Sending Samm

We give 50% of our tips to a charity/mission. We are now collecting to support the construction and start up of the Blessman Ministries fair trade site in Shikawuru, South Africa, as well as their sustainability effort in this community. In addtion, 50% of funds collected will go towards expenses to support living expenses for a missionary, Samm Melton; one of our baristas at The Bridge.

Our gift in Response to Sandy's Destruction

Thanks to those who donated through their tips at The Bridge. We just gave $300 to RCWS (Reformed Church World Service) Response to Sandy’s Destruction.
-----------------------------------------
Working together, 17 New York churches have been very effective in helping a Staten Island ministry for hungry and homeless people respond in the wake of Sandy.

Project Hospitality is located on Staten Island, one of the areas hardest hit by Sandy's storm surge. Early on, it became obvious that the people who rely on Project Hospitality would need a lot of help. It was natural for RCA folks to provide that help. Terry Troia, Project Hospitality's executive director, is ordained in the RCA and partially supported through RCA Global Mission. And the roots of the ministry itself go back to an RCA congregation's outreach in 1984.

Reformed Church World Services (RCWS) sent $5,000 to First Reformed Church in Schenectady to purchase items needed by Project Hospitality. Word got out to churches throughout the Albany and Schenectady Classes about Project Hospitality's need and donations poured in from 17 congregations. Along with the RCWS money, the donations allowed the churches to collect $15,000 in food and supplies. James Hart Brumm, pastor of Blooming Grove Reformed Church, says, "Thank you, RCWS, for the seed money that spurred our congregations to excel!"

Thank you from Janis

Friends at The Bridge,

First I must say thank you for your support in our Christmas celebration. With the all donations of books , games and stuff animals we were able to provide the children that attended our Christmas celebration and breakfast families with wonderful selections of gifts to take home.

It is so special when you see children picking gifts not for themselves but for friend and family, and the happiness they had being able have gifts to give. We were blessed to be able to serve over 65 families with gifts for Christmas, but your gifts went to a lot of families that would otherwise have fallen through the crack. It is always a great feeling when you see the kids go through the books and find the one that excite them. And the parents that find the books that they had once read and enjoyed, and to be able to give share them with their children. Seeing the families going through the gift table was better than the party, they had a ball searching for just the right thing. A lot of the books and stuff animals had a personal feel to them, you could tell they were love and had wonderful memories and now new ones are being made. Your donations gave joy to people would where worried about what the holiday would bring.

Thank you for making those donations , and sharing your love with our community. We will be looking forward to partnering with The Bridge in God's mission of service in the new year.

Blessing to you all,

Janis Hutchinson
Outreach Coordinator