Financial/Goods needs

RARA suggests the next time you buy groceries to pick up some extra fresh produce for the Food Pantry, especially potatoes, cabbage and apples. They receive donations Fridays from 1-4pm, Saturdays from 10-12, and Mondays through Thursdays from 9-4pm. If you have extra seedlings after planting your own garden bring them for distribution to their shoppers or plant an extra row and donate the produce later this summer.

Visit their  website for more information on their COVID-19 response or ways to donate.

 

Project Horizon says that with the increased number of clients they are needing to put people in hotels. Gift cards to grocery stores and microwavable foods (i.e. noodles in a cup, mac n cheese) or easy to fix items (Poptarts, individual cereal) are requested.  Project Horizon can use cleaning supplies and toilet paper.  Donations may be left in the box just inside the Grace Episcopal Church Parish House door under the bridge. Gift cards may be mailed directly to Project Horizon at 120 Varner Ln, Lexington, VA 24450.

 

United Way is asking for donations to fund the community agencies they support. These organizations that are directly responding to Covid-19 can be accessed through a link on their website. For example, the YMCA is providing childcare to essential workers. https://www.uwrockbridge.org/.

 

The Community Foundation has set up a Covid-19 Relief Fund (CFCR fund) to help with the urgent needs of local non-profits and business communities in the county. Parishioners can donate to the CFCR fund ( http://www.cfrba.org/covid19fund) or to the United Way Rockbridge Covid-19 Relief Fund, which will be added to the CFCR fund.

 

The Lanford Mission Emergency Fund, a ministry of Grace Episcopal Church, assists Rockbridge County residents who need emergency help in meeting rent, utility, medical, or temporary housing expenses. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, utility companies (electric, natural gas, and water) have suspended disconnections for 60 days. While there is currently a moratorium on existing utility accounts and landlords cannot evict current renters without going to court, once the moratoriums are lifted, there will be many more requests for assistance. A donation to the MEF can be made on Grace's Website https://onrealm.org/graceepiscopalVA/-/give/now or in the form of a check made out to Grace Episcopal Church with "Lanford MEF" noted on the memo line.

 

Pastoral Needs

Hospice will offer a virtual grief support group beginning Monday, May 4th at 1pm. Each weekly session will cover a different topic with time to share. If you are interested in joining, please email Susan Bedell, LCSW at  susan.bedell@rahospice.org to get the invitation link.