Highland Mills UMC thankful for community support

The local and worldwide mission work of the Highland Mills United Methodist Church reaches far beyond the doors of the building (which currently has a huge Advent Wreath displayed on its front lawn in anticipation of the coming of Christmas). And, in turn, the Woodbury community lends lot of support to those efforts. Just three examples have occurred recently. For several weeks, the church’s mission team has been collecting used shoes to send to West Africa. The shoes will be reconditioned there, providing work for the local people, then they will be very reasonably sold to provide income to small businesses as well. Through the generosity of the community, the church recently sent an amazing 938 pounds of shoes to be shipped in the first wave of this project. In turn, ReRun Shoes, the sponsoring organization, is donating close to 20 bed nets for malaria protection in Africa. The church continues to accept even more shoes, so all those who would like to donate are asked to continue to drop off shoes on the front steps of the church where the blue bin is located. The Highland Mills UMC’s Food Pantry (open Fridays 11 a.m. to noon) is another important outreach which is supported generously by the community. Feeding more than 30, and sometimes 50 and more families a week, the pantry is in constant need of food and financial donations. Recently, the “Orange County HOG (Harley Owners Group) - Bear Mountain Crew” came by on their motorcycles to drop off 100 pounds of hot dogs, 40 pounds of hamburgers, 150 boxes of pasta and 200 jars of sauce - all to help those at the food pantry who need help the most. Among the most generous organization to the food pantry is the Woodbury Community Association which donates food and money at every opportunity. The WCA has just included the food pantry among its financial grant recipients for 2011. In addition, the association, in conjunction with the Woodbury Historical Society’s Gatehouse Committee, recently delivered several boxes of food which had been donated to the Food Pantry at a Gatehouse Open House. It is only with the kindness and support of so many people that Highland Mills UMC can continue the important work it does in reaching out to the community. The church is located at 654 Route 32 (at Ridge Road) in Highland Mills. Christmas Eve service will be at 5:30 p.m. and Christmas Day worship will begin at 10 a.m. For more information, call 928-6177 or go to www.highlandmillsumc.org. The church is also on Facebook and Twitter. Fred Lindlaw, on behalf of the Highland Mills United Methodist Church family