Please consider the following organizations:

 

Doorways for Women and Families (Arlington):  Doorways empowers women and families who are abused, homeless, or at-risk to live safe, secure and self-sufficient lives.  Doorways has recently opened a facility in addition to the Safehouse, called the Freddie Mac Foundation Home, which has been outfitted with lots of new amenities.  In the meantime, the Safehouse has been heavily used and is in need of sprucing up.  In particular, there is a need to replace play therapy books and some of the playroom furniture, as well as bathroom items like shower curtains, bath mats, etc.  Your Lenten contributions can help make the Safehouse a more comfortable place for the women and children who seek refuge behind its doors.

 

Sierra Leone Theological School:  Mount Olivet has a long-standing relationship with this school and its principal, Rev. Olivia Wesley.  We currently provide scholarships for two students to help them pay for tuition to attend the school. The facility is in need of a new generator, and they currently have no means by which to obtain it.  Your contributions will help the school replace the generator so that there is no emergency shutdown.

 

AlterNatives/Highland Support Project:   AlterNatives is an organization that works toward the empowerment of women in developing countries.  Among the individuals and groups that use the AlterNatives storefront in Richmond, Virginia to sell their goods is the Highland Support Project, which has participated in our last two Alternative Gift Fairs.  Sadly, the AlterNatives facility had a devastating fire in December 2007.  Just as the Christmas season was getting underway, $150,000 worth of inventory, including goods made by the Highland Support Project were destroyed.  Funds raised through the Lenten offerings will be used to assist the families of the Highland Support Project to purchase new craft materials and  help offset some of the losses suffered by the AlterNatives store.

 

Friends in Need:  Mount Olivet has always been very generous in its outreach to the local, regional, national and international arenas.  Sometimes, however, the needs are even closer to home - - right here in the congregation.  You may not be aware of it, but there is a fund available for the church staff to assist church members with unexpected short-term needs, such as medical bills and prescriptions, monthly rent, and unexpected emergencies.  Often the people receiving assistance do pay back to the fund so that others can be helped.  Currently, the fund is nearing depletion and a small share of the Lenten offering will be designated for its replenishment.

 

Heifer Project International:  This organization is dedicated to attacking world hunger and poverty by helping people help themselves.  Rather than giving food to a family in need, Heifer provides an animal (a heifer, a few rabbits, some chickens) for which the family will provide food and care.  When the animal reproduces, the family passes on one of the offspring to another family in their village.  Once again this year, Mount Olivet’s 5^th grade Sunday School class will lead the effort to “fill the arks” and decide which animals will be purchased with the funds donated through our Lenten offering.  Your contributions will be used to supplement the funds raised by the children.