Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas are just around the corner and with these holidays comes an increased desire to give to others, especially those in need.  As your family begins to think about ways to contribute, we would like to offer you giving options compiled by the mission teams of HRBC (WMU, Jerusalem, Judea, and Ends of Earth).  We tried to put all the "giving" opportunities in one place so you do not become overwhelmed every time you hear about yet another opportunity.  As a family, you can choose one or more activity where you can serve together, share stories and meet needs of those less fortunate. 
(Note:  Needs are placed in chronological order with the earlier deadlines at the beginning.)

Happy Holiday Giving!

1.  Frozen Turkeys for DC Central Kitchen

Opportunity #1 -- United Praise Youth Choir is inviting you to help them feed the homeless in Washington, DC.  Last year they delivered 25 turkeys on November 1.  The DC Central Kitchen was so blessed by our efforts, we've been invited to join with them again in providing a holiday meal for homeless individuals.  We will be collecting frozenturkeys through Sunday, November 6.  

Opportunity #2 -- United Praise is inviting you to go to Washington, DC with them on Wednesday, November 23 to help prepare the meals at the DC Central Kitchen.  The group will depart HRBC at noon and return close to midnight.

To donate a turkey or sign up to go to DC, contact Phillip Brown at phillipdbrown@verizon.net or 272-2072, ext. 16.

2.  Oregon Hill Thanksgiving Food Bags

As we continue to help eradicate hunger from the Richmond area, we'll be collecting bags of Thanksgiving food.  Requested items are:  $10 gift cards (from Kroger, Martins, or Walmart, to be distributed one per family); canned hams; turkey & brown gravy; boxes of instant stuffing or potatoes or rice; flavored rice (Rice a Roni, etc.); macaroni & cheese (family-size box); family-size cans sweet potatoes/yams; family-size cans green beans or corn; cream of mushroom or chicken soup; cans of fried onions; cranberry sauce or apple sauce; muffin mix, cornbread mix, etc.; graham cracker pie shells in pan; large boxes of instant pudding mixes for pies; apple juice; instant coffee; and box of tea bags. 
You may donate individual items or donate a complete bag.  Please mark your bag “complete” if it contains all of these items. Gift cards should be kept separate from the food bags.
Place groceries items, or completed bags, in the designated area in the Wallis Bldg. 
Deadline to contribute is Sunday, November 13.

3.  Christmas Shoe Boxes for Samaritan's Purse
Join the Happy Clay class as they fill boxes for needy children in foreign lands.  You can fill a plastic or cardboard shoe box with anything for a girl or boy.  Suggested items are:  small doll or stuffed animal, art supplies, suckers or hard candy only, balls, yo-yos, jump ropes, school items, flashlights with batteries, gloves, hats, t-shirts, socks,  underwear, puzzles, Slinky, small cars, plastic kazoos, harmonicas, pencil sharpeners, and hygiene supplies.  Please do not include guns, war items or scary toys.  Please include a check for $7.00 to pay for shipping. 
If you secure the lid on your box, please clearly mark on the outside if it is for a boy or girl, and the appropriate age.  Place it in the designated area in the Wallis Bldg.  For more information, contact Sue Alderman @ 739-5126 or Betty Foster @ 744-5017.
Deadline to contribute is November 6.

4. Church Family Mission Day
Saturday, November 19, at 9:00 am is our annual church Family Mission Day.  ANY kind of family (Mom, Dad, and 2.5 preschoolers; Empty-nesters; Singles; Family of 5 + friends; Grandparents and grandkids; etc.) is welcome to be a part of creating and delivering "Thankful Baskets" to our homebound members, as well as to families who have celebrated a significant milestone this year (a new baby or a wedding).  Be prepared to caravan to your pre-planned destination as we share our blessings, a song, a smile, and a word of encouragement!  To pre-register for this fun mission experience or to receive more information, please contact Amanda Lott at amanda@hrbcrichmond.org.  

5.  Christmas Store
Each year HRBC joins other Richmond area churches to partner with the Oregon Hill and South Richmond Baptist Centers to make certain needy families can provide gifts for their children at Christmas time.  This year we ask individuals, groups or Sunday School classes to contribute new, unwrapped clothing and/or toys for children—ages 1 to 12 years old.  If you prefer, you may also contribute to the bicycle fund that provides a number of bikes each year for the Christmas store.  Bring your gifts and place them in the designated box in the Wallis Building.  For more information, contact Dotty Shepard at 272-2796.  Deadline to contribute is Sunday, November 21.

6.  Christmas Store Volunteers Needed

Your gift of time is another way you can invest in others during the holidays.  Richmond Baptist Association sponsors Christmas Stores at its three Baptists Centers in Oregon Hill, Church Hill and South Richmond.  These stores help provide Christmas gifts to low income residents.  Choose one of the dates below, grab a friend, and discover all the smiles and fun that awaits as you work in the Christmas Store.  Choose any day November 30 - December 3 @ 10:00 a.m.  For more information, contact Dotty Shepard at 272-2796.

7.  First Sunday Food Offering
Just like the other 11 months of the year, we'll be collecting bags of groceries to take to the Oregon Hill Baptist Center.  You may bring any non-perishable food items for this offering.  This probably doesn't even require a trip to the grocery -- just take a look in the pantry!! 
Place your donations in the "First Sunday Food Offering" designated area in the Wallis Bldg.
Deadline to contribute is Sunday, December 4.

8.  Chuck & Erica Morris Offering for International Missions
We begin collecting for our Chuck and Erica Morris Christmas Offering for International Missions on Sunday, December 11.  The ingathering takes place at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for International Missions, November 28-December 5.  Click here for more details on the specific projects we are supporting this year and how you can give generously to these mission efforts.  

9.  Hyaets, Charlotte, NC
Hyaets is a community building organization which branches out in several directions, including an urban ministry, an intentional Christian community, and retreat experiences. The ministries of Hyaets are based upon a holistic, relational, need-meeting model. At the core of Hyaets is an intentional Christian community that lives in a low-income, high-risk area of Charlotte, North Carolina to minister with and learn from those that society would call “the least of these.  Ministers at Hyaets are asking for stickers, nail polish, lipstick, hand lotions, and other girly items for a girl's retreat in late December.  Money for purchasing fruit baskets for adults in the community is also needed.  The deadline to contribute is December 5.  Contact Terri Shea for more information.

10. Owsley County, KY
Owsley County, KY is one of the poorest counties in the country and is also the location of one of our mission partners, Paula Settle.  Paula is asking that we send shower gels and scrubs, deodorant, hand lotions and $10 Walmart gift cards.  These are for her "Gorgeous Gals." A couple of our groups have worked with these ladies in Owsley County and these ladies were present with us on Heritage Day. This micro-enterprise is designed to help women find sustainable income and life skills by making quality jewelry for sale.  The deadline to contribute is December 11.  Contact Terri Shea for more information.

11. CBFVA Mission Books
In partnership with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia and LUCHA ministries in Fredricksburg, you are encouraged to help Spanish-speaking immigrant families with school supplies and books in order to better equip them for success.  See Matthew Hensley for a special CBFVA bag to fill and a supply list.  You can also learn more about this at www.cbfva.org/missions/mission-books.  The deadline to contribute is December 20. This is an ongoing outreach.