Last night the Waterbury Laundromat was chock full. There was not a machine that 
wasn’t spinning or tumbling or churning. About half of those were guests invited there by our Laundry Love initiative. Deb Utton and I were pleased with how smooth it ran and are looking forward to inviting the rest of you to partake.
Right now, we are running this on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. They bring their laundry to the laundromat and load the appropriate machine. We take their name and make sure that if they are using the free detergent that they are not allergic to it. Then we put the detergent and the quarters in the machine and sit back while the machines do their thing. Some of the guests like to chat, others will leave. Bring a book in case. Eventually, we envision that 2 volunteers would be at the laundromat at 5pm and that one would leave at 6pm and the other remain until 7:00pm, the latest point at which the last load can go in.
We’re off and running!
Category: Mission
Laundry Love
Laundry Love began as a church group working with the homeless in California after a conversation with a homeless man revealed that if he had clean clothes people might treat him like a human. Big problem. Simple solution: offer to do his laundry.
This has become a movement. I heard about it from the Barre Congregational Church who offers laundry love services and finds the need as great as you might imagine. Shortly after I heard about it from Barre, I received a call for help from a woman in Duxbury who was desperate to get her laundry done, but with all of the other demands on her limited income, had been unable to do it. Now her children were being made fun of at school for smelling. Could we help.
We did. But that story led me to challenge you to join forces with Laundry Love.Org and try it out in Waterbury. Well, several of you offered money on the spot and Deb Utton volunteered to help get it from dream to reality. We are having success and are ready to make it happen!
We have received the support from the Waterbury Laundromat, who will be providing detergent to us free of charge. The Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund will be providing the quarters, and we are advertising around town.
All we need from you are 2 volunteers each session. Laundry sessions will be on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, from 5 pm – 7:30 pm through the summer. That will be our trial balloon period. We’ll reassess at the end of summer.
Here’s a link you can follow to go to the sign up for volunteering.
NB — Nothing about this work is difficult! We do not touch people’s laundry. Our only job is to welcome people who have a laundry voucher, put the money in the machines when they are ready, and tidy up a bit when we’re done. There will be written instructions and information available.
People Helping People by Walking on Good Friday
A member of our congregation, Cathy Shires, has been walking on Good Friday for the past 28 years, to raise money for organization called Sharing , Inc. She walks 20 miles and appreciates sponsors for the walk, as well as companions along the way. The walk was started by Kay Doherty 46 years ago after she read an article about the racism and poverty problems in the Mississippi delta area in the poorest counties in the country.
Cathy plans to start walking around 7 am (which is the start time for the Hingham, MA walk, where she used to walk).
The following link directs one to the online sponsor link. I’m also happy to take checks. They should be made out to: Sharing, Inc with “Good Friday Walk in the subject line.”
http://www.walkingongoodfriday.org/walk-on-good-friday-your-walk.html
Food Shelf — Dogs vs. Cats
Dogs are just simple happy creatures, taking pleasure in just about everything. Cats have 
to finesse everything and are critical about their conditions, their owners, dogs, etc — or so the stereotype goes.
Deb Utton, who is the food shelf coordinator volunteer, is having a contest to see who can bring in more food for the Food Shelf — dog lovers or cat lovers.
Have fun!
Woof, woof.
Meow!
Invitation from Bethany Church to El Salvador!
Are you interested in a meaningful global connection? It could begin with a trip to El Salvador!
Bethany UCC in Montpelier has had a relationship of friendship and solidarity with a community in El Salvador for nearly 26 years! We’re planning a week-long trip this summer and invite YOU to consider joining us. The first meeting of interested persons will be Saturday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. Here are answers to frequently asked initial questions about our trips:
- This is not a work trip. The time in our community is spent doing things friends do together: talking about our daily lives and what is important to us, singing and dancing, eating meals and taking walks, celebrating the successes in the scholarship and sewing projects we sponsor. We also take day trips from our guest house in San Salvador, for education, recreation, and inspiration.
- We will probably go sometime in August, when the country will be celebrating the late Archbishop Oscar Romero’s 100th birthday.
- The basic cost is $100/day plus airfare. This includes everything but tips and personal items.
- You don’t have to speak Spanish. We are never without translators.
- Regarding safety, we are in the very good hands of our savvy Salvadoran hosts 24 hours/day.
- Yes, it’s hot.
Our trips have always been fantastic! Please consider joining us this time. Contact Theresa Lever if you have any questions about the meeting or the trip. thelevers@comcast.net; 802-229-0415