Project Descriptions

LTLC Meals: On the second Thursday and second Sunday of each month (with only a few date exceptions), TCC members serve dinner to approximately 130 clients at the Lowell Transitional Living Center on Middlesex Street in Lowell. The meal is prepared by LTLC staff, and we serve it promptly at 5:30pm. As a treat to the clients, TCC brings homemade brownies and milk for dessert. Servers meet at the TCC parking lot at 4:45 to carpool together. For more information on LTLC, visit their website at: www.ltlc.org

LTLC Brownies: On the Wednesday evening before the 2nd Thursday monthly meal at LTLC, TCC bakers gather in the kitchen from 7-9pm to bake homemade brownies. All are welcome to bake or to supply ingredients for the brownies. Each month, we use 4 dozen large eggs, 6lbs. of unsalted butter, 10 lbs. of sugar, 5 lbs. of flour, 2 lbs of cocoa powder, 3 bags of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and 4 gallons of whole milk.

Church World Service School Kits: Every September, TCC church school children help their peers in need throughout the world by donating school supplies to complete School Kits for the Church World Services organization. We collect single subject (70 page) notebooks, pencils, 24 count boxes of crayons, large erasers, safety scissors, rulers, and hand-held pencil sharpeners. These supplies are then sorted and placed in handmade school bags. For more information on School Kits and the other “kits” that are created for CWS, visit their website at: www.churchworldservice.org/kits/index.html

Dorcas’ Kitchen: Dorcas is a woman of the Bible who is known for doing good and helping the poor. What better name to select for our TCC ministry of nourishment and support. Three to four times a year, a talented team of church women gather in the TCC kitchen to prepare meals which are then frozen and on hand for a TCC member in need. The meals may be offered to a person who is recovering from an illness or hospital stay, an individual or family who is celebrating the birth of a child or the death of a loved one, or simply someone who is in need of some TCC TLC. Dorcas would certainly be proud of this ministry of care and compassion within our Congregation.

Toiletry Kit Collection: On a visit to a homeless shelter one day, a TCC member asked how our Congregation might help in a meaningful way. The social worker explained that toiletries were simply too expensive for their clients to purchase and that collecting and donating travel sized toiletries would mean the world of difference to the dignity of a homeless person. Soon after, TCC began to collect shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, dental care products, and make-up, and we’ve distributed thousands of these items to local homeless shelters, veteran’s organizations, domestic violence safe houses and AIDS outreach centers.

Outerwear Drive for The Wish Project: The Wish Project of Lowell collects many gently used items for distribution through hundreds of local partnering human service organizations. In October, TCC collects coats and jackets, mittens and hats, and boots for this fine organization. For more information, visit their website at: lowellwishproject.org

Halloween Candy Collection: For many years, TCC trick-or-treaters have offered their extra Halloween candy on the first two Sundays in November. The candy is then sorted and packaged and distributed to the clients of the Lowell Transitional Living Center during our December meal service dates.

Potato Collection for the Tewksbury Community Pantry: The Food Pantry has a long tradition of supplying Thanksgiving baskets for 100-150 Tewksbury families in need each year. TCC gladly provides the 5lb. bags of potatoes which are included in each basket. Potatoes are collected two Sundays before Thanksgiving, because the Thanksgiving Baskets are distributed on the Sunday before Thanksgiving at the Food Pantry. For more information about the Pantry, visit their website at: www.tewksbury.info/dcd/Community%20Pantry/Pantry/pantry_homepage.htm

Giving Tree Holiday Program: Holiday shopping starts in mid-November for TCC members who sponsor an individual or family in need for the holidays. Working with a local social services organization, the Missions Committee creates individual and family profiles which include gift suggestions. So that the gifts can be delivered in time for the holidays, unwrapped gifts are due on Sunday, December 7th.

Veterans of the Cross Collection: The United Church of Christ encourages its Congregations to dedicate the worship offering for the Christmas Eve services to the Veterans of the Cross, through the Board for Ministerial Assistance. This organization provides financial support to retired pastors in need and has been offering assistance to low-income clergy and their families for over 100 years.

Baby Blanket Project: During the months of January and February, TCC asks those who can knit or crochet to consider making a baby blanket for the February Baby Kit collection. Our goal is to provide a homemade blanket in every kit that we create for The Wish Project of Lowell for their Radiant Baby Newborn Birthday Kit program.

Baby Kits for The Wish Project: The Wish Project of Lowell distributes more than 50 Radiant Baby kits each month to low-income mothers served by a partnering human service organization. TCC collects items for the baskets during the month of February and assembles and delivers the baskets in March. Baskets should include the following: package of newborn diapers and wipes, a baby blanket, onesies, diaper cream, shampoo, bottles, and a small toy or rattle. For more information on the Radiant Baby program, visit their website at: www.lowellwishproject.org/babykits.html

Tool and Blanket Sunday: A special collection is taken on Tool and Blanket Sunday in February in order to purchase heavy wool blankets through the Church World Service organization for a mere $5 each. Although mostly used for bedding, these multi-functional blankets have formed the walls of a shelter and have been fashioned to carry heavy loads. TCC members are welcome to purchase one or more blankets by using special offering envelopes on Tool and Blanket Sunday, or they can designate their gift at any time (through the worship offering or by mail) throughout the month of February. www.churchworldservice.org/tools-blankets/index.html

Mexico Mission Trip: Since 2005, Tewksbury Congregational Church has sent four teams of members/missionaries to Mexico for week-long Mission Trips. The next trip is scheduled for October 2010 and will include 25 TCC members.

Heifer Program: For more than 35 years, TCC has purchased animals through Heifer International. Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. To that end, they provide animals that can provide either nourishment or an income source for a poor family. TCC selects a theme animal each year and raises funds through coin banks distributed to the Sunday School children, through the sale of Mother’s Day greeting cards, and through a special offering during worship. To learn more about Heifer, visit their website at: www.heifer.org/

Postal Carrier Food Drive: On the second Saturday in May, local members of the National Association of Letter Carriers volunteer their services to Stamp Out Hunger in Tewksbury. While driving their mail routes, they pick up non-perishable food donations and deliver them to the Food Pantry. This is the largest food drive for the Pantry during the entire year. TCC offers volunteers to help check expiration dates, sort, and stack food donations. For more information, visit the national website at: www.nalc.org/commun/foodrive/

Hike for Hope: Lazarus House is a gospel-based ministry providing services within the Greater Lawrence Community. In addition to a shelter, they have a food pantry, an AIDS residence, and they raise funds through three thrift stores that accept donations from surrounding communities. In October, they host the Hike for Hope, a five mile pledge walk benefiting their capital campaign. TCC organizes a team of walkers for this family friendly event which starts and ends on the Merrimack College campus in Andover. www.lazarushouse.org/HikeForHope/default.asp

Project Bread Walk for Hunger: As the state’s leading anti-hunger organization, Project Bread is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts. Through The Walk for Hunger, the oldest continual pledge walk in the country, Project Bread provides millions of dollars each year in privately donated funds to more than 400 emergency food programs in 126 communities statewide. TCC organizes a team of walkers for this 20 mile walk which begins and ends on The Boston Common. www.projectbread.org

Hike for Humanity: The Greater Lowell chapter of Habitat for Humanity is doing wonderful work in the Merrimack Valley. One of their annual fundraising events is the Hike for Humanity pledge walk which is scheduled for both the Saturday and Sunday (your choice!) of a weekend in May or June. In addition to choosing the day, you can also chose your hike; either a 3 mile trail up Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH or a 3 mile trail through the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, MA. www.habitat.org