07/25/2017
We have just come from one of our Emergency Ecumenical Church Council Meetings. As many of you know, we (the council and its group of volunteers) have been collecting money at local businesses (e.g., Ed & Jean's, the Pit Stop, the Post Office) for the past two Christmases. Since May 2016, we have been able to help 14 families with major emergencies (from keeping a disabled senior citizen from being evicted to buying diapers and formula for a young mother). Many people in our community are just one emergency away from a catastrophe, which is exactly why the fund was formed. We met tonight for a meeting to help a disabled grandmother who is taking care of her grandchild with an emergency. However, the funds are very low, and we still have 5 more months till we ring the Christmas bells for those in need here in our community. There are guidelines for the help that is given. Families must reside in the school district, all other avenues must be exhausted first, and we are only able to help the same person one time per year. Those in charge of this fund take great care to be good stewards of the gifts you all have given, but even so, the need this year has been particularly great. So please consider this an early bell ringing. If you can help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated. Checks may be written to the Federated Church of Port Byron, earmarked for the Emergency Ecumenical Fund. The address is P.O. Box 313, Port Byron, NY 13140. Thank you and please help spread the word ❤!