VPC Mission Committee Annual Report 2010

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

2010 Mission Committee members: Robin & Gian Polastri, Ted Meeker, Mary Jo Alderson, Candace Mindigo, Cathy Bowers, Wayne Chittenden, Rita Williams, Bob Barrett, Gideon Ticha, and Joanne Kagle.

The 2010 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.   In addition, we have added a Cameroon partnership with the village of Zang Tabi, the home village of member Gideon Ticha.  The relationship with Zang Tabi has been clarified after meeting with Steve Barr (who spent 6 months in the village last year, living with Gideon's parents), and will continue to be clarified during the Cameroon Conference to be held on the CPC campus in May 2011.

However, we did decide to do some early awareness-building among our VPC congregation by offering two giving opportunities at Christmas: donations to Judge Rose Acha to be used to get birth certificates for Zang Tabi youth (so they can go to school), and donations to be used to buy farm tools (to be implemented by our recent guest, Emmanel Musoro).

The Living Waters for the World (LWW) project continued, with a successful system installation in Tekax, Mexico, at the site of our sister church, Monte de Sion.  It was a great trip, with a group of 16 from VPC sharing wonderful times with our brothers and sisters there.

Funds raised for Mission opportunities outside the Mission allocation

One Great Hour of Sharing

VPC collected $2,231 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 $10,000 to the China Girls education program to allow us to continue supporting the 30 of our 100 girls who passed their entry exam into higher education.

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 $2100 to Alternative Gifts International (AGI) projects, as well as $615 for birth certificates for 300 Zang Tabi children and $770 for tools for Zang Tabi farmers.

We collected Christmas gifts (the only gifts these kids would get) for 22 Santa Clara Foster kids through the Bill Wilson Center's Adopt A Family Program ($100-$200 total value for each child adopted) and 50 toy gifts in the $20 range for St. Francis Center.

Kiva
Through Kiva micro-lending, VPC currently supports Jocelyn Nota who lives outside of Bambang and runs a small general store outside her house where she mainly sells daily use products, snacks and rice as well as Sekitoleko Christine to buy more foods for resell at her small grocery store.

Mission Hands-on Activities

LWW Installation Trip to Tekax

In February, 16 VPC representatives traveled to Tekax to install a LWW carbon filtration system to generate clean water on the Monte de Sión church campus.  By the end of the trip, clean water was flowing and 72 men, women, and children had been educated on how to use this clean water.

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.

St. Anthony Padua

One Saturday a month, VPC sends volunteers to St. Anthony Padua Dining Room to prepare and serve meals to hundreds of people who wait in line with their families.  For many years, VPC volunteers have very faithfully staffed this important mission.

Fair Trade Coffee project

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

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

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.  Thanks to the Fiorettis, Mileys, Shells, Thomsens, Brenda Herrington, Carla Christensen, Betsy Burdick, 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.

FY2011 Mission Allocation

The Fiscal Year 2011 VPC Mission allocation (June 2010 - June 2011) was set at $83,400.  Of that, GA/Presbytery will receive $25,000, partnership giving totals $45,000, and the remainder has been / will be used for emergency giving, VPC members' mission passions, Christmas in May expenses, and our new Cameroon project.

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Wotiz and Alice Chiang,

Mission co-chairs