VPC Mission Committee Annual Report 2009

Respectfully submitted by Alice Chiang and Anita Wotiz, Mission Committee Co-Chairs

2009 Mission Committee members: Robin & Gian Polastri, Ted Meeker, Mary Jo Alderson, Candace Mindigo, Cathy Bowers, Wayne Chittenden, Rita Williams, Bob Barrett, Gideon Ticha, and Ginney Uhl, with participation from Joy Craft, and Sally Pfleiderer.

Due to a reduction in 2009 pledges, the mission budget was reduced by 25%.  The 2009 VPC Mission program continued existing partnerships and support for the worthy organizations that have been identified by members’ passions, with an emphasis on those that have volunteer opportunities.  We decided to maintain our previous funding for three organizations that serve those who are most affected by the recession, and we actually increased funding to the St. Anthony Padua Dining Room as they have seen a large increase in the number of hungry customers.

This year, a Living Waters for the World (LWW) project was added, and this occupied quite a bit of our time and required fundraising (due to the reduced mission budget).  LWW is a Presbyterian-led program that brings safe drinking water to communities around the world.  Our first venture will be to bring the gift of clean water, through the installation of the LWW carbon filtration system, to our sister church in Tekax, Mexico, with whom we have built a trusting relationship over the last 20 years.

Funds raised for Mission opportunities outside the Mission allocation

One Great Hour of Sharing

VPC collected $2109 in the Spring OGHS offering.  The Presbyterian Hunger Program receives 36% of these gifts, while the Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance each receives 32%.

China Girls designated giving

VPC members generously donated $5,000 to augment Mission giving to the China Girls education program. This was our final year of commitment for this project.

Christmas Market giving

VPC once again conducted a Christmas gift market to allow directed Christmas giving to those most in need in our world and to offer for sale various Fair Trade and hand made items.  The congregation donated $2539 to Alternative Gifts International (AGI) projects.

Kiva fund management

In 2009, VPC has continued keeping $1525.00 at work to support Kiva (www.kiva.org) who provide “micro-loans” to a variety of small businesses to those who need it (and qualify) in a variety of regions. VPC supported many: Vera Cruz Group in Bolivia (shoe, clothing, grocery sales); Penial3 Group in Dominican Republic (shoe sales); UMC Primary School Mekini Group in Sierra Leone (food market); Yassir in Lebanon (sewing); Bernardina Requelme in Paraguay (charcoal sales); Blanca Olga Perdomo Rapalo in Honduras (grocery sales).

Living Waters for the World Mission Activities

LWW Covenant Trip to Tekax

In May, three VPC representatives (Gian and Robin Polastri and Anita Wotiz) traveled to Tekax to discuss and sign the LWW partner covenant and test the local water to ensure that the LWW system will solve this problem.  The covenant describes the efforts required by both parties (who pays for what, the amount charged for the water, the need for a business plan, the requirement for follow-up visits).

Visitors from Tekax

In October, three members of our Tekax sister church congregation, Martha Martin Zapata, her husband Orlando Gongora, and Miguel Cámara Valencia, joined 5 VPC members (Gian Polastri, Ted Meeker, Anita Wotiz, Alice Chiang, Gideon Ticha, and Mark Goodman-Morris) in California to attend LWW training in Calvin Crest, CA.  We had a wonderful training experience and left with great admiration for the LWW organization.  We are especially grateful to Gayten and Scott Harmon for once again loaning their van for the week, easing our transportation challenge.

In order to carry out the Living Waters Project, we needed to do special fundraising.  In total, we were able to raise $14,183 for the project, of which  $10,000 came from several generous private contributions,  $1,424.37 came from VPC kids summer fundraising, $1767.49  from sales of eco-items and $991.56 from Stephen Pfleiderer’s benefit concert.   We are grateful to all who helped with raising these funds. 

Mission Hands-on Activities

Maple Street Shelter (a Shelter Network program)

VPC continued the responsibility for serving home-cooked meals on designated Sunday evenings at the Maple Street Shelter.  In addition to giving the residents a delicious hot meal and some company, this activity provides an opportunity for entire families, including VPC youth, to participate in Mission.

Fair Trade Coffee project

VPC Youth and adult volunteers continued selling Equal Exchange Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate after worship. 

Living Waters Project

Gratitude
The Mission Committee wishes to express its gratitude for faithful dedication demonstrated by members of the VPC congregation.

To Sally Pfleiderer for organizing the item design, purchase, and sale of eco items to benefit our LWW project, and for organizing a concert, put on by Stephen Pfleiderer and his friends, also to benefit our LWW project.

To Cathy Paniagua and our VPC children for money they raised in the summer for Living Waters. 

To Wayne Chittenden for continuing to organize our St. Anthony Padua dining room service.

To Trish McBride for coordinating the food and fellowship evenings at Maple Street Shelter.

To Ken and Trish McBride for continuing to provide the Holy Grounds espresso cart with all proceeds going to Mission.

To Robin Polastri and Mary Jo Alderson for organizing the purchase and storage of the Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate.

The Mission Committee, the "customers" of VPC, and small coffee farmers all over the world would like to express their gratitude for the faithful service of our Fair Traders who sell delicious coffees, teas, chocolate, and cocoas twice monthly.  Muchas gracias to the Fiorettis, Mileys, Shells, Thomsens, Polastris and Meeker-Wotizes!  They are helping change the world one cup of coffee at a time!

Many thanks also to all members of the congregation who volunteered for mission projects and who participated with prayer, presence, or a sharing of their means to ease the suffering and inequities of our world.

2009 Mission Allocation

Below is an accounting of the 2009 VPC Mission expenditures from our allocation.