Outreach Ministries for Justice and Social Action
Outreach Ministries (OM) serves the larger community around us with benevolences, missions, social service, and social action. Much of OM's work focuses financial and volunteer support on four core ministries, Bethesda Cares, City-Gate, the Marie Reed Learning Center, and Shaw Community Ministry. We met with the executive directors of each of these organizations during the year, to learn about their current needs and efforts. We also encouraged Westmoreland members to get involved with these organizations. During 2011, dozens of Westmorelanders tutored inner-city youth weekly at Marie Reed. Several church members serve on the Board of Shaw Community Ministry and provided the Shaw Community with turkeys for Thanksgiving and presents for Christmas.
Each year, OM invites these four organizations to apply for funds for special program needs. We ask other organizations to apply for grants and encourage Volunteer Corps members to write grant proposals for the organization they serve. The money that OM grants is raised through our Easter and Christmas offerings, special offerings and activities of the church. The Music and Arts Committee collects donations at its quarterly concerts.
OM also advertises and supports the national and international mission offerings collected by the United Church of Christ, primarily "Neighbors in Need" and "One Great Hour of Sharing." This year, OM offered members of the congregation the opportunity to participate in the UCC's two other national offerings, "Strengthen the Church" offering to underwrite new church starts, and the "Christmas Fund" to support retired ministers and staff who have exhausted their inadequate health care and retirement funds.
OM administers the Barbara McDowell Fund, set up two years ago to support outreach activities in memory of Barbara McDowell. This year was the first year that OM made a grant from part of the fund’s earnings. It went to Jubilee Jobs, a D.C.-based organization that provides job training and employment search assistance to those in need of a job.
OM also oversees two direct service projects that provide food to the hungry. On the last Tuesday of the month, Church members make about 400 sandwiches for Martha’s Table. Each month, church members prepare 16-18 tuna casseroles (frozen and ready to bake) to help SOME serve 350-400 people.
OM takes on other outreach projects as they arise. A Westmoreland group walked in the Homeless Walk at Thanksgiving. OM hosted the Ten Thousand Villages sale at Christmas, which raised money to support craftspeople in developing countries.
Baby gifts were donated to the Anacostia Health Center at Christmas. School supplies were donated to Interfaith Works in August. The 125th Anniversary committee also launched a food drive throughout the fall, tying in with the national UCC efforts to provide additional food for the hungry.
OM grants to local organizations - 2011
Total: $39,550
The Barbara McDowell Fund provided an additional contribution to Jubilee Jobs.
| OM distributions from the church budget: | $ 61,900 |
| Grand Total: | $101,450 |
OM would like to thank all the members of the committee for their work over the year. Special thanks to Pat Moseley who served as Secretary over the year, to Jessica Brown for her work as Treasurer, and to Robert Mertz, Leslee Ames, and Jessica Brown for organizing our response to the grant requests. Amy O’Malley and Mary Schoonmaker did an excellent job of organizing the Mardi Gras party. Gary McDavid organized much of the volunteer work at Marie Reed.
Becky Blank, Carol Mabry, and Gary McDavid are leaving OM at the end of this year with much thanks for their work. We will welcome new members at the Annual Meeting.
Becky Blank and Pete Davis, Co-Chairs
Page last updated 23 March 2012.