Please Remember the People of Syria & Iraq

Jeremy Courtney, PreEmptive Love Coaltion, Nov 20, 2017

Looking for a hands-on way to make a difference this Christmas?

   Contents of an MCC Relief Kit

Looking for a hands-on project that makes a difference?  This year due to high demand, there is an urgent need for Relief Kits in Syria, Iraq and other crisis areas. (See https://mcc.org/get-involved/kits)  The kits are a tangible way you can share God’s love and compassion, reminding people that their needs are not forgotten. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) plans shipments carefully in order to meet local needs and to send high-quality items that can withstand the harsh conditions faced by people receiving the supplies.

Place articles in a box or bag and deliver to one of the following locations. It's a good idea to call ahead to confirm someone will be available to receive them.

     Grace Chapel, 9600 SW Boeckman Rd, Wilsonville, OR  97070, (503) 570-2988

     Zion Mennonite Church, 6124 S Whiskey Hill Rd, Hubbard, OR  97032, (503) 651-2274

     Portland Mennonite Church, 1312 SE 35th Ave, Portland, OR  97214, (503) 234-0559

Kits will be shipped to MCC headquarters in January, where they will be packed in new 5-gallon plastic pails with lids and distributed to recipients overseas.

                                                    Relief Kit Items

                                         (New items in original packaging)

• 4 large bars bath soap 
• 1 plastic bottle shampoo (13–24 oz; place in re-sealable plastic bag)
• 4 large bars laundry soap (Fels Naptha®, Sunlight® or Zote® brands)
• 4 adult-size toothbrushes 
• 4 new bath towels (medium weight, dark or bright colors)
• 2 wide-tooth combs (6–8 in)
• 1 fingernail clipper(good quality)
• 1 box adhesive bandages(minimum 40 count, assorted)
• 1 package sanitary pads (18–24 count thin maxi)

Thank you for limiting your generosity to the items listed. Due to strict regulations on the expiration dates of toothpaste in various countries, MCC no longer asks for toothpaste donations with the kits. Instead, MCC will provide toothpaste when kits arrive at the warehouse and before distribution. Toothbrushes must be in their original packaging.

                                                     Watch the journey from your hands to theirs:

THANK YOU

Photo: PreEmptive Love

As we reflect on 2016, we are so thankful for each of you who have come along side and partnered with us to reach out to Syrian and Iraqi families in need. With your generous support we were able to donate $1,774.00 this year. We can only provide dollars, but special thanks and our prayers go with those on the ground there doing the grueling and heartbreaking work everyday: To PreEmptive Love Coalition, MCC and Refuge Initiative, the three charities we sponsored in 2015 and 2016, Godspeed. 

To our loving families and special friends who braved a snow storm to help us make over 150 pans of cinnamon rolls, thank you! We donated time and materials, so 100% of your donation went directly to the worthy nonprofits mentioned above - which means as much of your money as possible, provided food, warmth and a message of hope: that these who need our help, are not alone.

Wishing you Peace in the coming year,

Brittany and Sheryl

Thank You from Mennonite Central Committee

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Voices from Syria and Iraq: "Love - the most important thing..."

"When You Remember Us, We Feel Like We Are Still Alive"

"When You Remember Us, We Feel Like We Are Still Alive"

- Syrian Bishop to the Global Church

See the work of Mennonite Central Committee, waging peace in Syria

Christmas 2016 - Love Showed Up in a Humble Stable

PreEmptive Love waging peace, Christmas, 2016

For more stories of love in action see their blog:  http://www.preemptivelove.org/blog 

The Deadline For Ordering 2016 is Past, But ...

Though the deadline is past, you can still reach out to bring hope to a dusty plain somewhere in Syria or Iraq.  What can you do? Go to "Get Involved" on top of this page for a list of ideas that will make a tangible difference in the life of a desperate family whose home and community have been destroyed. You will also find links to credible organizations working on the ground in the region, offering food, shelter and love to a displaced people.

                     When you have 5 minutes, take time to watch the Refuge Initiative at work.