The Vine - News Blog

Snack Sacks: All-Year Mission Serves Hungry Children

 
Arborlawn continues to help those in need during the summer by providing snacks to the United Community Centers. These snack sacks are prepared by volunteers who care that children are not going hungry on the weekend. Once school begins, snack sacks will be delivered to seven elementary schools in our area.
 

The above image shows some of Arborlawn's smallest Snack Sacks volunteers: kids who attended Vacation Bible Camp 2014. (We learn so much about missions mindset from our kids!)
 
We at Arborlawn know that caring for our neighbors is what we are called to do. Snack sacks are prepared with size specific items that we purchase in bulk as needed. So the best way you can benefit this mission is through financial donations. Please note "Snack Sacks" in the memo line of your check made out to Arborlawn UMC. We welcome volunteers to pack the sacks and deliver them to the schools. For more details, contact Dawn Henderson or visit the Snack Sacks page.
 
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Snack Sacks ministry: providing for seven schools; monetary donations needed

 
Beginning this coming school year, the Snack Sacks ministry will be helping seven elementary schools in the city: Nash, Chapel Hill Academy, Tanglewood, Waverly Park, J.T. Stevens, Oakmont, and Woodway. This will allow our ministry to reach 350 children each week. The foods we provide these children nourish both their spirits and their bodies.
 
Snack Sacks, which has been at Arborlawn for nearly ten years, involves a set list of non-perishable food that we purchase in bulk to keep costs down. Each Sack costs $3 to assemble. Your most valuable contributions to this effort are twofold: 1) financial donations to help underwrite the food we purchase in bulk; and 2) volunteering to help pack the Sacks.
 
If you have questions or want to volunteer or give, please contact Dawn Henderson.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Snack Sacks ministry: seven schools; now year-round ministry

 
Snack Sack Ministry continues during the summer. Each week 150 snacks are delivered to the United Community Centers. Although these are children we do not serve during the school year, these are indeed hungry children.
 

The Snacks Sacks program has been here for nearly ten years. At the time it started we served 30 children each week. Thanks to generous gifts from this congregation, we continue to meet the needs of children by nourishing their spirits and bodies.
 
Beginning this coming school year, we will be helping seven elementary schools with Snack Sacks: Nash, Chapel Hill Academy, Tanglewood, Waverly Park, J.T. Stevens, Oakmont, and Woodway. This will allow our ministry to reach 350 children each week.
 
It is nearly time for our new schedule to begin. Each sack costs $3. The Snack Sack Ministry is humbly asking for your help with prayers, volunteering, and giving. If you have questions or want to volunteer or give, please contact Dawn Henderson.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

August 30 concert by FWSO musicians to benefit Snack Sack Ministry

 
Make plans to join us Thursday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary for the "Feed the Children, Feed the Soul" concert. The night of music is presented by Concerts at Arborlawn and features musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Paul Haas, guest conductor.
 

We are proud to announce that 11-year-old Claire Wells will be playing in the concert. Claire is Grand Prize winner in the 2012 Collin County Concerto and 2012 Vernell Gregg Young Artist competitions.
 
The concert is free, but donations to the Snack Sack Ministry (financial or with food items listed below) are appreciated.
 
Arborlawn’s Snack Sack Ministry distributes small bags of food assembled by church members and taken to community schools for distribution to children who are at risk of not having enough to eat over the weekend. Typically these children are on a free-lunch program. The children have no idea where the food comes from. They simply know they have some food for the weekend and that someone cares! Requested items are: 100 percent juice boxes (hard sided cartons), small cans of Vienna sausages, small pop-top cans of fruit or pudding cups, individual boxes of cereal or cereal/granola bars, packaged cheese or peanut butter crackers, individual servings of Easy Mac N Cheese, and gallon-sized sealable plastic storage bags.
 
The musicians presenting this concert encourage you to give generously to help the Snack Sack Ministry. This concert is not a production of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association.
 
Also, mark your calendars for these Concerts at Arborlawn dates in the next few weeks: Saturday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. - Children's Organ Concert - a fun and informative concert by Jerry Westenkuehler. Sunday, Sept. 30 - Organ Dedication Festival - special offerings in morning worship and again at 7 p.m., featuring Jerry Westenkuehler and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Monday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. - Organ Dedication Festival - featuring Todd Wilson.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Snack Sacks: believing without seeing

 
By Dawn Henderson
 
Faith is believing without seeing. That certainly describes the Snack Sack committee and volunteers. Last fall, Nash Elementary lost its sponsor for Snack Sacks and asked if we could help. The answer was yes!
 
Our ministry was so excited to help another group of children. We prayed we would have the needed volunteers. This spring we added Chapel Hill Academy, and we are delighted to help even more students.
 
In our faith we are called to serve. The Snack Sack volunteers are passionate about working to serve children who may not have enough food on the weekends. This need continues year round. During the summer the snack sacks are delivered to the Bethlehem Center location of United Community Centers.
 
It is such fun to visit the schools and the centers and watch the kids learn and play. We never know which kids are hungry. The school counselors determine those in need.
 

Last month, Beth Evers wrote an article and the response of additional volunteers was met. What a blessing! This ministry also needs financial support. We deliver nearly 200 Snack Sacks each week. This amounts to between $500 and 600 weekly. Please consider making a financial donation (designate Snack Sacks on your check) and help these hungry kids.
 
The scriptures say "Ask and it will be given to you." (Matthew 7:7) We are asking.
 
For more information contact Dawn Henderson.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Snack Sack Ministry seeking volunteers as scope increases

 
By Beth Evers
 
Each week nearly two hundred Snack Sacks are delivered to local elementary schools. Snack Sacks are gallon-sized baggies filled with non-perishable food for children who may not have enough food to eat over the weekends.
 
Several years ago, members of Arborlawn realized a great need within our community. They speculated that many of the children who received free and reduced priced lunches through the schools probably did not have access to food over the weekends. Once this was confirmed through school officials, these individuals got to work forming a plan to help ensure the children had something to eat. The Snack Sack mission was born in response to this need.
 
Currently, Arborlawn delivers 185 Snack Sacks each week to children at Oakmont, Tanglewood, Waverly Park, and Nash Elementary Schools. Additionally, we have partnered with the Warmed Hearts Sunday School class to provide Snack Sacks to a small group of students who attend Chapel Hill Academy. The Snack Sack Team is thrilled to have the support of the Arborlawn family as we continue to grow in our mission and serve additional students.
 
Because we have increased our Snack Sack deliveries, we now have additional opportunities for individuals to volunteer and serve through the ministry. We are looking for groups or Sunday School classes who would like to volunteer to pack Snack Sacks.
 

Packing takes about 45 minutes to an hour and takes place in the SAM Building. Not only does this project help children, but it also provides groups with a great time for fellowship and conversation as they pack the food.
 
If your class or group would like to pack, please contact Beth Evers (or 817-731-0701) so we can get your group scheduled. Additionally, if you would like to provide financial support to the Snack Sack mission, please send a check to the church with Snack Sacks indicated on the memo line. We are so grateful for the continued support from the people of Arborlawn for this mission!
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Curves of Wedgwood in middle of annual Snack Sacks drive

 
Janet Culbertson, a longtime Arborlawn member and owner of Curves of Wedgwood, is celebrating the 14th Annual Food Drive by encouraging members to donate to the Snack Sack mission of Arborlawn.
   
For the past six years, the Snack Sack mission has been the grateful recipient of donations from this Food Drive. Throughout March, Curves of Wedgwood members are bringing in cases of cereal bars, fruit cups, peanut butter bars, and the other items that go into the Snack Sacks. Their generosity helps Arborlawn continue to provide food to elementary school children who have little to nothing to eat over the weekends.
 

Arborlawn currently provides Snack Sacks to children in five elementary schools—Oakmont, Waverly Park, Tanglewood, and Nash Elementary Schools as well as Chapel Hill Academy.
   
The Snack Sack ministry at Arborlawn continues to grow and develop its outreach to children. Through the support of our congregation and groups like Curves of Wedgwood, we have been able to expand our mission to two new schools this year. We will also continue to provide 200 Snack Sacks each week to children in the programs at the United Community Centers. The Snack Sack mission has been completely supported by donations from Sunday School classes, individuals, and other groups in the community. We are grateful for those who have answered the call to serve children through their gifts to Snack Sacks.
 
For more information about the Snack Sack mission, contact Beth Evers at the church. For more information about Curves of Wedgwood, contact Janet Culbertson (WedgwoodCurves.com, 817-292-0027).
   
As part of the 14th Annual Food Drive (running through the end of March), Curves of Wedgwood will waive the enrollment fee for anyone who donates food for the Snack Sack mission.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

How Arborlawn is helping feed hungry people

By Judy Williamson
 
There is Good News at Arborlawn. Arborlawn members are helping feed hungry people. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” There is also disturbing news. The number of people who need food assistance seems to be growing dramatically. The opportunities for helping our near neighbors abound. You can be part of what happens now and what happens next.
 
THANK YOU FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW
 
The people of Arborlawn provided 191 generous Thanksgiving Bags and turkeys to the people in the North Side, Polytechnic, Hospital District, and Far West neighborhoods of Fort Worth through the three United Community Centers (Wesley, Poly, and Bethlehem) and WestAid (Cherry Lane at Camp Bowie West).
 
An Adult Mission team just returned from UMCOR's (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana. The team worked in tasks related to restocking emergency supplies such as food, water, medical kits, and cleaning supplies to be used in major disasters throughout the world before the disasters occur. United Methodists are always ready to help in disaster relief.
 
Many Sunday School classes choose to provide monthly breakfast bags for all the people at the Presbyterian Night Shelter and personally serve monthly meals at the Samaritan House.
 
The Advent and Lenten Concerts provide a high quality music experience and a love offering lunch to our members and to our guests.
 
The Snack Sacks Ministry provides weekend snacks to children who receive federally funded food supplements on weekdays in the public schools. Snack Sacks also provides training to other groups who want to start a Snack Sacks Ministry in their neighborhoods. Nash Elementary School has been added recently.
 
The Food Pantry at Arborlawn provides supplementary canned food assistance to people in five ZIP codes near the church who are referred by agencies such as 211, the near neighborhood schools, and various job training and re-training groups. Each guest of the Food Pantry comes on Monday or Wednesday mornings between 9 a.m. and Noon or on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Church volunteers and TCU nutrition students staff the Food Pantry, which served 239 people in October. On the first two Food Pantry days in November, 27 were served. The number of people seeking food assistance at the Food Pantry is larger than projected and expected. Classes that have restocked the pantry in October and November include New Hope, Faith Bible, Bible Study, and Sojourners. TCU nutrition students and wonderful, caring individuals have also helped. Shopping lists for the Food Pantry and Snack Sacks Ministry are always available.
 
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
 
Individual Arborlawn members are requesting information about serving food on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days at mission locations in Fort Worth. There are a very few opportunities on the wait list for Thanksgiving Day at the Presbyterian Night Shelter (817-632-7400. Christmas Day volunteer opportunities at the Salvation Army, Presbyterian Night Shelter, and Union Gospel Mission (817-332-2922) are filling quickly. These groups offer training sessions for volunteers before the holidays. Contact these locations directly. Arborlawn Students will sponsor two weeks of food at the Food Pantry in December. Monthly sponsors for most of the food ministries at Arborlawn are appreciated for 2012. Volunteer time is a great treasure all people can share.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Curves of Wedgwood helps Snack Sacks... again

By Rev. Beth Evers
 
Snack Sacks is a ministry that provides food for the weekends to children in area elementary schools. The program is truly a partnership between Arborlawn and the community. Together, we are working to ensure that all children have the food they need to sustain their growing bodies. 
 
For the fifth year, Curves of Wedgwood has conducted a food drive to help supply the Snack Sack mission. Janet Culbertson, Arborlawn member and owner of Curves of Wedgwood, challenged her club members to provide cereal, fruit snacks, macaroni and cheese, and other food products for the Snack Sacks. We are so grateful to Janet and the women of Curves for their generosity and commitment to children.
 
This year, Arborlawn has provided Snack Sacks to three schools: Oakmont Elementary, Tanglewood Elementary, and Waverly Park Elementary. We have been blessed by the generosity of our members who donate time and money to support this mission. Together, we are expanding the mission as we strive to serve more children. Throughout the summer, we will provide 200 Snack Sacks each week to the children of the United Community Centers. 
 
Arborlawn has made a significant commitment to children through this mission. We are so grateful to groups like Curves of Wedgwood for helping us keep our shelves stocked!
 
If you would like to help support Snack Sacks through a financial gift, snack donations, or by volunteering, please contact Rev. Beth Evers at the church (817-731-0701). 
 
If you would like more information about Curves, you may contact Janet Culbertson at 817-292-0027 or check out their website.
 

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ArborlawnUMC.org