Author: Laura

Categories
Community Development

Tulsa Community Service Center Dedication

Article and Photos By: Brit Whittington, Oklahoma Conference

TULSA- Despite the sweltering summer afternoon sun, Sabbath, June 27, turned out to be a beautiful day as God’s people shared His love in caring service for their fellow man. Several members from at least 10 Tulsa area churches; our conference leadership; and the Tulsa Community Service Center (TCSC) board came together to dedicate the new TCSC facility. The new facility took 14 months of planning and hard work to remodel and pass Tulsa permit inspections, finally obtaining a maximum occupancy of 99 persons. It is now officially open to provide health, medical, optometry, legal, and spiritual services, along with cooking classes and a food pantry. TCSC hopes to provide dental services within the next year as well. Everyone at the dedication ceremony received a blessing listening to violin music from Sean Shin and AnnaRose Jones, an introduction by Elder Apple Park, prayer by Elder Carlos Portanova, an inspirational history of the center by Elder Park and Bill Carlile, and a motivating dedication sermon and prayer by Elder James Shires. Through the love of God, we were encouraged to love others and provide for their needs as if we were serving Jesus himself as described in Matthew 25:35-40.

The TCSC goal is to serve our community and its inaugural event to fully dedicate the center was a massive food giveaway organized by the TCSC board and the Go Fresh company. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Go Fresh company was awarded a $50+ million grant from the FDA to help farmers get their goods out. The farmers were unable to distribute their products to restaurants, schools, etc. that were closed due to the shutdowns. The farmers were going to lose their goods, lose money, and the people impacted by the closings also needed food. Go Fresh brought a truckload of 1,500 boxes of food, about 28 lbs. each, for a total of approximately 20.25 tons. Based on the cost of $34.97 per box, a total of more than $50,000 in free food was distributed to our community.

Our team helped stage rows of cars in an Office Depot parking lot, around the backside of Office Depot, and down 21st street to our new facility. Kids with signs on Sheridan and 21st street directed people into Office Depot to line up for the food giveaway. Others handed out questionnaires as the cars entered the TCSC lot. Another team retrieved the forms and directed them to the food distributors. We had eight teams of food distributors split into two rows ready to receive each car and give them a box of food and milk, one per family. The boxes contained potatoes, onions, lettuce, butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, half and half, and a carton of milk. With this arrangement, God’s love, and people willing to serve, we gave away all 1,500 boxes in three hours to many happy people in the Tulsa area. I witnessed great teamwork, loving hearts, hard, sweaty work, and smiling faces on both those serving and those receiving, which produced a blessing for all. We ask for your prayers and your physical and monetary support to continue to serve our community and hopefully expand our services.

The center is located just west of 21st and Sheridan streets at 2015 S Lakewood Ave, Tulsa, OK. For full details on services provided, how to get involved, or to stay informed about events, visit the Tulsa Community Service Center on Facebook.

Categories
COVID-19 Local Conference

Northeastern Conference ACS COVID-19 Efforts

Northeastern Conference ACS has been actively serving their local communities in light of the COVID-19 coronavirus, under the leadership of the conference ACS Director, Pr. Mario Augustave. All of their ACS centers remained open and fully staffed while New York State became the epicenter of the war against the virus. Besides providing free food through soup kitchens and food pantries, they’re also offering free COVID-19 testing for the entire community every Sunday.

They became the first organization to operate a mobile COVID-19 testing in the state, resulting in them being appointed by New York City as the official tester of over 55 homeless shelters. The Conference maintains regular weekly testing of their ACS volunteers who want to get tested. Northeastern Conference ACS is also running a Warming Center for the homeless community in Newhaven, Connecticut. “Our volunteers continue to work hard. From our drivers to our frontline nurses, physicians, food pantries, and cooks who prepare the meals for our senior and homeless communities in the tri-state area,” said Pr. Augustave.

Click here to read more about their food distribution operations during COVID-19.

Categories
COVID-19 Local Conference

ACS Ministries in Montana Respond to COVID-19

Volunteers at the Hot Springs Thrift Store.

On May 27, the ACS Disaster Response team of the Kalispell SDA Church donated PPEs to Kalispell Regional Healthcare Center. Gabriele Miranda-Laub, ACS Director of Montana Conference, assisted by delivering the PPEs which included 1000 masks and 400 gloves to the KRMC Foundation. These supplies were graciously received by Tagan Vine, President of the Foundation. “It was a pleasure to tell him about our organization and our involvement with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD),” said Gabriele, who was grateful for the opportunity to have played a small part in advocating for our Church and it’s mission.

The Hot Springs ACS Thrift Store has resumed operations after a two-month COVID-19-related shutdown. Situated in the picturesque little town of Hot Springs in Northwest Montana, this traditional thrift store which gives items for free, has been actively serving the local population and surrounding ranching community since 1983. On June 9, Gabriele was able to visit with Dianne Roosma and her team of dedicated volunteers. Dianne has been implementing social distancing in the store and keeping many items outside, weather permitting. As clients enter the store, one of the volunteers will spray their hands with disinfectant and introduce them to the layout, if needed. All the donations are kept outside in the fresh air and sun, if possible, for a couple of days before sorting them out and including them with the merchandise in the store. They were also able to obtain a dozen flood buckets and reusable ACS shopping bags from the Conference, that can be given away with clothing, or cleaning items, depending on their needs. “We’re grateful for this ACS Center and the volunteers that manage it even during challenging times. God is Good!” said Gabriele.

Categories
COVID-19 Food Aid

A Jar of Peanut Butter and A Food Box

The Better Living Center (BLC) in Spokane, Washington, and Portland ACS Center (PACS) in Portland, Oregon, are two of the several ACS centers that are actively serving individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve shared with us stories of how they’re helping those in need. Last week, a man walked into the BLC looking for socks and shirts. He was grateful that the Center had them, but he was more excited about the jar of peanut butter he received. He was so excited that he went to the corner of the asphalt parking area and ate the entire 16 ounces in one sitting. The BLC is thankful for volunteers and generous supporters that allow them to keep their doors open during this pressing time.

Here’s another story that was shared with us by Portland ACS Center (PACS) Director, Laura Pascoe. Laura’s husband had posted something on Facebook recently with a Bible text that mentioned ‘The Harvest’. A guy commented on the post saying that he wished there were more harvest around since food is getting scarce in that area. Realizing that he might be in need of food, Laura’s husband texted her asking her if she could bring one of the food boxes from the Center. She said “Sure!”, and before she left work that day, she put together a box for her husband to take to the man. He looked through it and saw that there was enough onions and potatoes to feed them for months. He shared some with his mom, his daughter, his sister, his friend and her family.

He called Laura’s husband back and expressed his gratitude by saying, “You don’t know the gift that you just gave me. Not only do I have food in my house now, but I was able to go be a blessing to four of my other loved ones because of what you gave me. Thank you so much.” Less than a week later, he tagged both Laura and her husband on Facebook saying to call him. Laura’s husband called him and he said that he’d like to meet him. He had gotten his stimulus check and wanted to donate $240 to them because he was so thankful for what they gave him. “I know that PACS will use it to help people because it’s helped me already. It changed my life,” he said.

Categories
COVID-19 Disaster Response

ACS Disaster Response Update

Adventist Community Services Disaster Response is continuing to support local communities around our Division even during these uncertain and pressing times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been able to bring relief to communities through collaborative efforts with our partner organizations. Currently, we are working with our federal partners, FEMA, to offer face coverings, AAMI Level 3 gowns, and 55-gallon drums of hand sanitizers for our conferences at no cost.

For the past few days, some of our conference ACS DR teams have been preparing for potential disasters in their territory. This past weekend, the Gulf States team made preparations for impending storms. The Arkansas Louisiana Conference prepositioned flood buckets, muck out gear, scoop shovels, kitchen kits, etc. in Hamon, Louisiana. The conference’s ACS Director, Lavida Whitson, was extremely pleased with the preparation and work of her local Hamon ACS Coordinator, Daniel Hoover, who is outfitted to render assistance for the storm that passed through yesterday early morning.

NAD ACS Disaster Response Director, W. Derrick Lea, is also in communication with the Mid-America Union Conference Director, Roger Wade, about some of the protests that are taking place around the country. Minneapolis is responding in such a way as to address the needs of the city by cleaning up debris and, most importantly, looking for ways to render emotional and spiritual care to a hurting community. Les Morrison, Minnesota Conference ACS Director, is leading this effort in Minneapolis.

Categories
COVID-19 Local Conference

Compassion Alaska Program

Arctic Mission Adventure (AMA), a ministry of the Alaska Conference, has been working hard in their villages throughout COVID-19 with the Compassion Alaska program. Volunteers have sewn over 1500 masks that were sent to seven of the villages, along with donated soaps, hand sanitizers, and other supplies to help keep the villages safe and healthy. They have also been blessed to receive a shipment of PPE from NAD ACS to expand ACS and AMA support throughout Alaska.

View this short video below on the Compassion Alaska program.

https://video214.com/play/13lXHsfyCt9Z4wuMdRcVHw/s

Categories
Food Aid Local Conference Refugees

Grand Rapids Refugee Food Drive

The Michigan Conference Office family helped feed 420 Rwandan and Burmese refugees in Grand Rapids on May 24, 2020. The director of Michigan Conference Multi-Ethnic Ministries, Bob Stewart, informed the Conference ACS director, Chelli Ringstaff, that there is a need for food in the Grand Rapids refugee communities. There was no question in her mind about what she should do; she knew she had to help. Bob started organizing with the local pastors on the numbers that needed to be fed, while Chelli was figuring out how to get the three items that they really would like – rice, beans, and sweet potatoes. “It seemed that it was nearly impossible to get large quantities of anything. I just kept hitting wall after wall. Not knowing what to do, I took a walk with the Lord and asked for His guidance on what I should do, then the thought came to my mind – ASK THE OFFICE,” said Chelli. So, she ran home and sent out an email to the office and within an hour she had 1,000 pounds of dried beans, 880 pounds of sweet potatoes, monetary donations, and volunteers to buy and pick up the food! They even had a driver! The Conference ACS associate director, Terry Dodge, stepped up and was willing to drive the trailer of food to the two locations.

On the day of the distribution, officers of the Michigan Conference and their families had set up stations at both locations, ready to serve! Those who served were Jim & Gail Micheff; Mike and Cheryl Bernard with their sons, Aaron, Ben, and Caleb; Pastor Bernard; Pastor Cin; and Chelli and her family Justin, Elijah, Emma, and Enoch. At the second site were Royce and Laurie; Wes; Marion; Levi and Liana; and Bob Stewart. They were able to give away 1,800 pounds of dry beans, 1,600 pounds of rice, 2,800 pounds of sweet potatoes, and lots of boxes of bananas donated by Bob Stewart. They served a total of 420 individuals; around 106 families. “This whole project was blessed and led by the Holy Spirit and the generosity and love of those in the office and the ACS leaders of the NAD,” stated Chelli.

Categories
ADRA Partnership

Partnering in Mission With ADRA

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is continuing to impact the U.S. economy, with over 36 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits. There are now more than 83,000 deaths and 1.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S., according to the John Hopkins University data dashboard. USA Today reports that the virus has killed more than 296,000 people and infected more than 4.3 million worldwide. Several states across the nation have already started to ease restrictions and reopen some businesses.

North American Division Adventist Community Services (NAD ACS) is supporting the operations of our ACS food pantries within the Division, by investing 1.5 million dollars and allocating a grant of $25,000 per conference for relief efforts. We are excited to share that we are partnering with ADRA International who has committed $150,000 to support our food pantries who are serving families and communities amid the crisis. In addition, they are providing $2.3 million worth of medical consumables as gifts-in-kind and 426 boxes of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

W. Derrick Lea, NAD ACS Disaster Response Director, stated “We have teams that are working all over NAD to assist communities that are struggling to meet their needs. The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s two Disaster Response organizations, ACS and ADRA, are coming together for this effort to bring the entirety of our resources together to help in this unusual time of need. I’m excited at the prospect of seeing what these combined efforts will do both now and into the future.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting virtually every aspect of the ACS ministry and Adventist Church membership, from the division to unions and conferences to churches,” stated Sung Kwon, NAD ACS Executive Director. “The support of ADRA International has been much appreciated. We are thankful for their consideration and willingness to partner with ACS,” said Kwon. “This is not the end of the pandemic. It will remain with us, and this fight will continue for a long time to come. I encourage everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and their family members, now and even after restrictions begin to lift. Let’s genuinely be kind and caring, reach out, and engage with our families, friends, neighbors, and fellow church members. As a unified team, ADRA International and ACS, together we are strong. Together we will not just persevere; we will demonstrate the steadfast love of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Kwon added.

Click here to read article by NAD Communications.

Categories
Disaster Response

Spokane Emergency Management PPE Warehouse

The Spokane County Emergency Management PPE Warehouse has been functioning since the end of March. It is being managed by Andrew McCrary, Joe Urbin, and Jeremy McCombs (all under the required 59 years of age), under the direction of Adventist Community Services. These three gentlemen who have day jobs on the administrative level accepted the challenge asked of ACS to manage this Warehouse that is located in Eastern Washington to inventory and distribute PPEs to hospitals, firemen, police, non-profits, and several other organizations. So far, approximately 1.7 million items have been distributed from the Warehouse which is also assisted by firemen and National Guard. “I call them quiet heroes – working much of the time in isolation in a location unknown by most people, guarded by law enforcement. Thank you men for your service! And their service has not ended yet…,” said Patty Marsh, ACS Director of Upper Columbia Conference. Last Monday, the Warehouse received ten million items! On Tuesday, a young pastor from Northern Idaho who has a great interest in ACS and DR assisted all day with this wife. They both loved being involved by assisting the management team at the Warehouse.

Categories
COVID-19 Donations Local Conference

Coca Cola Donates 25,000 N95 Masks to Chesapeake Conference

The Chesapeake Conference received a donation of 25,000 N95 masks from Coca Cola this week. The conference ACS Director, Ignacio Goya, and W. Derrick Lea, NAD ACS Disaster Response Director, were present on the scene, along with the Director of Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Strickland. They discussed about the partnership of ACS, Coco Cola, and the State of Maryland before unloading the masks with their support team. The masks will be distributed to community members who are in need of them. Lea stated, “We were pleased to express our gratitude for being able to serve as a resource for those struggling through this challenging time”.