Presbytery of Western New York

Congregation’s Mission Project Brings Comfort to Victims of Child Abuse

May 3, 2016

Being mindful of mission opportunities locally as well as worldwide, we discovered such an opportunity one day when we stumbled upon a group gathered in our local mall, creating tied fleece blankets. The recipient of these blankets was the Southern Tier Child Advocacy Center, which provides multidisciplinary services in cases of child abuse. When children come to the center, the staff provides them with comforting items—a toy, a book, a fleece blanket. What a comfort a fuzzy blanket can be! The idea of creating blankets to benefit the center was brought to the mission committee of First Presbyterian Church of Portville, New York,and voilà! The Fun Fleece Festival was born!

In its ninth year, the Fun Fleece Festival is an ecumenical and intergenerational event. Local churches and community members are invited to participate. Men, women, and children pitch in to help, and what a great bonding event it is! Stories are shared, food is eaten, and many, many blankets are made. Who benefits? Certainly the children serviced by the Southern Tier Child Advocacy Center. But all who participate in the Fun Fleece Festival benefit in a big way! What a good feeling to know that the blanket you created will help a child through a very tough time in his or her life.

To view the Fun Fleece Festival:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n8i4GR0hpI

From First Presbyterian Church of Portville, New York (portville-presbyterian.org)

Rev. Marilyn Hale, pastor, Vicki Greene-Schmidt, chairperson of the mission committee

Let us join in prayer for:

Presbytery Staff:

Rev. Laura Norris Buisch, Stated Clerk
Dale Harten, Business Administrator
Jan Tyson, Office Administrator

Sponsored Field Workers

Steve and Margie Doty, Wycliffe Bible Translators (Thailand)
Leah Doty, Wycliffe Bible Translators (Thailand)
Dr. Martha Sommers, PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker (Democratic Republic of Congo)

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Rebecca Rayner, PMA
Dreama Reams, PMA
Lorraine Recchia, PILP

Let us pray

Bless a hundredfold, dear God,
Every moment of love and caring our children can know;
Every hand reaching out to protect them;
Every voice raised to end the silence,
As we advocate,
As we work for justice,
Respond to your call,
Follow Christ’s way.
Amen.