Outreach

HUNGER and POVERTY AWARENESS...and ACTIONS

Trinity has a major commitment to addressing hunger and poverty in our neighborhood, community and around the world. Some of our efforts include:

CROP Walk

Trinity participates in the annual Heart of America CROP WALK on the second Sunday of October. One of the programs of Church World Service, 25% of the funds raised remain in Kansas City, and the remainder is used nationally and around the world. Visit the website by clicking on the panel to find out more. If you are interested in walking with Trinity's team, contact Alicia at info@trinitykc.org

Gilmore's Monday Meal

This decades-old ministry began under the leadership of Beverly and Earl Gilmore after their retirement. Volunteers serve lunch every Monday to our friends and neighbors. They begin between 10:30 and 11:00 in the morning and serve a hot meal from noon to 1PM. New volunteers are always welcome; lend a hand whenever you can.

THE LORD'S TABLE

Every Saturday at noon a hot meal is offered to anyone in need. The banner notifies neighbors and homeless and all are welcome at the table. In partnership with Westport Neighborhood Cooperative, Trinity members assist every Saturday and organize the entire meal on the fourth Saturday of each month. This ministry enables all of our members to "put feet to their faith" and build relationships with people who don't necessarily worship with us on Sunday morning.

BACK TO SCHOOL is a great time to get involved. We gather backpacks with items to help beginning students throughout the neighborhood start a school year with all the supplies they need for a successful experience.

Church World Service Kits are donated through the annual Festival of Sharing In-gathering in Sedalia, Missouri the third Saturday in October each year. Different groups gather items for 2-3 different kinds of kits to share statewide. In addition, special collections are made in response to crisis such as Hurricane Katrina and tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis wherever they happen.

VOLUNTEER IN MISSION TEAMS

VIM Teams are groups that reach beyond our borders doing vital mission work. Besides past teams to Mexico,

in 2006 and 2007, we have teams and individuals who travel to:

SOUTH AFRICA -- a VIM Work Teams was led by our former pastor, Rev. Diane Nunnelee, who is the Missouri Volunteer-in Mission Liaison to South Africa. The 2006 team included several members of Trinity who worked side-by-side with members of the St. James Methodist Church in Belhar, South Africa (outside of Cape Town).Efforts included beginning the walls of their sanctuary, feeding programs in nearby shack communities, known as informal housing, and a children's craft program.

MULUKUKU, NICA (Nicaragua) is under the leadership of Dr. Greg Houston with students from the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Denistry, as well as members of Trinity. Begun in 1995 when Rev. David Belt was pastor, these trips are led annually by Dr. Houston as an on-site learning experience for the students, and an exposure to health and living conditions in this developing nation. This team goes to the Maria Louisa Ortiz Women's Cooperative Health Clinic in Mulukuku, Nicaragua.

For more information about upcoming teams, contact info@trinitykc.org

PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY

SENIOR COMPANIONS

“If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or attempts to understand a lonely person, extraordinary things begin to happen.” —Loretta Girzartis

The Senior Companion program meets at Trinity every second Tuesday from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm. This program trains people of lower income to serve as home care companions to other homebound low-income seniors. It is funded by the federal government and provides a small stipend for those who need more income in their retirement. It's one of those "win-win" situations that come along ever-so-often for the elderly.

Senior Companions' purpose is "helping adults remain independent" by touching the lives of adults who need extra assistance to live independently in their own homes or communities. They serve frail older adults, adults with disabilities, those with terminal illnesses, and offer respite for caregivers. They assist their adult clients in basic but essential ways:

Offering companionship and friendship to isolated and frail adults;
Assisting with simple chores;
Providing transportation; and
Adding richness to their clients' lives.

Who can be a Senior Companion? Senior Companions are individuals age 60 or over who want to help adults with special need remain independent and living in their own home.

Eligibility: To participate in the Senior Companions program, volunteers must be 60 or over and be able to serve between 15 and 40 hours a week.

Benefits: Senior Companions make connections with other adults and know they are making significant contributions to their lives. In addition, they receive the following:

Pre-service and monthly training sessions
Reimbursement for transportation;
Some meals during service;
An annual physical;
Accident and liability insurance while on duty; and
Income-eligible Senior Companions also receive a modest, tax-free stipend to offset the cost of volunteering.

Contact Alicia at info@trinitykc.org or visit their website at http://www.seniorcorps.gov/about/programs/sc.asp OR www.seniorcorps.gov/about/prgrams/fg.asp for more information about either program.

Western Missouri Coalition for Abolishing the Death Penalty http://home.kc.rr.com/wmcadp

The offices of the Western Missouri Coalition for Abolishing the Death Penalty are located at Trinity. They can be contacted at wmcadp@sbcglobal.net.

MISSION AND GOALS

We recognize and deplore the increase of violent crime in our society. We believe citizens should be protected and that persons convicted of crimes should be justly penalized by impartial jury and law. However, we are deeply concerned by the steady drift of our nation and states toward approval and use of the death penalty as one of the solutions to the problem. We find the death penalty ineffective and unacceptable as a means to maintain the social order because:

It is incompatible with the ethic of a humane society.
It is retributive in nature. Revenge is not a good reason to take a human life.
It is inequitably applied.
- A disproportionate number of poor are sentenced to execution.
- A disproportionate number of persons whose victims are white are sentenced to execution.
It is irreversible. It removes the possibility of restitution, reconciliation and rehabilitation.
According to sociological studies, it is of doubtful value as a deterrent.
It cheapens the value of life and reinforces violence as a solution to problems.

Therefore, Our MISSION is:

     to affirm the value of human life;
     to abolish the death penalty;
     to replace the death penalty with humane alternatives.

Our GOALS are:

to work for the abolition of the death penalty in State, Nation and military jurisdictions;
to work to prevent those on death row from suffering the death penalty;
to be a supportive and reconciling community with inmates, families and friends of those on death row and with victims' families;
to use a variety of channels of communication to inform ourselves and the community on death penalty issues.