Due to the struggling economy, agencies that help those in need are not receiving as many resources, and yet the need for those resources is greater than ever.  During the Summer of 2008, VMC attenders were challenged to Bee Missional (a play on words from their Family Friendly Summer series on the Bee Attitudes.)  True to character, the people of VMC, gave abundantly!

 

Individuals and families were encouraged to participate in several “Bee Missional” activities throughout the Summer. The first activity was for Tender Life Maternity Home, a ministry which provides pregnant women in crisis with safe housing and supportive serves. Baby bottles were distributed, and people were asked to fill those baby bottles with change, dollar bills and checks – whatever they could do.  So many people got on board with this project that VMC ran out of baby bottles the very first week!  More were obtained, and again, they were all given out.  Tender Life was overwhelmed with gratitude, as weeks later, they were given the baby bottles, filled with a total of $5,704.82!  

 

 

The second “Bee Missional” project was for Project Understanding, an organization which provides many services to the needy. The focus for this project was “Birthday Bags,” which blesses those in need on their birthday.  Project Understanding normally has just a few of these bags on hand. To their delight, VMC Community Life Pastor, Jesse Giglio, delivered 107 birthday bags, filled to the brim with items to make the recipient’s birthday very special!

 

 

In late July, VMC members began to collect new and gently used shoes for a project entitled, “Soles 4 Souls.” This ministry distributes shoes to victims of tsunamis, hurricanes, etc. and to foster kids attending Royal Family Kids’ Camp. On August 3, individuals and families brought their shoes (and the above baby bottles and birthday bags) forward during VMC’s