About Caring Ministries

From Kimberly Gottier

As Kimberly steps down from her role as coordinator of Caring Ministries as of February 20, 2013, please note the following transitional changes.

Fran Maynard is the contact if folks need meals.

Fran Maynard is the contact if there are any functions that need bakers to help out.

Chelsea Krieger has offered to cover the transportation needs of the church.  This will work out just fine because it is all done via email, which Chelsea has access to daily.  Chelsea will match volunteers with folks needing rides on a temporary basis.

Please keep in mind that should someone need meals and/or rides, that plenty of time be allotted to find volunteers.  While I have been able to match some rides on a last minute notice, it will be helpful to Fran and Chelsea if they not have to do that as they are getting into a routine with all of this.

Please try to pass on to those who are not involved in CM that these Caring Ministries continue to be available and who the contact people are.  I am always available to help make this a smooth transition for all. 

Thank you so very much to Fran and Chelsea for offering to be available to serve the church in this capacity.  I am so thankful for your help! 

The last piece of CM that could use some help, is Flower Delivery which won't need to be addressed until Christmas. 

I am taking care of the flower delivery for the Easter flowers, which I am happy to do, but I would like to find a volunteer who will take this on for the future.  Please let me know if you are interested and I can walk you through it. 

Thanks so much everyone!

Have a sparkling day!

Kim

What is Caring Ministries?

The Caring Ministries is a group of volunteers who reach out to members of the congregation and their families, who are experiencing times of challenge whether it be due to illness, surgery, job loss, birth of a new baby or death of a family member, to list a few examples. In providing support to people in need, the volunteers offer their gifts by means of preparing meals for families, driving someone to an appointment, running errands, or performing simple chores. Our volunteers also visit some of our shut-ins on a monthly basis, write monthly care notes, send Christmas cards to shut-ins and deliver holiday flowers.  We also have volunteers who offer Pet Therapy visits, knit prayer shawls and baby shawls for baptisms and offer individual daily prayers to those on our prayer list.

One Sunday each month, one of the Caring Ministry sub-committees hosts the 10:00 a.m. coffee hour. 

Presentations are held periodically that offer helpful and informative information regarding Caring Ministry concerns. Topics have included visiting suggestions for our homebound or members in a facility, aging, grief, feelings of loss, finding joy, prayerful and careful listening. We have also had a workshop on what it is like to be a person “in need” and what it is like to be a caretaker. We have had book discussions and soulful healing labyrinth walks. Most recently one of our Parish Nurse volunteers did a presentation on Mental and Physical Well Being–and getting the proper help. 

Please visit our Ministries, Past Activities, and Guidelines pages for a description of our various opportunities to volunteer. Each committee is always eager to have more members join in. We also welcome any suggestions and new ideas for improving our existing ministries. 

The Caring Ministries volunteer opportunities work with YOUR schedule. You may volunteer as little or as much as you like. As your circumstances change over time, the various ministries offer plenty of flexibility to fit your schedule. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please download our Volunteer Data Sheet and indicate the activities that best fit your availability. Current volunteers may also use the form to update their interests and availability as well. You may place the form in the offering plate on Sunday, leave it in the church office, or send it to Fran Maynard, at the church address (P.O. Box 160, Tolland, CT 06084).

“With volunteering, a sense of belonging is created. Some studies show that volunteering can relieve depression, chronic pain and may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.”

Updated February 20, 2013
Webmaster RBittner@charter.net