Christmas Special Offering
Please consider a Christmas Special Offering gift to support Plymouth’s Just Peace covenant - working toward economic, social and/or climate justice for Des Moines Metro Area neighbors. Projects selected for this year’s gifts are:
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund (10%): The Pastor’s designated fund provides for urgent, usually emergency funds for community members, covering costs such as rent assistance, utility bills, medical and medicine, and bus/travel expense.
The remainder of the Christmas collection will be equally divided between the below initiatives. Additionally, all of these gifts will be matched with Marlon Laverman Memorial Funds (serving at-risk children).
Arabic Outreach Center: AOC’s Transportation Assistance Program provides transportation to Arabic-speaking refugees and immigrants to help them navigate life in Des Moines. Transportation from the AOC, which includes translation services by the drivers, enabling those in need to receive medical care, attend job interviews, participate in school conferences, access legal services, and find their way to the many other social service agencies that provide care and assistance in our city.
Black Child Development Institute - Iowa: Volunteers from Plymouth’s Anti-Racism Committee, Corinthian Baptist Church, Union Baptist, and Burns United Methodist Church read to 3rd grade students at King Elementary on a weekly basis as part of BCDI-Iowa’s reading literacy program. Funds from Plymouth’s Christmas Offering will be used to purchase books, host a “Raise a Reader” luncheon for students and their families, and expand the reading curriculum to kindergarten through 2nd grade students on Saturdays.
Urban Bicycle Food Ministry: Every Thursdays, volunteers provide 800 burritos, 420 meat sandwiches, 420 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, 225 bananas/fruit and 450 bottles water to an average of 544 homeless and food insecure people including children and families. They also provide miscellaneous items (shoes, coats, blankets, etc.) as needed.
FreeStore, Inc: The FreeStore supports children and families who have escaped domestic violence situations and those suffering from some other form of trauma including natural disaster and criminal assault. The funds will be used to purchase easy-to-assemble bunk beds, which are often a necessity when a family needs to house multiple children in a single bedroom.
Please mark your donation as designated for the Christmas Special Offering gifts. This includes all envelopes, checks and on-line donations.
Your online gifts may be made here, please select “Christmas Offering” in the drop down menu on Church Center or PayPal.
Checks may be mailed to Plymouth Church
Attn: Jeff Rodman
4126 Ingersoll Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312.
Thank you for your generosity!
Plymouth Board of Benevolences