2021 Harvest Sunday Offering
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Food insecurity for newly unemployed families, displaced families without secure housing, seniors, single adults, and children has risen throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Disruption in services of the National School Lunch Program, food assistance networks, and food supply chains has been, and continues to be, extraordinarily challenging. These disruptions are duplicated and magnified in particular areas of our country, and throughout the world.
1 in 7 Texans (14%) currently experiencing food insecurity. 11% of our world’s population who are undernourished. As followers of Christ, we understand our calling to respond with extravagant grace, to relieve suffering, and to bear one another’s burden.
Harvest Sunday was started as a response to hunger. It is a once-a-year giving opportunity at Rio Texas churches for hunger alleviation programs. Harvest Sunday 2021 is November 7. However, participation may occur at any time (or any Sunday) throughout the months of November and December. Offerings should be sent directly to the local church through online giving or check. Designate your gift as "Harvest Sunday."
The 2021 Harvest Sunday offering funds shall be distributed in the following manner:
1/3 of proceeds shall be allocated for hunger initiative projects along the Texas-Mexico border areas that are situated, and served within the El Valle, Hill Country, Las Misiones, and West Districts.
1/3 of proceeds shall be returned to participating districts. Funds shall be distributed—in consultation with district mission committees and the District Superintendent—to ministries that address root causes of food insecurity.
1/3 of proceeds shall be equally allocated among the following 5 Global Ministry Advance Projects with focus on food security and economic empowerment: Indigenous Women Vegetable Gardening and Leadership Project Guatemala, Give Ye Them to Eat – Mexico, Rio Texas Methodist Border Friendship Commission, El Valle District Border Refugee Ministries, and Mission Border Hope.
Please save this date and give on November 7th to the Harvest Sunday Special Offering.
If you are interested in promoting Harvest Sunday in your District and can share stories, pictures/videos of your local ministries and how you have risen to the challenges this year, please reach out to our Harvest Sunday Coordinator, Diana T. Woods, BSW, MPA, at bumccommunitypartner@gmail.com or (512) 917-9072.
