COZY MINISTRY
There are two ways to participate in the Cozy Ministry, one of Plymouth’s oldest, continuous mission projects, dating back to the congregation’s earliest women’s sewing circles. Working on Cozy projects is a great way to meet and make friends with a dedicated group of women while learning or sharing basic sewing skills.
One: Come Sew!
The Cozy Ministry meets the first and fourth Mondays every month from 9:30 a.m to 2 p.m. (You don’t have to stay the entire time.) New members are always welcome. Their room is down the stairs in the narthex at the back of the sanctuary. Members brown bag their own lunches.
Projects include cutting piecing and sewing lap robes and other items, knitting hats and mittens, and various other sewing projects. Everything is furnished.
Two: Sew at Home!
The Cozy Ministry has baggies of pre-cut squares on the Donations Table in the hallway near Waveland Hall. Each packet contains enough squares for 20 4-square blocks. It takes about three hours to pin and sew the squares into blocks (instructions included). Work at your own pace. When the blocks are completed, return the project to the box and the Cozy sewers will assemble the blocks into baby quilts or lap robes. Call True Sherman at 515.276.4218 for more information.
PLYMOUTH WOMEN’S CAREER CLOSET
In partnership with the Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC), Plymouth women collect all sizes of in-style, in-season women’s career clothes. The YWRC provides us with a room where we’ve set up shop so that women who are interviewing for jobs or need clothing for work can be waited on in a boutique-style atmosphere. All clothing is free and each customer can leave with three or four complete outfits. This is the only place in the Des Moines area where every woman can come for career clothes and be treated to a quality shopping experience, wardrobe advice and free, high-quality career clothes. For more information, go to www.ywrc.org and click on the Career Closet logo.
Donations: Please place your donations of clean, gently worn women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry and handbags in the container just inside the doors to the Plymouth pre-school, off the alley. Please put jewelry and accessories in zip-lock bags and shoes in individual boxes or bags.
Volunteers: The Closet needs volunteers to help sort and stock items and to clerk on Tuesdays, 12-4 p.m. and Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. Many of our volunteers sign up with a friend to work one day a month. Some work both days during one week each month. Other work once a week. You can set your own schedule! To volunteer, contact Georgia Sheriff, 515.270.6203, or sheriffga@aol.com.
MEMORIAL AND FUNERAL RECEPTION TEAM
Women who have time to prepare baked goods at home are encouraged to join the on-call list for funeral and memorial receptions. Women with time during the day are invited to be a part of the team who prepares the tables and serves during the receptions. For more information, contact Plymouth member Jean Nelson at 515.255.5019.
DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
Annually, Plymouth Women awards several scholarships for qualifying college and high school applicants, tuition aid for Plymouth Nursery School, and monetary support to the overall ministries of the church. Funding comes from established endowments as well as the Plymouth Women’s general fund. We graciously accept donations. For more information, contact Plymouth member Paula Stanberry at plymouthwomen@plymouthchurch.com.
MENTORING
Plymouth members volunteer to mentor grade school children in the Des Moines school district through Project Connect and the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC). Although mentors can join the program at any time, Plymouth recruits volunteers in the fall and DMARC provides training sessions at Plymouth in October. To learn more about the qualifications and responsibilities of a Project Connect mentor go to www.helpakidfly.com or call Mary Beth Williams at 515.339.1701.
