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• 2020 Missions Year in Review

At the start of 2020, no one would have been able to predict where we’d end up at the close of this turbulent year.  One thing that quickly became apparent was the incredible toll the pandemic would take on our most vulnerable communities. In an effort to get critically needed funds to our partners, Trinity Missions disbursed a special COVID-19 response donation to ALIVE!, Casa Chirilagua, Community Lodgings, and Rising Hope. Similarly, this year’s Easter/Lenten appeal provided funds to ALIVE!, Community Lodgings, Rising Hope, and UMCOR’s International COVID-19 Response Fund. But cash isn’t the only way to help our neighbors in need and in early April, John Ploch initiated the weekly Rising Hope Food collection drive and the Missions Team dove right in. Carol Bowers and Harley Hopkins, Jennifer Deibert, Matt and Margaret Guenther, Kipp Maloney, Ashley Parker, Shauna Root, and Mary Gillman all took turns in staffing the collection drive, whether it was Wednesday nights with the Food Trucks or on Saturday mornings, later in the year. To date, we’ve provided 12,036 pounds of food and personal items and $2,085.00 through this terrific mission.

Pastor Grace has often spoken about wanting us to be a real part of our community and we were given a tremendous opportunity to do just that by partnering with Amy Barker from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and host a Community Food Drive on our parking lot blacktop. This event received local press with Lucelle O’Flaherty covering it for The Zebra (Local Churches Organize 20 Ton Food Drive - The Zebra). Not only were we able to receive almost 7,500 lbs of food for Rising Hope, we’re also providing storage of a similar amount for Christ Church and the Lazarus Project for their food mission.

As the year progressed and we, along with our partners, found our new footing. We were a sponsor for the StepALIVE! Walkathon and Community Lodgings’ Camp Read-A-Way, with Sharon Taylor our Mission representative for Community Lodgings. Jennifer Dieber was instrumental in the success of our Alexandria City Public School drive. With remote learning, our drive supported more than just school supplies, it helped provide connectivity to children whose households may not have broadband access. What a wonderful surprise it was that we were able to continue our longstanding INOVA Blood Drive under Carol Bowers leadership. Alva Smircina, with the Trinity UMW, provided critical support for Alexandria’s Domestic Violence program and their Christmas Children’s Program. To close out the year, our congregation supported the Rising Hope Angel Gift program where we were able to provide personalized Christmas gifts to 75 children of Rising Hope families.  Ginny Carl and Renee Rupple packed up Ginny’s “Green Hornet” sleigh and delivered the gifts to Rising Hope. Santa couldn’t have done any better!

None of these missions would be successful without the consistent and dedicated generosity of our Trinity family. We, together, are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.