To the Editor:

As we have done every February for the past 25 years, the Altamont Reformed Church will participate in the Church World Service “Blankets +” program to raise money for projects in many parts of the world that help people recover from disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

The funds we raise can provide blankets, tents, and bedding for refugees and disaster victims, as well as the tools, seeds, training, and other supplies needed for long-term recovery.

Our campaign begins with a “Blanket Sunday Breakfast” on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Sponsored by the church’s Benevolence Committee, this breakfast is an opportunity to enjoy food and fellowship and to learn about the life-saving work of Church World Service in places like the Philippines, Haiti, Rwanda, Georgia (in the Balkans), the Gran Chaco region of South America, and in United States communities affected by floods, tornadoes, and wildfires.

Last year, we raised $1,580 during our month-long campaign.  That was enough money to equip a village well with a pump and provide hygiene training for the community; purchase a sewing machine for a young mother who needs to support her family; and provide tents, blankets, and cooking kits to five families living in temporary refugee camps. 

This year’s campaign will run from Feb. 9 through March 9. The Benevolence Committee has set a goal of raising $1,500 through the “sale” of small red hearts for $5 each.

Each Sunday after worship, people can buy hearts, dedicate them “in honor of” or “in memory of” a loved one, and attach them to a large paper heart on the sanctuary wall, eventually covering a world map on the heart.

Our goal is to “Blanket the World with Love.”  Will you help us?

We invite the wider Altamont community to join us for the “Blanket Sunday Breakfast” at 9 a.m. this Sunday, and, if you wish, remain for the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

There is no charge for the breakfast, but please call the church office at 861-8711 if you plan to attend so that adequate seating can be arranged. The church is located at 129 Lincoln Ave. and is accessible to people with handicaps via a ramp at the side door.

Kitt Jackson, chairwoman
Altamont Reformed Church
Benevolence Committee