Change Local

Looking for an opportunity to learn how to  share your faith, connect with the community, and earn scholarship money? Try canvassing! Join the iCanvass AU (Literature Ministries) Club in the Department of Religion & Biblical Languages (Buller Hall) this Sunday for an outreach adventure you won't forget. Sign up and more information available here: https://form.jotform.com/220044128494148.

Dates and Times: 

Sun, Jan. 16, 2022 | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Mon, Jan. 17, 2022 | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Sun, Feb. 6, 2022 | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Sun, Feb. 20, 2022 | 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Sun, March 13, 2022 | 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Sun, April 3, 2022 | 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Sun, April 17, 2022 | 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Location: Department of Religion & Biblical Languages, Buller Hall, Andrews University

Benton Harbor Water Distribution

Andrews University may join with the Abundant Life C.O.G.I.C. (12–2 p.m.) and the New Covenant Community Baptist Church (4–6 p.m.) volunteers at the Benton Harbor High School  870 Colfax Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022. 

*If you need transportation, please go to the front of the PMC parking lot*

Bags of Love Sewing Bee is a community project sponsored by the Andrews University James White Library.

Time: 1–5 p.m.
6 to 10 volunteers needed
Location: Neighbor to Neighbor

This community service project will benefit foster children from the Berrien and Cass County DHS programs. Frequently, children are removed from dangerous situations with no advance notice. As a result, many times their clothing and other personal belongings are shoved into garbage bags to transport them.

Our Bags of Love project will create cloth drawstring bags that social workers can use instead of trash bags, helping the children to feel more valued. Completed bags will be given to God's Hands 4 Kids (GH4K), a foster care support group, for distribution. Each fabric bag will belong to the child who receives it.

We will make two different kinds of bags: one from repurposed pillowcases, the other from fabric. Simple sewing techniques are used.  A pillowcase bag can be completed in 30–60 minutes. A fabric bag may take 2 or 3 hours, depending on sewing skills. Both beginner and intermediate sewers welcome.

God's Abundant Pantry is a pantry that provides food and groceries for around 150 families. We are open on Tuesday's and we are looking for more student help one Tuesday every month from 3:00pm-7:00pm. 

Responsibilities include:

* To open the pantry.

*Pull out all the grocery carts.

*All items go on the table. (Rice, beans etc.)

*Items are taken out of the freezer and refrigerator.

*Student volunteers/or volunteers stand behind the table to hand out items.

*When done, put everything away.

*Sign forms for student volunteers for the government.

*May need to drum up more volunteers.

If you're interested in helping, please call Roger Pickell (269-277-2899). 

Join New Life Fellowship and Harbor of Hope chruch on Saturday, November 20 at 3:15pm as we hand out free turkeys to families in Benton Harbor. 

We are leaving the HPAC parking lot at 2:50pm.

The colder seasons are upon us and we wish to ensure that everyone has the means to stay warm. We are collecting hats, scarves, gloves, and even jackets to donate to the less fortunate in our community. The drive will be held in the campus center from Nov. 14th - Dec. 3rd.

The State of Michigan is providing free bottled water to residents of the city of Benton Harbor. Area organizations are working together to provide city residents with cases of bottled water.   

Volunteers are needed to move these cases into residents' vehicles and help with these drive-through distributions.

Sign up on this website for different dates and times: https://volunteer.uwsm.org/need/?s=1&need_init_id=5023.

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PLEASE NOTE: This event is not an Andrews University activity; as with all group events in the local community, be sure to follow COVID-19 safety practices and confirm any specific COVID-19 guidelines for the event itself.

The Pioneer Memorial Church Youth Group is organizing a Honduras mission trip this coming Christmas break!

Translators (Spanish speakers) and activity leaders are needed for the friendship day camp hosted for the children's home and community.

What will you be doing? The day camp will include stations for crafts, music, Bible learning, and health/sciences. It is a fun, engaging experience to help wonderful kids.

General costs include airfare plus $300 for room and board.

Space is limited, with a $400 deposit needed to reserve your spot as soon as possible.

Attending will mean missing the first two days of classes spring semester.

For full details/information about the trip, please email Elizabeth Cisneros at cisnerose@andrews.edu.

To reserve your spot or if you have questions, email Glenn Russell at glenn@andrews.edu.

Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency (SMCAA) has been providing bottled water to the residents of the City of Benton Harbor following reports of elevated levels of lead in the city-supplied water. The State of Michigan is providing free bottled water as City residents are being encouraged to use bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing foods, and mixing powdered infant formula.

It is SMCAA’s belief that clean water is vital to the health of communities and that everyone has the right to safe, clean water. Through your willingness to volunteer at this distribution, SMCAA will be able to assist 200-400 City households with clean water. So, first and foremost, THANK YOU! Without your volunteerism, Community Action would not be able to fulfill this critical need to the residents of the City of Benton Harbor.

The distribution you are registering for will be at the SMCAA Warehouse: 331 Miller Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022.

We need your help!

Due to COVID shipping issues, Majuro SDA Elementary School in Micronesia Islands. Where we have 7 of our Andrews student missionaries, the math teacher, Garett Lee, is teaching and shared with us the limiations and struggles in his classroom because they are short on basic school supplies that help teach math to his students. 

If you are a club, department, or indiduval who wants to help collect items for this classroom please let us know

They need 25 of each of the following:

Calculators (any kind!)

Composition NoteBooks(Graph Paper)

Geometry sets

Crayons

and basketball nets 

Please contact teela@andrews.edu or come by CFE office to help out! 

Would Andrews University be interested in helping Fernwood this holiday season-not so much with landscaping but with our LIGHTS event?  

During this winter season, a different kind of color will light up Fernwood Botanical Garden and delight our community. Instead of flowers, visitors will find twinkling holiday lights set to festive music while strolling amongst the pathways of our garden.  

We are looking for a group/office/organization to provide 15-20 volunteers to pick one (or more) night(s) Thursday-Sunday, between November 26-January 2nd, 4pm-9:30pm to help our event run smoothly.  Training will be provided that evening from 4-4:45pm as doors open at 5pm.  

Each group would provide volunteers to help direct traffic, ensure safety, take tickets, and greet and provide assistance to visitors.  There will be a variety of "jobs" available for various types of volunteers- some indoors, some outdoors, all with a great deal of satisfaction in helping Fernwood visitors experience a magical evening of lights and nature.   

I'd love to connect if this sounds interesting to you and your team! Please look at the available dates below and then contact  ldohlman@fernwoodbotanical.org to sign up. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16oHyQv-wa0apu6At-2Hj9qA2T8vO9kInIJ2krwpacrU/edit#gid=0

We are starting of creating plans for Change Day 2021! We are seeking input from student volunteers, who want to lead out in the planning and coordination of Change Day. 

If you are interested in being part of the planning team, please email teela@andrews.edu or come by Center for Faith Engagement.

We exist to change the world by empowering at-risk youth Benton Harbor and beyond to overcome adversity and break the cycles of generational poverty. Volunteer with us today! To get more information email us: greateryouthmovement@gmail.com.