A little can do a lot!
My Coins Count is a fun and easy way to raise money for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Virginia Mennonite Missions (VMM) by collecting coins in a container in your church, school, home or business. Bring the coins to the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale by 9 am on October 6. The coins are then sorted by volunteers and staff from Park View Federal Credit Union, who calculate the total value from each congregation. Currency and checks are also welcome.
A few coins plus a few more coins plus a few more coins adds up to a lot of coins! And when a lot of coins are put together they can make big changes.
- $10 provides food for a family of 7 for one week in Kenya
- $26 gives a student the required school uniform and helps buy math, science, history and language workbooks
- $48 provides irrigation for garden plots growing fruits and vegetables for one family in Bolivia
- $51 helps cover 3 months of anti-retroviral treatment for a person in Nigeria suffering from AIDS
2018 funds will be used for:
Supporting the families of Latino church planters
Virginia Mennonite Missions has appointed Latino church mission workers to help plant and grow new Spanish-speaking church communities in Waynesboro and Augusta and Rockingham Counties, VA, and Winston Salem, NC. the ministry is not simply engaged by the appointed workers, but it involved their whole family and is in many ways a lifestyle. Funds will be used to enable these families to share the good news of Jesus with those in their communities.
Girls’ access to education in Bangladesh
Girls face quite a few barriers to education in Bangladesh, including sexual harassment on their way to and from school. Mennonite Central Committee partners with a boarding school to help provide a safe environment for education. Funds help cover tuition, room and board, school kits, and other essentials like blankets, mosquito nets, and bed sheets. Girls also receive training on developing healthy self-esteem and anger management, hygiene, and other life skills.
Local Impact
This year a portion of the special project funds will be donated to two local organizations. Make a donation during announced times during the auction, or at the auction payment area.
Roberta Webb Child Care Center: The center provides childcare for infants through age 5 where parents pay based on their income, while allowing them to be employed and productive in the workplace.
Staunton Augusta Church Relief Association (SACRA): SACRA provides emergency financial assistance to residents of Staunton and Augusta County in need of help with utilities, evictions, medications, and food. Supply donations will also be collected at the sale in the dinner/breakfast barn.
Sharing our Surplus (SOS) Campaign
This is an initiative to raise money for MCC’s work with refugees. Harvey Yoder, who is spearheading this initiative, encourages relief sale attendees to think of giving in the spirit of Jubilee—”over and above our regular tithes and offerings, and not result in decreased giving elsewhere.” Yoder posts numerous things on his blog about this initiative. Read a recent article. Yoder challenges us to “willingly become poorer for Christ’s sake.” Right now you have plenty and can help them; then at some other time they can share with you when you need it (2 Cor 9).
The goal is to exceed the nearly $41,000 in giving in 2017, in addition to supporting the auction and the sale of food and other items. A special table will be set up at the sale to receive such donations for MCC war and famine refugee relief, in addition to the “My Coins Count” project (formerly Penny Power).