During Advent, we have the tradition of an advent calendar, where you open up a door every day and get a gift. Lent is a very different season than Advent; it’s less about giving and more about sacrificing. This year, MOE thought about the idea of doing a “Reverse Advent Calendar” for Lent – the idea being that each week you’d give up something and donate it to someplace that needed those items. But with Covid restrictions, many organizations are only accepting
new items, so this idea transitioned into a way for us to support six different organizations with a variety of needs throughout Lent. Instead of a reverse advent
calendar… it’s a donation drive!
During Lent, each week will be dedicated to a different local organization that is working on the causes of hunger, homelessness, domestic violence, and more! Bring your donations to church – there will be a bin out front. We’ll transport items to the appropriate place for you! Look for ongoing reminders in midweeks & bulletins.
Week ending 3/7: Denver Rescue Mission – sample-sized toiletries.
Denver Rescue Mission has been serving the Denver homeless community for nearly 130 years – which
tells you how old and pervasive a problem homelessness is. They provide emergency services,
rehabilitation, transitional programs, and community outreach. Denver Rescue Mission needs individual
(sample-sized) toiletries.
Week ending 3/14: Urban Peak – socks & underwear.
Urban Peak serves the homeless youth of Denver, providing shelter, employment & education services, and a
drop-in for meals. They need new socks and underwear in adult sizes.
Week ending 3/21: Family Tree – children’s bike helmets.
Family Tree addresses the interconnected issues of child abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness.
They try to provide emergency residential services, case management and advocacy, therapeutic services,
outreach support, housing search and placement, education and employment support. Family Tree is
looking for new children’s bike helmets.
Week ending 3/28: Action Center – nonperishable food items.
The Action Center offers resources to people experiencing hardship in their lives. Action Center is
always in need of nonperishable food items, with.a focus on cereal, pasta & sauce, rice, canned fruits &
vegetables, canned meats & fish, hearty canned soups, and peanut butter.
Week ending 4/4: African Community Center – new & gently used kitchen items.
African Community Center assists with resettlement, employment services, and integration programs for
African refugees & immigrants. They are in need of donations of new or gently used kitchen supplies:
specifically pots, pans, skillets, utensil sets, and complete plate/bowl sets.
We’re really looking forward to supporting so many people during this time – and we look forward to sharing more about these organizations with you throughout Lent!
