news article

Shoeboxes for Red Bird Mission

September 19, 2017 / By Dave Alexander, lay person, Endwell United Methodist Church

The Endwell United Methodist Church mission team is again coordinating the collection and delivery of shoeboxes for Red Bird Mission, located in Beverly, Kentucky.  The Red Bird Missionary Conference is one of three missionary United Methodist conferences in the United States.  It is the most comprehensive mission effort of the United Methodist Church, providing outreach and services that minister to the whole person (spiritual, physical, social, and economic).

Last year our team drove two-26 foot trucks to the Red Bird Mission.  Because of your generosity, one truck was filled with over 3,000 shoeboxes and the other with clothes, books, school and cleaning supplies. We have begun to collect shoeboxes with the goal of having everything ready by November 22, 2017. We plan on transporting all items the first week of December.

This year we are asking churches that want to participate in this project to help us by dropping off all filled shoeboxes to the following two locations:  the Upper New York Conference Center at 7481 Henry Clay Blvd. in Liverpool or to the Endwell United Methodist Church located at 3301 Watson Blvd. in Endwell.  Drop off dates will be November 1st-17th.  If needed, arrangements can be made to have a pickup of items by contacting Dave Alexander at 607-743-8955 or by email to Dalexander4@stny.rr.com.

There are two different styles of shoe boxes: adult and children.  All items should be put in clear plastic shoebox sized storage containers with lids.  Please do not wrap the boxes.  Please include $1 for each shoebox in a separate envelope to help with shipping costs.

Items needed for the adult shoe boxes (please mark for a man or woman) include a comb/brush, shampoo, hand lotion, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, chap stick, full size bath soap, wash cloth, disposable razors, shaving cream, nail care supplies, mittens, scarf, hat, socks, and work gloves.

Items for the children's shoe boxes (please mark for a boy or girl) include two or three toy items, two or three school items, bar soap, children's toothbrush, children's toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, wash cloth, comb/brush, chap stick, mittens, hat, socks, and small flashlight.

Most of these items can be purchased at a local dollar store.

Christian bookmarks, wrist bands, and other spiritual items are also appreciated.

There is also a great need for sheets and blankets for children beds.

If any Church would like a power point presentation, we can send you one or make a presentation to your group.