith River, California
If you are interested in participating, contact Kristin Reksc at 310-377-6771 or email Kristin
International Service Trip
Dates: TBD
Location: Nicaragua
RHUMC will be returning to Nicaragua next summer to partner with Seeds of Learning to build a school, interact with the local community, discover Nicaragua, and win a child’s love. Seeds of Learning focuses on improving education in Nicaragua as a means of diminishing the overwhelming poverty in the country. This trip is open to anyone 16 and older. Cost is approximately $2400. Scholarships are available. Contact Kathy Platnick at
213-479-6950 for more information.
Box Tops
Our church can help, and it’s easy! By collecting labels, box tops, and lids (V8 products) we can help the school at Red Bird earn free equipment and supplies. Just look for products that say “Labels for Education,” “Box Tops for Education” or “Tyson Project A+.” Some of the participating companies are: BIC, Campbell’s, Dannon, Emerald, Glad, Pepperidge Farm, Post, Kleenex and Hefty. Clip your labels and bring them to church – deposit in the box in the narthex. Meanwhile, you can learn more at: www.labelsforeducation.com, www.boxtops4education.com , and www.projectaplus.tyson.com.
Stay tuned for the Mission Committee’s upcoming winter project. Opportunities to help will be available soon!
