Our Mission Statement
Mission/Outreach is an integral part of VGUCC ministries. We will pursue opportunities that are reflective of Justice and Peace, denominational and ecumenical, local and global, participatory and financial. Our mission and outreach will make a difference – empowering recipients and inspiring givers to act in the spirit of Christ; exemplifying the 3 Great Loves: Love of Neighbor; Love of Children; Love of Creation.
From your Mission Team:
“During the first half of the year, through our mission pledges, we have sent a total of $3,100 to our 5 mission partners; Family Promise, Los Pobres, Inside Out Youth Services, One Nation Walking Together, and The Chinook Center. Additionally, with our “in kind” donations, we have sent approx. another $2,900. This does not count for our volunteer hours. Thank you for your generosity!”
Now for the second half of the year …
It may be a little early for sales on school supplies but we will have a school supply drive for Los Pobres and feminine hygiene products collection for One Nation Walking Together for July/August. There will be two collection boxes on the first landing. Give as you are able. Also we are still collecting small medicine bottles for OTC supplies for Los Pobres. Please remove labels.
We are recycling aluminum cans for cash for missions. Rinse them and drop them off in the trash bin marked Recycling near the kitchen entrance.
For September
Family Promise of Colorado Springs Day House Auction.
Grand Opening of the FPCOS Day House – A Safe and Compassionate Place for our families to be throughout the day
Family Promise of Colorado Springs has been providing safe and compassionate temporary shelter to children and their families who are situationally unhoused for nearly 30 years! We also provide rental and utility bill assistance with the goal of keeping families housed. With our case management and supportive services, we have helped hundreds of families return to stable housing.
One of the important and unique aspects of our program is that we provide a safe place for families in our program to spend their days with access to case management, supportive services, meals and companionship. We are thrilled to be opening our new Day House in downtown Colorado Springs.
You are invited to our NEW Day House Open House Celebration, Saturday, September 7th, from 12:00pm-2:00pm. Visit the online silent auction fundraiser of 27 gift baskets, donated by local supporting businesses and individuals. Here is a silent auction link for you to preview the 27 silent auction gift baskets.
The Day House Open House Celebration will include light snacks, family-friendly activities (including a bouncy house and arts & crafts), gift bags for the first 100 people, and tours of the new trauma-informed Day House. Also, the winners of the silent auction will be announced during the open House celebration on September 7th. If winners are not present at the event, baskets will be available for pick up at the Family Promise office.
The silent auction went live on August 1st. Here is a silent auction link for you to preview the 27 silent auction gift baskets. The blue Open House event cards have a QR code for the online silent auction. Use the “Auction” button on the website (found just above the big dark blue “Donate” button at the top of the page and next to the blue-highlighted “Overview” button). The silent auction fundraising goal is $8,000 for Family Promise.
We have maintained our relationships with our six local missions (The Chinook Center, Inside-Out Youth Services, Family Promise, Los Pobres, One Nation Walking Together and Smiles and Sandwiches) even during this pandemic. During Lent we contributed 46 Walmart gift cards for Los Pobres. For the second Sunday of each month, we collect water, toilet paper, snacks etc. to fill the bags for unhoused folks through Smiles and Sandwiches. We are celebrating the fact that once again, we were able to meet ALL our financial commitments.
Family Promise
(Donna) The re-launch of the church-rotation model of housing families in churches for 1 – 2 weeks at a time began on April 23. Dave and Donna served the Saturday evening meal for 16 folks. The parents and children were happy to have a place to sleep and 3 meals a day.
Los Pobres
Jud and Maggie made a trip to Los Pobres to deliver some household items and the collection of 32 – $25 Walmart gift cards. Sister Nancy was very appreciative. They plan to make another run to Los Pobres late spring.
Inside Out Youth Services (IOYS)
(Needed) After the Club Q shooting last November, security needed to be heightened. The youth are recently back and have had “pop up” events by invitation only.
One Nation Walking Together
(Judy) Holding a Hygiene Drive. Judy will get the list of needed items.
Chinook Center
(needed) – Mallory reported that The Chinook Center is a resource center for several non-profits. Vista Grande supports the People’s Grocery. Several folks assist in bagging groceries and delivering to families who don’t have a ride.
Spreading Sandwiches and Smiles (SS&S)
We just had a PB&J drive and collected a good supply of sandwich material
Other ways we support our mission in the community.
The Clothing Closet (Barbara)
“The Colorado Springs Accompaniment and Sanctuary Coalition” has numerous programs, all of which are designed to help our immigrant neighbors The program I have been involved with is one in which volunteers collect, sort, launder, mend, organize clothing donations, and deliver clothing orders to immigrant families through
Mobile Clothes. I was touched by how grateful recipients are, especially for new clothes.
In other Coalition programs, volunteers accompany participants through various life activities such as registering kids for school, court appearances, and job interviews.
Read more click HERE.