Approved Proposal on Returning to Worship in the Meetinghouse
With concern for the well-being of the community, Meeting requests that all who can be vaccinated do so. (See minutes of 7th month meeting for business at the end of this newsletter.) The following schedule of worship begins immediately as an interim approach.
1. Worship on Sundays, weekly at 9:30 am via Zoom
2. Worship on Sundays, weekly at 11:00 am in-person at the Meetinghouse. Masks are expected for all who are able to wear them. Appropriate distancing – based on vaccination status and age - is expected.
3. Worship on Sundays (1st and 4th weeks), outdoors at The Clearing at 11 am. 4. Worship sharing on Wednesdays, weekly at 7 pm via Zoom.
M&W anticipates modifications based on availability of blended meeting technology, upgrades to the ventilation system, COVID prevalence, and our community experience of worship.
The link for the 9:30 worship on Zoom will be distributed on the newslist.
As you may know, the national effort is called "National Immigrant Transit Assistance" (NITA) and the local Richmond volunteers that meet asylum seekers at the Greyhound terminal are called "Richmond Immigrant Transit Assistance (RITA).Â
Richmond is one of the most important hubs as travelers come through from the border either from the west from Dallas or from a southern route through Atlanta and Raleigh. Many asylum seekers coming through Richmond are headed north to northern states such as Maryland and New York or a few even go to the Tidewater area of Virginia. Of course, some asylum seekers have Richmond as their final destination. Â
RITA in Richmond is in great need of volunteers to meet asylum seekers traveling through or to Richmond.  I asked one of the lead volunteers in RITA,  Kathy Hsu Wibberly, how interested, safe people could volunteer to meet the asylum seekers on buses in Richmond.  Kathy Hsu Wibberly said that persons interested in volunteering with RITA at the Richmond Greyhound Station could do the following to sign up to learn more:1). Download the Signal App to your cell phone and text Kathy Hsu Wibberly directly at: 434.906.4960,OR2). Email:  showupforrita@gmail.comÂ
Although it is extremely helpful to know Spanish, it is not a requirement. They do so much to help the asylum seekers including providing safety, helping to get them to the correct connecting bus ontime, and providing food.  So there is a great deal of teamwork that goes into this effort.Â
Quaker House of Fayetteville (QuakerHouse.org) is in a good position, spiritually and fiscally, to consider expanding programs, which is provident, because the needs of military personnel and their families continues to
grow.
We need a bit of help. Our Executive Director has served for over 5 years, and her work has grown and evolved as needed. It's time to review and update the Job Description. Having an updated description of the work in place will guide us in hiring appropriate additional staff. To that end, a
small ad hoc committee will include an experienced Board Member, and ex officio, the current Executive Director, Kindra Bailey.
As are the Boards of many nonprofits, we are stretched thin, so we are reaching out to our Meeting Community to ask for help. This could certainly be any willing person who is led, but if you have experience in Human Resources, it would put to good use. If you have interest in knowing more, please reach out to me at (804) 617- 6312 or Clerk@QuakerHouse.org.
Circles RVA inspires and equips individuals to permanently move out of poverty and thrive. We create intentional relationships that expand support communities and engage the wider community to reduce or eliminate the systemic barriers that hinder people from rising out of poverty.
We are starting a new cohort of allies to be matched with the new cohort of leaders that at starting in September. These allies will be matched with a leader to be a friend, coach, cheerleader, mentor as the leader goes on their journey out of poverty.
Meetings are on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 pm when in person. The commitment is for 18 months. Training is for 8 sessions a few weeks after the leaders start their training. You are asked to attend at least 2 meetings per month and to spend 4-6 hrs per month outside of the Tuesday meetings.
Check https://circlesrva.org/ for more information and how to volunteer.
The food pantry at Sacred Heart Center is in dire need of donations. They have served 200-800 families every week. In addition to receiving food from FeedMore, they purchase food every week with their own funds. How to make a food donation 1. Bring a bag or money donation Mondays 11am-3pm or Fridays 9-11 am to 1400 Perry Street. Enter through the parking lot, by the white tent. OR 2. Janet Worsham will be delivering food to them once a month so you can just bring your donations to her at 1435 Westbrook Ave. Call her at 513-4442 to make drop-off arrangements Items from the following list would be most helpful in your donations
Corn flour Tortillas Dried or canned beans Rice Canned vegetables Canned fruit Tuna Sugar Cooking oils
Peanut butter Crackers Snacks for small children Powdered milk Tea & coffee Cereal Baby formula – especially SIMILAC blue or orange Diapers: small and large (size 4-6) Feminine hygiene products