The men of Fairview Heights Christ UMC recently collected more than 100 long-handled shovels and rakes, five containers of hammers and saws, one large container of nails and numerous other tools.
Rev. Shane Bishop issued a challenge on Easter Sunday to everyone to bring a tool the following Sunday with a dollar bill attached. He pointed out that our mission includes helping those in our neighborhood as well as helping those around the world. He encouraged families to take their children with them to Lowe's or Home Depot or elsewhere to purchase the tools.
The response resulted in a trailer load of tools along with $700 in cash donations to help defray the shipping. The expression on the children's faces as they brought their tools to the trailer at the church entrance was priceless.
You can get more information on times and places for collections from your local United Methodist Men or you can call district or conference UMM officers. The Mississippi River District officers are: Bill Lawrence, UMM President, at 618-236-7311 or by emailing WLL5@att.net.
Tools for Haiti -- rebuilding Haiti man-to-man, tool-to-tool is an initiative of the United Methodist Men of the North Central Jurisdiction who have joined together to provide critically needed tools to help the people of Haiti rebuild their country. Over the next few weeks, they are asking the United Methodist Men of every congregation to lead the effort to collect hand tools. Shipping these tools will be expensive -- about $1 per pound -- so they are asking that each tool have at least a dollar attached to it.
Both new and good used hand tools will be accepted as well as direct financial donations. The primary types of tools needed are those that can be used with cleanup and rebuilding masonry construction. Shovels, rakes, hammers, saws, pry bars, nails, heavy duty cutters that can handle rebar and small hand tools are all needed.