Opportunities for Sharing and Enrichment

GETTING OUT OF THE PEWS
  If you are interested in becoming more active at EACC beyond Sunday worship services, you might want to consider joining the Nominating Committee, Enlistment Committee, or Budget Committee. See Pastor Jenkins if you are looking for a way to “test the waters” and be of service.
Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC)
  We have reconnected with the Early Childhood Development Center, the school that moved this fall from the former Charles Orr Elementary School building at East 97th and Lamont. On December 14 we delivered 55 winter coats to some of the ECDC children who had been specifically selected by their teachers as kids in need, thanks to the generosity of individual EACC members, the Woman's Association and the Church in the World Ministry. Special thanks are also due Ann Drysdale, Dean and Judy Sieck, and Martha Edwards, the shoppers, and John Merritt, the delivery man.

On January 27, we will re-open the Dolphin Depot, our very successful incentive program that we managed for two years in the Charles Orr building. Now we will be at Mary B. Martin School at 82nd and Hough, once a month, exchanging the "Dolphin Dollars" that the children accumulate for good attendance, punctuality, completed homework assignments, and their parents' attendance at parent meetings, for toys and other prizes. If you would enjoy volunteering to help the children make their selections, and you are available once a month from 2-3:30 PM, see Ann Drysdale.

Homeless Stand Down 2011
  The Homeless Stand Down, an annual event where a warm welcome, warm food and clothing
and many essential services are offered to Clevelanders who are experiencing
homelessness, has been scaled back slightly this year and handed over from InterAct
Cleveland to HandsOn Northeast Ohio for management. EACC has been very generous in
the past with donations and volunteers, and we hope this year will be no exception.
We are pledged to donate men’s waterproof gloves, pairs of sox, and winter hats, 50
of each. We need to drop off these items no later than January 19th, so we need to
start collecting them right away. Either bring in your gloves, sox and hats on
Sunday January 1, 8, or 15, or donate money so that some of those items can be
purchased. Checks can be made out to the church with “Homeless Stand Down” on the
memo line. Kathy Baker or Charlene Higginbotham will be in the church parlor with
boxes for your donations. Thank you!
WREN needs
  WREN (Women’s Re-entry Network, serving women who are currently incarcerated and those who have been recently released) would appreciate donations of women’s gloves and sox, gift cards from Dave’s (please include balance receipt) and/or checks made out to Women’s Re-Entry Network. Kathy Baker will deliver your donations.
FIFTH MONDAY MEAL JANUARY 30
  EACC will be serving a meal to up to 100 hungry people on Monday, January 30. We
need volunteers to shop, cook, set the tables, serve, and clean up. Please see
Cloggie Crowder if you would like to be a part of this rewarding experience.
GREATER CLEVELAND CONGREGATIONS
  Greater Cleveland Congregations' activities this summer have focused on refining the five issue areas (education, jobs, health care, criminal justice, and sustainable food) into specific action plans. Kathy Baker is representing EACC as a team captain for the criminal justice area. There are continuing opportunities to be involved. For more information, go to http://www.greaterclevelandcongregations.org, or contact Ruth Garwood at rgarwood@att.net
FIRST FRIENDS OF EACC
  Our congregation is growing. In an effort to retain our new members we are asking you to be a “First Friend” to those who join EACC. First Friends will give new members a phone call, help them become acclimated to the church and help them find a place to serve. To become a “First Friend” please call Mary Guen at 216-561-0857.
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OBSERVANCES
  Many events are being planned around the Greater Cleveland Community to celebrate Dr.
King. Please consider what you and your family will do this year to honor Dr. King.

East View, UCC Annual MLK Jr. Essay Contest - Cash prizes by grade level. Contact the
Church (921-7673)

Cleveland Clinic Foundation Annual MLK Jr. Interfaith Service, Friday, Jan. 13 at
7:15 AM–8:00 AM Community Breakfast & Program. The Reverend Dr. Marvin A McMickle,
PhD, Lifetime of Service Honoree. RSVP by Jan. 6 – diversity@ccf.org or 216.445.7323

All University Circle Museums and Institutions will be open on Mon., Jan. 16th.

Concert at Severance Hall -    The Cleveland Orchestra’s 32nd annual Martin Luther
King Jr. Celebration Concert at Severance Hall, is Sun. Jan. 15th at 7 PM. Tickets
are free but must be requested in advance by calling the Severance Hall ticket
office, beginning January 3rd. While we won’t have anything sponsored by EACC (this
year) for MLK, Pastor Jenkins has been asked to offer the invocation at the concert.
It will be conducted by Chelsea Tipton and music will be provided by the Central
State University Choir and the M. L. King Jr. Celebration Chorus. Pastor Jenkins
would love to have members of the congregation come and celebrate the life and legacy
of Dr. King with her.

CITIZEN CIRCLE
  Citizen Circle, a group of community members committed to helping people recently released from prison make the change from “offender” to “citizen,” find that the biggest obstacle for the participants is often securing employment. Jobs are hard to find these days for everyone, but especially so for people with felonies in their backgrounds.

Currently we are trying to help one of our participants, a young woman with an excellent work history, find employment. She has had experience in retail, cleaning, and waiting tables, and would welcome the opportunity to talk to any employer. If you are hiring in any of those areas or if you have personal knowledge of someone who is, please contact one of the Citizen Circle members listed below.

Kathy Baker, Eleanore Dees, Jewel Green, Nathaniel Martin and Dean Sieck
BOOKS FOR KIDS
  Donate your new or gently used children’s books at any Half Price Books location. 199,372 books were donated during the 2010 “Half Pint Library” book drive.  Share the love of reading by donating your new and gently used children’s books all during the month of March.  Half Price Books will match every book donated.  Half Price Books stores are located at 21623 Center Ridge Rd., 1607 Golden Gate Plaza, 4687 Great Northern Blvd., and 9383 Mentor Ave.
Children's Defense Fund
  The Cleveland office of the Children’s Defense Fund has begun an ecumenical and interfaith network of women, called Women of Faith, to provide strong effective voices for children. Of particular concern are poor children who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. To learn more about this ministry, please phone Rev. Mylion Waite, Senior Manager, at 216-298-4480.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
  Could you help make one of life’s most challenging moments easier for people in your own community?  You’re invited to explore the possibility of becoming a Hospice Volunteer with the Visiting Nurse Association!  A wide range of volunteer skills are needed, from spiritual companionship to sewing hospital gowns, friendly visits to patients in respite care, creating seasonal decorations and gifts for patients, office/clerical assistance, bereavement assistance, school and group service projects and many other possibilities.  Bi-lingual volunteers are especially needed.  Volunteer trainings take place every Tuesday March 1-29.
Call now to register: 216-902-7352 or email pkampf@vnaohio.org  for more information.
PRISON MINISTRY AT EACC
  Thanks to those of you who have been bringing in personal hygiene items for the
women in the County Jail and Northeast Pre-release Center. There is a basket in
the parlor for your donations, and it is emptied and its contents delivered to the
women who need them at least twice monthly. They are not allowed glass
bottles, dental floss, aerosol cans, or anything - such as mouthwash - containing
alcohol, so please bring in items in plastic containers such as lotion, deodorant,
shampoo and conditioner. Toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap are also welcome.
ARE YOU A “SEASONED INDIVIDUAL?”
  Several Cleveland area nonprofit organizations, including the ACLU of Ohio, Community shares, Adoption Network Cleveland and Hard-Hatted Women, are collaborating on a volunteer program called “Engaging for Civic Change” supported by the Cleveland Foundation’s Successful Aging Initiative. They are looking for seasoned individuals moving into a new phase of their lives who want to volunteer to support the causes they care about. To learn more, visit www.communityshares.org/eecc.shtml or
call Francis Martin at Community Shares, 216-361-9920.

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