Christmount Announces New Outreach Emphasis

Beginning in January, 2009, all Disciples groups and individuals using Christmount for a church event or attending a Christmount-sponsored event will be encouraged to bring with them medical supplies for kits that will be shipped around the world. Working through Week of Compassion, groups will bring these products for assembling by youth groups and others who want to make this activity part of their retreat.

Groups may decide to bring cans of food for donation to a local ecumenical crisis ministry, Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, located in Black Mountain. Others may want to do both medical supplies and food. Information on the kits can be found at the bottom of this page.

Medical supplies are in heavy demand in certain areas of the world. Week of Compassion, through its relationship with IMA, sends medical kits to places in which health care is most needed.

IMA World Health helps provide essential health care services and supplies to people in need in developing countries. This is done through direct provision to hospitals, clinics, programs, and other health care providers, and by strengthening health systems through training, education, and oversight. Faith-based organizations are key to this work.

IMA has received top ratings from independent watchdog agencies such as Charity Navigator.

Working with their partners, IMA seeks to:

• rebuild and strengthen health care systems in developing countries;
• support training and education for local health care providers;
• treat, prevent, and control widespread diseases that have been virtually eliminated in every developed nation; and
• procure and distribute medicine and supplies to people in need.

Here are the items which make up one IMA medical kit (quantities listed are minimum: you may bring more or less and we can combine the contributions of others to complete the kits):

Acetaminophen, 325 mg or 500 mg (example, Tylenol), 500 tablets or capsules

Ibuprofen, 200 mg (example, Advil, Motrin), 500 tablets

Multivitamins with iron (example, One-A-Day with Iron), 500 tablets

Children's Multivitamins with Iron (example, Flintstone's Chewables with Iron), 500 tablets

Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 1/2 oz. or 1 oz. tube (example, Neosporin), 6 tubes

4 in. x 4 in. gauze pads  (any brand), 50 pads

1/2 in. adhesive tape, 2 rolls

All of these can be generic or brand name.

You may decide to contribute food items to our local crisis ministry food pantry. Canned goods, peanut butter, jelly, are all good contributions.

Thanks for your participation in our effort to minister with you and other Disciples.

Contact Christmount’s Church Relations Director, Rev. Jamie Brame (jamiebrame@yahoo.com) Christmount’s Church Relations Director, with any questions.