Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Hunger Task Force Stockboxes Says Thanks!



Dear Becky,

Thank you for your group’s volunteer efforts to help build 480 Stockboxes on July 24, 2014. Hunger Task Force is grateful for your partnership in this special work to feed seniors facing hunger.

Building Stockboxes is the important first step in making sure that low-income seniors have monthly access to healthy and nutritious foods. Last year, groups like yours helped Hunger Task Force build over 100,000 boxes. We simply could not carry out this work without your enthusiastic support!

Thank you again for your support!

Sincerely,
Marie

Bread & Jam - Thanks


Good Morning Becky,

I hope you had a good trip with your youth.
Thank you to all of your volunteers who helped with our meal program.
If you have any feed back you would like to share it would be great.
Don, our cook, was very impressed with your group.
 

Blessings,
Jan

A Thank You from White Fish Bay United Methodist



Welcome home! Thank you to the adults and youth who helped to redo my porch and for all of your work in the Milwaukee area. All of the youth/adults were very gracious and well mannered a trait that is not always found in young people or adults for that matter. You are welcome here anytime! Thank you for being an answer to prayer and for being the very hands, feet, and love of Christ!

Love and Deep Peace,
Pastor Justin+

Hunger Task Force's Farm - THANK YOU



Dear First United Methodist Church,

Thank you for volunteering with us at Hunger Task Force’s Farm and Fish Hatchery last week! Our fields are in tip top shape after all your hard work! It was great to have your presence here all week long! I hope you had a safe trip back to NC.

The Farm and Fish Hatchery builds our organization’s capacity to fight hunger today by producing fresh fruits and vegetables that are distributed free of charge all across Southeastern Wisconsin. With over ninety acres in vegetables and three fruit orchards to maintain, we couldn’t do what we do as a small farm staff without the help of dedicated volunteers like you. It is through your support and generosity that our farm can continue to operate as a unique source of fresh fruits and vegetables for Milwaukee’s hungry.

With an abundance of volunteer opportunities to choose from in the Milwaukee area, we appreciate your choice to share your time with the Farm and Fish Hatchery. We’re proud to have you as a partner! The Farm is wholly donor-driven, which means that we rely upon donations for everything from purchasing seeds to fueling tractors. You can help ensure that fresh produce is on the plates of families in need by ‘adopting a crop’ and making a donation to the Farm. To make a donation, click here and select ‘The Farm’: http://www.hungertaskforce.org/donate/donate-money/

Please stay in touch with the Farm! We frequently update our Facebook page with photos and farm news. We invite you to ‘friend’ us so you can share your special work at the Farm with family and friends. Look for updates at this address:


Thank you again for your outstanding volunteer efforts at the Farm and Fish Hatchery! I’ve attached some photos for you to enjoy. Please extend my thanks and appreciation to the rest of your group.

Sincerely,

Amy Wallner

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

More Mission Trip Fun

Below is a video from one of our night activities.  As an ice breaker, we always play a fun game before recap of work day and devotions.  This one was called "Hug it Out"!  Enjoy!



Saturday, July 26, 2014

Thursday Recap


Just now posting Thursday's events.  It's amazing how time flies on these type of projects.  Maggie and Andrew provided Morning Glow for our group.  We were encouraged to listen to things differently.  

The farm group headed out early and the first task was picking weeds out of a natural habitat of grass.  This in turn would attract bees for pollinating the apple trees.  The science fell on mostly deaf ears but the hands were up to the task.  This is a 200 acre farm with the primary goal of feeding hungry people through their intentional efforts.  After we pulled weeds, we then fed the goats which was a first for our group!  Next it was on to the flatbed for a tractor pull and bumpy ride to the fields to plant broccoli in very dry soil.  It made us appreciate the farms cry for rain to fall soft upon the fields. Farming is very intense, manual labor.  We appreciate the Hunger Task Force's commitment to eliminate famine.

Another group returned to the UM Children's Services where they continued staining, planting in the community garden and installing lights in classrooms.  The lighting project is something they had waited on for 5 years to be funded and volunteer labor to complete.  One of the highlights today at UMCS was Gray reading her book to the children in the daycare.  After reading her story, she gave the children autographed copies of the book for them to keep.  The organic relationships continue to be built among our youth and the Washington Park neighborhood. 

A group went to the Northcott Neighborhood Center for the first time this week.  While located in a very impoverished area, this is a safe haven for the people of the community.  We worked in the clothes closet, packed grocery boxes, and played with children.

Work continued on Pastor Justin's parsonage.  One of the church members said it best "your youth group was an answer to a prayer we didn't even know to pray."

After showers, the youth strolled the streets of Whitefish Bay, a quaint town much different than our work environments.  Thanks to all the parents who sent taco fixings and fillings for our dinner.

A game of "hug it out" started us out with a bang for our evening devotions.  Our work teams debriefed the events of the day paying particular attention to things they heard throughout the day - sounds of joy, cries for help and God speaking to us in each of our ministries.

The evening concluded with journaling and worship led by Maggie and Jake. They affirmed each person in the group through their words and communion.

Friday, July 25, 2014