For over 20 years the KUC Global and Community Action Ministry has organized an Advent Giving Tree initiative to help the congregation give to the locally, nationally, and around the world.  Again this year we have chosen to send Jan Vint’s hand-crafted ornaments to the congregation to hang on your own tree.
If you prefer, you can still bring them into the church to hang on the Giving Tree in the sanctuary.  We are launching the Advent Giving Tree on Nov. 28th this year. When you receive the ornament you will also receive information on the variety of ways of giving.  Please give generously.

The theme this year is Peace, and we are embracing the theme through the Empowerment of Women and Girls.
The recipients will be:
Local – Kamloops Chapter of Days For Girls.  This local charity produces and distributes reusable period supplies for girls.
National – “Whatever They Need Most”, for unhoused women in St. John NB.   From the UCC Gifts With Vision catalogue.
International – “Help Build a Well” – In many communities in Zambia, water has to be brought from far away, often by young girls.   Also from Gifts With Vision.
Local:  Kamloops Chapter of Days For Girls – They produce and distribute kits containing reusable period supplies for girls and women in developing countries as well as in Canada.  In many parts of the world, menstruating girls are shunned.  They are often made to stay in “menstrual huts” for the duration of their period — meaning they miss school days.  Started in 2008, Days for Girls works to increase access to menstrual care and education, in parts of the world where girls don’t have access to proper feminine hygiene.  In addition, these kits, offered free of charge to anyone who needs them, allows women and girls to allocate monies they would otherwise have to spend on disposables, to other family expenses.  And the reusable kits are good for the environment.  Kamloops Team Leader, Terry-Lynn Stone has agreed to come to the worship service on Dec. 12 and speak about Days for Girls. Image:Terry-Lynn Stone

National – From the United Church Gifts With Vision Catalogue, # GWV21-15 –  “Whatever They Need Most”, for unhoused women in St. John NB.  When they arrive at Coverdale Centre for Women in Saint John, NB, women need money to apply for identification, buy medicine and groceries, get bus tokens—and most of all, they need to get these things without reliving their trauma through telling and retelling their stories to several different agencies.  The Centre provides immediate help for the women they serve by giving them whatever they need most when they arrive.  With their immediate needs met, women can plan for a better future.
Image: Staff Alyssa with nursing students, Madison &Meghan on work placement, who created this painting with our clients.
International – From the United Church Gifts With Vision Catalogue, # GWV21- 12  “Help Build a Well” – In many communities in Zambia, water has to be brought from far away, often by young girls.  The time-consuming task of bringing daily water forces them to give up their education.  The People’s Action Forum is drilling a well at Kamulaseni Community School in Chipata, Zambia.  With clean and safe water available locally, more girls will be able to stay in school, and the local community will benefit.
Image:  Gifts with Vision catalogue