• The Eddy Shelter in Middletown was on the receiving end of several bags of personal care items donated by HCC this year.  The items were definitely GOOD NEWS to the short-term residents there.  How good it must be to take a hot shower with soap and shampoo-and to have toothpaste and a new toothbrush-and to shave with shaving cream and a new razor when you've gone without for a while.
• The wonderful Heifer box made by the Malave's last year has been made even more beautiful! The chalk mural of animals available through Heifer International will encourage us to put our coins in the slots! Be sure to check out the newly labeled slots and see how your favorite animal is doing!
• Our purchases this year of rabbits, trees, bees, chicks, ducks and geese will go a long way in spreading the GOOD NEWS around the world! We would really like to buy a BIG animal before the end of the year, like a cow or a water buffalo! it's up to YOU!!! We need about $80 to buy a water buffalo and almost $300 for a cow. Are we up for the challenge?
• Our Mother's Day collection went to IMA World Health to purchase 9 Safe Motherhood kits.  The kits contain plastic sheeting, gloves, and umbilical tie, a steril scalpel, steril guaze pads, a bar of soap, a washcloth and some baby items (a clean hat, tunic and blanket). The mothers and their babies experience the GOOD NEWS!
• Knit 3, purl 3, knit 3, purl 3... That is the rhythm heard on the first Tuesday of each month as the knitters congregate to create lovely prayer shawls.  If you know of anyone who would benefit from being wrapped in the love and GOOD NEWS of a shawl----in celebration or for healing, please contact us.
• Time Rose brought GOOD NEWS of his mission in France with Global Ministries of the UCC. His work in France and the presentation inspired our Youth Group to visit Tim's church, Foyer Protestant d'Aubervilliers in Paris where they experienced first hand the GOOD NEWS at work. (see photos under the Christian Education tab)
• Fifteen Easter Baskets were delivered to the Red Cross Shelter and Turkey Trimmings were given at Thanksgiving. Groceries were added to their pantry throughout the year.  GOOD NEWS for the shelter residents.
• Mittens on a tree???? Trees don't need mittens to stay warm, but children do! Tradition dictates that we collect hats and mittens on our Christmas tree to warm the families served by WIC and the Red Cross.
• Coffee-Tea-or Chocloate? Helping others never tasted so good! we have consumed over 100 pounds of coffee, 30 boxes for tea and more than 150 chocolate bars! No sacrifice to create this GOOD NEWS through the Fair Trade project.
• Eight care packages were sent off to our college students in February. The snacks and goodies were undoubtedly GOOD NEWS for those late night study groups!
• A'Mission charge. For the month of October there was an A'Mission charge to come to church on Sunday morning. The charge was an item of non-perishable food or a cleaning item to help stock the shelves at the Haddam Food Bank and the Red Cross Shelter.  Over 200 pounds of food was collected!  Of course there reallly isn't a charge to come to church, but the hope is that the habit of bringing food each week was developed during the month.  For Lent the A'Mission charge is a non-food item such as toothpaste, shampoo, deodrant etc. GOOD NEWS for our shelter family.
• Sponsor children. As a congregation we sponsor Lucien who lives in Haiti.  We are still praying for him and awaiting information from UCC Conspeth ministry in Haiti regarding his safety after the recent earthquake.  Several families within the church sponsor other children in the USA and Mexico.

Your Thoughts!?!

The outreach committee wants to be sure that we are representing what you would like us to be doing mission-wise.  We have tried to have a balance of local and world-wide missions.  If you have a mission that you would like us to consider supporting, please speak to a member of the committee: Carol Matregrano, Ginny Murphy, Karen Terrio-Malave, Lori Chadwick, Susette Negrelli, or Betsey Booth.