Compassionate Warehouse Reopening

 The link for this week's livestreamed service is here

I received a note from Brian this week informing me that he and Vivien were once again acting as a pick up service for the Compassionate Warehouse. They have already delivered some bags of donations from the church.

CW has been in hiatus for a long time due to COVID 19, but last Monday Brian learned they were reopening.  They still had to telephone ahead to the Warehouse at:  250 - 381 - 4483, to be given a suitable time to bring the stuff to them, but the doors were open at last.
They were pleased to receive our items and are hopeful that they
will be able to keep going, as restrictions begin to ease for exporting.

Brian says, "usually our church members would drop off items at the church for us to collect and deliver to the Warehouse.  However, given these still uncertain times, it would be best for anyone wishing to donate household items to first contact Darlene Crawford, or Joan Adamcsak, 250 656 6130, to find out if space is available in the nursery to store these items and when the church would be open to accept them. [If you prefer, call the church office at 250 656-2241. Our church secretary, Patricia, is always ready to help.]
If, however, anyone wishes to make a donation directly to the Warehouse, they should first contact them at the above number and make an appointment for delivery.  The Warehouse is situated on Devonshire Road in Esquimalt."

On Sunday I tested the system and asked Joan if I could leave a small item and she said yes. My linen closet desperately needs a clean out but before I tackle that I'll have to make sure the church and the Compassionate Warehouse are able to handle a really big box of stuff.

Brian's closing line read: I trust this will be an acceptable item for the Blog.
Yes! Yes, yes, yes! The church blog is meant to represent the many aspects of life at SPPC and all of its members. Send along anything that interests you. It's a great way to connect with the larger community.

Thanks Brian for sending along the information and thanks Tore for giving him a nudge.

Visit to Compassionate Warehouse

by Janet Mitchell

On Friday, October 12, 2018, Barbara, Bin-Sie, Linda, Janet and I went to the Compassionate Warehouse in Esquimalt.  

We learned that the mission venture began in 1999 by a retired RN, Dell Marie Wergeland.  When she returned from a visit to impoverished, Honduras, she decided she must do something to help. Dell attends the Church of the Nazarene and the church supported her efforts. The first container full of needed items went to Honduras that year.  Since then there have been 471 containers sent to various places in the world.  The 472 container is currently in Delta getting loaded on a ship to Moldova. It costs $10,000 to $15,000 to ship one container.
 Sometimes specific requests are made.  Orphanages may need plates or cutlery. Ground sheets and blankets may be needed following a disaster in an impoverished country.  There are also times when many sewing machines are sent to a volunteer teaching sewing in a poor area. Electric sewing machines are okay to donate because they can often convert them to be used with a hand crank.

The containers are full of medical supplies, medical equipment, tools, clothing, school supplies, sports equipment, non-breakable kitchen wares, sewing machines, sewing kits, hospital linen, household linen, towels, toys (non battery), embroidery supplies, wool, crochet supplies, art supplies, kitchen utensils and cutlery, kitchen pots and pans and 5 gallon cleaned buckets with lids. 

The workers use biscuit tins to pack cutlery or tools, etc. Shoe boxes and other durable boxes are packed with various items.  Every tin, bucket, box, etc. is labeled with its contents and by number.  The numbers tell them when the items arrived so that they can ship out the oldest items first.  Shoe stores give them boxes.  However, they would be pleased to receive your biscuit tins or boxes, too.

  Electrical appliances are not accepted as most of the countries where the containers are sent have no electricity.  A retired registered physiotherapist volunteers regularly in Haiti. She cleverly refits wheelchairs to suit those in needs.  She is currently refitting a wheelchair to suit a young boy.  It is wonderful she is so handy at adapting the equipment changing the wheelchairs or walkers.  
One volunteer was in the yarn and material section. 

She does quilting and a group of volunteers take small pieces of material home to make quilts to send overseas.  Our tour guide normally works in the office and school supply section.  In this section the workers sort supplies for students into donated backpacks.  Items useful for teachers are separated as well.  One elderly man takes home pencils to sharpen and discards pens that do not work before they are shipped.

There were men at the warehouse organizing tools. They need to sand off rust from tools or tighten screws, etc. They spend a lot of time sorting screws and nails into the correct sizes. They also carefully wrap long handled tools like shovels so that the sharp ends do not cause harm to anyone when the containers are opened. 

Stuffed animals are used as packing material and also bring joy to young children.

Old sheets are used for bandages so do donate faded and even sheets with holes. They are needed.  The people receiving items are very appreciative. They make good use of everything.  There were numerous pictures of happy people holding or using donated items such as the smiling children in the Ukraine with donated bicycles or the two happy teenage girls in Iran holding sewing machines.  There was also a very happy young woman wearing a donated wedding dress. 

The warehouse is open on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Volunteers are always welcome and can work as little as an hour each month.  The warehouse is located on Devonshire Road in Esquimalt.  For more information phone (250) 381-4483 or email them at crwarehouse@gmail.com Their website is: www.crwarehouse.ca

Monetary gifts and donations of useful items are very welcome.  At SPPC we have a large box for donated items.  It is located under the coat hangers near our front entrance.  There is a big CW sign on it.

Prayer for Fort McMurray

   Along with the rest of the country, our congregation has watched the images of the tragedy unfolding in Fort McMurray this past week.  As fellow Canadians, our hearts ache for the nearly 90,000 people who've been evacuated, fleeing for their lives before the monster fire, leaving their homes in the knowledge there may be nothing left when they return.
    At SPPC we feel a particular connection to Fort Mac because that was Rev. Irwin's previous congregation.  His sermons are peppered with Fort Mac stories.  The children were all born there. He and Diane have many dear friends still living in the area.
    Elizabeth, who often graces our worship with her music, is from Fort McMurray.  Her parents still live there.  At last report, they are safe, but in separate locations.  Her mother has made it to Edmonton and is staying with relatives.  Her father is at the Syncrude site.  He and his crew are working to shut down the plant in case the fire reaches it.  (The latest news is that Syncrude is now shut down, so he has also been evacuated.)
    Our immediate response is to want to help.  We would love to reach out from our congregation to the Presbyterian congregation in Fort Mac with personal gifts and compassion.  However, that is not the most effective way.  Organizing the transport of goods and materials is costly and time-consuming.  Our best means of assisting is through the Red Cross.  Not only are they on the ground with organized distribution centres and an army of volunteers, but every dollar you give to the Red Cross will be matched by the federal government.  You can donate on-line here, or go to the Red Cross office, 909 Fairfield Road, Victoria, BC V8V 3A3, Phone:(250) 382-2043,
 PWS&D is also accepting donations marked for Fort McMurray.  Here's the link.
   You can also read the letter from the minister of Faith Presbyterian.  At latest report all of the congregation is safe, although scattered.  There is also a letter from the Moderator.

   We can also pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the glory of this world, for forests and meadows and vast skies.  We acknowledge Your power and majesty.  We know that even the winds and waves obey Your command.  In the face of forest fire, we pray for rain. 
We pray for the fire-fighters.

 Give them courage and strength and determination to battle on until all are safe and the task complete.
We give thanks for police, paramedics, and military personnel who risk their lives to serve their community and their fellow citizens.
We ask that You bless the people of small towns like Lac LaBiche and Boyle and Athabasca who have reached out in compassion to the tide of evacuees washing into their communities.  People pulling together to offer refreshment, a bed, a shower, and comfort to bewildered, frightened strangers. 

We thank You for the generous souls who hand out coffee and muffins and gasoline to those stranded along the roads.
We give thanks that no lives have been lost to the fire.
Dear Lord, sustain and comfort our neighbours in Fort McMurray, give them resilience, faith and hope.
We ask all this in Jesus' name.  Amen

BOOKS WANTED

The suggestion for this week's blog came from Linda Cliff, our resident "book-lady."

A recent fire in Bella Bella destroyed the Thistalalh Memorial Library, an important centre for the people of Bella Bella.  We have an opportunity to help to restore the library by donating gently used or new books to that community.   The  UVIC School of Environmental Studies who will ship them up to Bella Bella after they have been collected.   
   The Thistalalh librarian has requested books in the following categories: 

-Children’s literature (e.g. Robert Munsch , Mercer Mayer, Phil Hoose).

-indigenous literature (e.g.Joseph Boyden, Eden Robinson, Leslie Marmon Silko, N. Scott Momaday, Louise Erdrich, Gerald Vizenor, Sherman Alexie, Thomas King and Richard Wagemese )
-international fiction
-eco-literature
-natural history and field guides
-general non-fiction

There is a box marked "Bella Bella" in the library corner of the Malloy Hall, where books can be dropped off.  Linda will collect them and see them on their way.

If you have extra books that don't fit in the categories listed above, don't despair, SPPC is holding a garage sale in September and will be glad to put your extra books, china, toys, small appliances, dvd's, etc. toward a good cause.

Questions re the books should be directed to Linda Cliff. Questions about the garage sale can be directed to Jean Strong or any member of session.



And here's a heads-up for Sunday, Aug. 25. We're having an old-fashioned hymn sing, in the sanctuary at 7:00pm. Admission is free. Bring your friends.>