Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
We are always collecting food for our local food pantry. Leave your donations in the wooden chest at the top of the stairs of the white shed entrance off the parking lot on the left side of the church. For Easter, we have been asked to contribute 50 small hams in early April. The food pantry is located at the United Methodist Church of Dalton, 755 Main Street, Dalton, where food is distributed to community members. Our members recently contributed 60 turkeys along with 730 pounds of food for provide Thanksgiving meals to our neighbors.
Open Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Green Gargoyle
A Thrift Shop offering household Items, Women’s, Men’s and Children’s Clothing, Seasonal Items & Household Decor, Glassware, Jewelry, Handbags, Quilts, Shoes, and many more items. We have a Book Store, too! Come check us out! For news on upcoming sales & special events, Visit our Facebook page.
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
If you have items in nearly new condition which you would like to donate, please contact the church office. Books in good condition may be donated anytime the shop is open. Our successful shop is always in need of donations to replenish our shelves.
Knitting Kneelers
Knitting Kneelers is a Prayer Shawl Ministry of our Congregation. Every Third Wednesday this group gathers for fellowship and to knit/crochet prayer shawls for those in need. Several times a year the shawls are shared and blessed during a worship service before being distributed.
Looking Good? Feeling Good!
We are supporting Wahconah Regional High School’s Community Closet to collect personal hygiene items for high school students. Items especially needed are feminine products, deodorant, soap/body wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair brush and ChapStick, as well as gender-neutral larger sized clothing such as t-shirts, pants and sweatshirts. Donation baskets will be placed in the Narthex and Parish Hall for this on-going project.
The Missions Board has concluded our annual School Supplies Collection which was distributed through the Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry at the Methodist Church. Thanks to your generous donations, we donated 14 shopping bags and 2 totes full of supplies for area school children.
The following items were collected: 1.5 inch Binders, Composition Books, 3 – 4 One Subject Notebooks, Plastic folders & 3 – 4 Pocket Folders, Pencil box or bag, Pencils to last the year (Ticonderoga brand preferred), Colored pencils, Colored markers, Crayons, Expo dry-erase markers, Blue or Black Pens, Glue sticks, Highlighters, Boxes of Tissues, Ear Buds, New Backpacks (large enough for outerwear)
Church World Service does amazing work around the world, helping people build their communities and sustain their families. If you would like to buy tools in honor of, or in memory of, your father or anyone else close to you, you may send a check payable to First Congregational Church of Dalton, drop it off at the office, or place it in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. Please make sure to write “CWS Tools” in the memo of your check. Please indicate donor name, name of person being honored, and whether the donation is in honor of, or in memory of, that person. We will bless the tools and put the names in the bulletin on Father’s Day.
Monthly Mission for May
In honor of Mother’s Day, the Mission Board is collecting donations for blankets for Church World Service. You may purchase a blanket in honor or memory of your Mother, a loved one or a friend, for $10. If you would like your donation to be listed in the Mother’s Day bulletin on May 11, please get the information to church by noon on May 7. Please indicate donor name, name of person being honored, and whether the donation is in honor of, or in memory of, that person. You may send cash or a check payable to First Congregational Church of Dalton (note Missions – Mother’s Day Blankets on envelope and CWS in memo on check) , drop it off at the office, or place in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. In 2024, Church World Service provided over 27,275 blankets to refugees and victims of natural disasters and other events across the world. Church World Service shares some inspiring stories about the value of these blankets.
Mission Giving Summary for 2025
| Mission | Value |
|---|---|
| Loaves & Fishes Pantry | $ 3,822 |
| Loaves & Fishes Pantry – Matching Donation | $ 2,000 |
| Loaves & Fishes Pantry | 1,600 pounds |
| Loaves & Fishes – Easter Hams | 30 Hams |
| Loaves & Fishes – Thanksgiving Turkeys | 60 Turkeys |
| Hinsdale Food Pantry | $ 1,850 |
| Mother’s Day Blankets | $ 916 |
| Tools for Hope | $ 1,111 |
| Berkshire Interfaith | $ 335 |
| CRA & Christian Camperships | $ 2,434 |
| School Kids Area Children | $ 700 |
| Cathedral of Beloved Meals | $ 316 |
| Gift Cards for Unhoused | $ 700 |
| Neighbors In Need | $ 830 |
| Western Mass Labor Action | $ 800 |
| Christmas Gifts – 50 area children | $ 5,000 |
| Knitten Tree | $ 400 |
| Fuel Fund December | $ 789 |
| Veterans of the Cross (Retired Clergy) | $ 789 |
| Total | $ 22,792 |
Each year, our church members sponsors 50 needy children by purchasing Christmas gifts which are distributed through local social agencies. Most of our “Angel” cards have already been selected by members. If you are interested in supporting children by being a Christmas “Angel,” you will find other opportunities at local stores such as WalMart or as announced in the Berkshire Eagle.
Youth Mission Trips
Our church has sponsored Youth Mission trips open to area high school youth (entering 9th grade and up) who travel to a community in need and spend a week sharing God’s love through work and recovery projects and youth activities. This is a life-changing event for all. A potential trip to Detroit was planned for summer 2023, but has been cancelled due to lack of participants. Next spring, we will begin planning a trip for summer of 2024. Details will be posted to the Youth Group Facebook page where you can see pictures from past trips.
Join Our Community
We welcome all those who wish to walk and work with us in God’s journey. If you have questions or are interested in learning more about our community, please submit a message and someone will reply.