The Benevolence Committee invited requests for support through the church newsletter and contacted organizations we supported last year. Applicants were asked to describe their program, involvement of any WPC members, new initiatives, and to provide rough budget information. The committee received requests total more than $140,000.
Music Feeds Us, led by Artistic Director and violist, Fitz Gary, is a concert series originating in Charlottesville, Virginia designed to promote hunger relief. Their concerts, where audience members are encouraged to make free-will monetary or non-perishable food donations to our partner food banks, have raised over 140,000 meals for the hungry in Virginia. In addition to chamber music benefit concerts, Music Feeds Us has also collaborated with arts organizations, libraries, and schools to promote both classical music and hunger awareness.
The Mission of Music Feeds Us is to unite our community through the power of classical music that champions the eradication of hunger. Motivated by a true collaboration between the performers and audience members, Music Feeds Us hopes to inspire the generosity and good-will of the community to help our neighbors in need.
Through children’s concerts, the quartet is not only educating the next generation on the joys of chamber music and the wonderful repertoire it brings, but also instilling in them the responsibility to fight for the often forgotten humanitarian issues, specifically hunger, which is still a major problem in the United States.The goal is to inspire audiences, through music, to give to their local food bank. By guiding the generation of tomorrow on these issues, we can hopefully make a lasting difference in our community.
2018 marks the seventh season of Music Feeds Us. Their first concert this year will take place on May 13th, at 7 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church with a program of string quartets by Haydn, Caroline Shaw, and Tchaikovsky. Returning guest artists joining Mr. Gary on stage are Jinjoo Cho, winner of the 2014 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis; Eric Wong, violist of the Cavani String Quartet in residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music; and NYC based cellist Madeline Fayette, a multifaceted performer, with equal fortitude both on the concert stage and as musical pedagogue and ambassador. Our goal for 2018 is to exceed a cumulative 200,000 meals.
After completing the SHE Volunteer Training, you will be eligible to become a Hotline Volunteer. As a Hotline Volunteer you will not only help answer the phones but will also play a critical role in staffing and supporting the shelter. After completing training, there is no requirement for how many hours you must volunteer but we do recommend volunteers complete at least two shifts a month. If you need to miss any of the scheduled training, that is fine with prior notice. If you have further questions, please contactVolunteer Training Schedule:
Tuesday May 29: 6pm-9pm
Thursday May 31: 6pm-9pm
Tuesday June 5: 6pm-9pm
Thursday June 7: 6pm-9pm
Saturday June 9: 6pm-9pm
Tuesday June 12: 6pm-9pm
Please join us for a wonderful African dinner, served in style, at Westminster Presbyterian Church from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, on Tuesday, March 27th. All proceeds from the dinner go to PROSAMI, non-profit organization that is promoting the health of mothers and infants in the CONGO through the training of Congolese nurses to the level of advance nurse midwife. We will have a slide presentation during the dinner to share with you the many accomplishments of PROSAMI and the upcoming plans for our new Maternal / Infant Pilot Center. This is a stand-alone clinic and small hospital for women and infants in Mbuji-Mayi. For any questions, contact David Strider or call at 434-996-0497.
David Strider
Much of our local and justice work expands beyond our own borders, but Westminster also partners with many local, national and international organizations and mission projects through benevolence grants.
Recent partners and recipients have included: The Alliance for Interfaith Ministry (AIM), Charlottesville Free Clinic, Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Jefferson Area Children’s Health Improvement Program (CHIP), Mediation Center of Charlottesville, PACEM, PROSAMI, Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE), Sin Barreras (Without Borders), The Haven, UCARE Newsletter, Westminster Child Care scholarships and others.
Applications for consideration to the Benevolence Committee are due April 15, 2018. Details on on the website: benevolence giving and grant making.
Regards,
Kobby
434 996 1961
“So faith, hope, and love abide, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.”
−1 Corinthians 13:13
Sustained by grace, we are called to serve Christ, share God’s love, and work for justice in a complex world.
Westminster follows the Presbyterian Book of Confession and is a confessional church. You can view/read the Book of Confession at the PC(USA) website by clicking on the following link: http://www.pcusa.org/book-confessions.