Creative ways to love our neighbours
THE CHURCH
Crestwicke Baptist Church, Guelph, Ont.
THE CHALLENGE
Connecting with neighbours and showing care
THE IDEA
Making quilts, washcloths, hats, mittens, etc., using donated materials
THE COST
In addition to church money budgeted for this ministry, members add personal donations.
Members Joyce Pharoah and Mary Fisher explain:
Our founder Sue Finlay got the idea to start making things to distribute in our community in spring 2006. We believe the Lord gave her the idea, which has been bearing fruit for 20 years now.
When we started SNIPS (Sharing Needed Items, Practically Serving) we had a private school in our church building that had a sewing machine, so we used that. The first year, we made enough things to give out to three organizations.
This year we’re up to 18 organizations, including four seniors homes, and we have 67 helpers volunteering with us.
The costs are covered by our church’s budget for women’s ministry, plus generous donations from members. We call them "God things" – finding yarn at a thrift store or a sale at a fabric store.
A quilt might take 30 hours to put together, and a washcloth takes an hour to make. We make dresses and T-sweaters for an organization called Faith’s Orphans Fund. We make blankets for babies, and we donate blankets to people who may be in the hospital and want something cozy.
We meet as a group every Tuesday afternoon. On alternate weeks we also meet in the evenings for two hours. There are some volunteers who opt to work from home after picking up materials. We have some children helping out now who take things home and work on projects, so they learn how to sew and give.
The youngest this year was six and the oldest who has participated is 94. We also have great interest from university students.
We’re up to 18 organizations, including four seniors homes, and we have 67 helpers volunteering with us.
If another church is thinking of doing something similar, we’d say start small. Find a leader who has a passion for it. Sue got the prompt from God, and we’ve seen the fruit of that. We love connecting with those involved, a lot of phone calls and thank you’s. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for freebies. Before you start each year, call around to make sure you are still meeting community needs.
—SAMMY KYEREME
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