Winter Survival Campaign
Western Mass Labor Action is seeking donations of gently used coats and blankets (no holes, stains, missing buttons, etc.) and working space heaters. Please place your donations in a plastic trash bag labeled “Winter Survival Campaign.” on their “Winter Survival Campaign.” Bring to the church on Sunday morning or drop off during church office hours, Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be collecting items until Sunday, October 13th. All items donated will be distributed in Pittsfield and surrounding communities. Any questions please contact Beth O’Connor at 413-347-2370.
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
Donations of these items will help ensure a happy Thanksgiving for local families. Please drop off at church – deadline is Sunday, November 17th at 11 a.m.
Turkeys – (10 – 15 lbs) – Boxed Stuffing – Potatoes – Canned Corn or Green Beans – Gravy – Cranberry Sauce
We are always collecting food for our local food pantry. Leave your donations in the red wagon at the top of the stairs of the white shed entrance off the parking lot. The food pantry is located at the United Methodist Church of Dalton, 755 Main Street, Dalton.
Open Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Green Gargoyle
A Thrift Shop offering household Items, Women’s and Men’s Clothing, Children’s and Baby Clothes, Seasonal Items & Household Decor, Glassware, Jewelry, Handbags, Quilts, Shoes, and many more items. We have a Book Store, too! Come check us out!
Visit our Facebook page for news on upcoming sales and special events at the GG!
Hours of Operation
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.
Mission for May – Mother’s Day Blankets
In honor of Mother’s Day, the Mission Board will be collecting donations for blankets for Church World Service. In 2023, Church World Service provided over 32,785 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. 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 10, 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 FCC of Dalton (note Missions – Mother’s Day Blankets on envelope and CWS in memo on check) to the church, drop it off at the office, or place in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. You may also e-mail or call Beth O’Connor cgoconnor77@aol.com or 413-347-2370.
Tools of Hope for Father’s Day
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 Sundays. 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 if donations are received before June 14th.
Love to Garden but don’t have the Space?
Our community garden on the right-hand side of our building has small plots available for your personal vegetable garden. Plots are available for no charge – you just need to invest your time, energy, and seeds or seedlings to have your own garden. The area is fenced to prevent animals from helping themselves! If you are interested, please contact Liz Lock at 413 464-1638.
Mission Giving Summary for 2023
| Mission | Value |
|---|---|
| Loaves & Fishes Pantry | $ 316 |
| Loaves & Fishes Pantry | 2780 pounds |
| Loads of Love Laundry | $ 230 |
| Hilltown Food Pantries | $ 188 |
| Mother’s Day Blankets | $ 760 |
| Tools for Hope | $ 898 |
| Berkshire Dream Center | $ 767 |
| Syria Earthquake | $ 343 |
| Knitten Tree | $ 200 |
| DSS Angel Tree Gifts | $ 5000 |
| Christmas Eve Donations | $ 1338 |
| Total | $ 10,540 |
Thank you for being an Angel
Each year we sponsor needy children by providing them with new clothing and entertainment items at Christmas time. This year, our community sponsored 50 area children whose Christmas might have been bleak indeed. Thanks to your generosity those children now have much-needed new footwear and clothing, and new toys, books and games for entertainment. Our “Angel Cards” for 2024 will be available for pick-up around Thanksgiving.
Share the Warmth on our Knitten Tree!
It’s that time of year again when we pull out the hats, gloves, mittens and warm socks from our closets. These small but essential items help us stay warm and cozy throughout our Berkshire winters. In the spirit of giving, our annual Knitten Tree will accept your contributions of new gloves, mittens, hats, scarves and socks to help our neighbors, whether adults or children, stay warm this year. You may bring items to church on Sundays or leave at the church office through December 17th. Thank you for supporting this mission to warm heads, hands, feet and hearts!
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.