What can DPC do to help?

Dear DPC Family,

During the last few months, we have seen COVID-19 impact just about every aspect of our culture and society. It feels like everything has changed, from the way we worship, to the way we socialize, to the way we shop, to our attitudes about leaving our homes and the ways we entertain ourselves, to how we understand our own health and well-being. All this is in addition to some very pressing needs facing our world. There are strains on our healthcare system, and we recognize that efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 have left many people without jobs or indefinitely furloughed by their employers. Demands on our social services agencies have skyrocketed, leaving many struggling to find the resources necessary to serve those in need. This situation can leave us feeling really helpless, like all we have the power to do is wait until this thing is over before we can reach out and lend a helping hand.
But at DPC, we are continuing to answer Christ’s call to serve others.That’s why representatives from the session, the board of deacons and I have pulled together this list of ways DPC folks can continue answering Christ’s call, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

1. Make Masks!
Many of our seamstresses from Little Dresses for Africa have continued serving our community by sewing much-needed face masks for community members. These two links contain simple mask patterns, ways to obtain materials to create masks and information about how to donate masks!
https://www.chrisquilts.net/urgent-face-mask-need/
www.ProHealthCare.org/MaskPattern
Additionally, if you don’t sew, there are ways to create masks without sewing! Here is a link to another organization that is collecting masks disposable masks:
https://www.unitedwaygmwc.org/Our-Impact/COVID-19-Response/MaskUpMKE

2. Donate to the Food Pantries We Regularly Support!
Our food pantries still need our support! They are experiencing much higher demand than usual and need donations of food or cash more than ever. The Pewaukee and Oconomowoc food pantries would benefit most from monetary donations sent directly to them. Here are their addresses:
Pewaukee Food Pantry, P.O. Box 51, Pewaukee, WI 53072
Oconomowoc Food Pantry, P.O. Box 832, Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Additionally, the Kettle Moraine Food Pantry is still accepting donations through the donation barrels at Pick ‘N Save or Sentry food stores. Additionally, you can send monetary donations sent to this address: Kettle Moraine Food Pantry, 705 W. Tomlin Rd., Wales, WI 53183

3. Support Family Promise!
During this pandemic, Family Promise has shifted their focus to homelessness prevention, raising funds (gift cards, supplies and overall donations) to prevent people from becoming homeless. All Family Promise chapters that are under our model of using church sites are currently not accepting families as to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between volunteers, staff and the guests.
DPC was scheduled to host some families in the middle of May. Since Family Promise will not be accepting guests by then, everyone is encouraged to consider making a gift to Family Promise to help keep families in their homes. You can stay up-to-date with what’s going on with Family Promise by visiting their website of Facebook page.

4. Donate to Our Special Offering!
Representatives from the session’s mission committee and from DPC’s board of deacons have put their heads together in order to find a way that we can meet the most urgent COVID-19-related needs in our area. We found La Casa de Esperanza Charter School in Waukesha County. They have many young students with families that are unemployed and not yet receiving their unemployment benefits.They are working to get food onto their students’ tables, as well as cleaning and school supplies into their homes. If you would like to assist children whose families are struggling at this time, you can send a check to DPC with “La Casa” written on the memo line. Please send checks by May 7 in order to participate in our fundraiser! Many people who have received unnecessary stimulus checks have opted to donate them to organizations like this one or Family Promise.

For more information about La Casa de Esperanza or to learn how to donate cleaning or school supplies directly, you can visit this link:
https://www.lacasadeesperanza.org/

Thank you for all the generosity you have shown during this time. Remember that your actions do make a difference!

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Nikki