Outreach Opportunities
TBA Outreach Ministries
Tomah Baptist Academy participates in several fundraisers and projects that benefit outside ministries and/or community service organizations. Please consider supporting these ministries and organizations by participating in the programs listed below.
See Current Fundraisers for information about additional fundraisers that benefit Tomah Baptist Academy.
This community-wide recycling program helps pays the Ronald McDonald House's utility bills and upkeep. We are going to continue to collect tabs throughout this next year, so start or keep saving your pop tabs and bring them to the collection area located in the school's office.
Operation Cover The Child
A soldier in Afghanistan has informed us about the children (ages 2-12) who are the forgotten ones - fending for themselves for food, clothing, etc. He has a goal of covering these children with one set of clothes per child before the winter sets in. While they do not have the horrendous winters some areas do (so no need for snow boots and heavy parkas) they DO get snow, and these children are barefoot and bare backed. There are some definite needs: shirt, pants, jacket or sweater, shoes - leather or cloth are best - but NO "light-ups" please as their religious beliefs consider that to be "evil". While they did not specifically request it, I imagine socks and underwear are also "necessities". Clothing should be "generic" (without wording or pictures that could be deemed "offensive" or religious).
Tomah Baptist Academy, is setting up to collect clothing for these children and ship them overseas - but as a small school, we do not have as many resources to draw from that this project could use, and can use assistance to help meet those needs. You can do the same thing that they are doing - gather items and ship directly to the people in Afghanistan. Information is listed below on how you can help.
On Monday and Tuesday ONLY, Nov 16 and 17, between the hours of 8am and 3pm, new and "gently used" clothing and shoes can be dropped off at the school. Because shipment is going to a Muslim country, certain items with religious overtones or shoes that light up cannot be sent. They also need donations to cover the cost of shipping the clothes to Afghanistan. Items of clothing that cannot be accepted for shipment will be donated to local charities.
If you would rather donate financially towards postage costs, the school will be setting up an account for that purpose and I can forward your e-mail to them as soon as that is done.
One person CAN make a difference - even if you send enough to clothe only ONE child, that is one less innocent one shivering in the cold this winter. If you do help, please send us an e-mail to let us know.
Sgt. Charles Lovelace is with a hospital unit stationed in Afghanistan. Lovelace is a friend of one of our church members, a fine Christian family man, and operates a martial arts school for children in his home town. Below is intended for anyone who may want to support Chuck's efforts for the kids where he's stationed. His very modest goal amounts to one child clothed each day for a year. I think we can do much better for him - and for them!
We decided to attempt a major donation effort here in our area, with a centralized collection and shipping center. This will take a bit of time to organize. Meanwhile, I'm recommending to my friends and associates that they participate in a more widespread individual effort to put clothes on "Chuck's kids."
If you'd like to help, Sgt Lovelace's mailing address and other contact information are below. Please keep in mind the following:
1. We are clothing on essentially unclothed kids in a foreign culture that is mainly Islamic. These kids' parents are Muslims who really don't like non-Muslims, who are told it's their duty to kill non-Muslims, and who have shown an aggressive willingness to do so. In helping the kids with clothes, we must avoid sending anything with religious symbols or religious significance, including images of angels, fairies, etc., and probably most kinds of animals. ABSOLUTELY NO CHRISTIAN MARKINGS! Any electronic gadgets or lights attached to clothing, i.e. flashing shoes, are a NO-GO, as are any sort of stuffed animals! Sending such items would be a waste of time, as Lovelace and his people would have to destroy them.
2. The kids are mostly ignored by their families and communities, and come to Lovelace's clinic in critical health condition and dressed in rags. The Army is meeting their medical needs. Lovelace wants to clothe them. We don't know what specific sizes are needed, but the kids range in age from 2 to 12. We can assume they may be somewhat smaller than their age peers in the U.S., so clothing suitable for kids age 1 thru 12 is appropriate. Lovelace says blankets, especially baby blankets, and "premie hats" would also be welcome. "Gently used" clothing was requested - I'm sure NEW clothes would not be rejected! A sized set of clothing for a child should include:
- underwear & sox.
- shoes - canvas or leather works best in the Afghan environment. Sandals are OK.
- T-shirt, plain or colored.
- slacks, jeans, etc.
- jacket or coat - light to medium. Winters there are not severely cold.
- Optional - a blanket appropriate for the age/size would likely be welcome.
3. I'm asking each person getting a copy of this message to do the following:
- Send ONE set of clothing to Sgt Lovelace - see below for mailing address.
- Ask TWO of your local friends or relatives to do likewise.
- Send a copy of this recruitment message to as many OUT OF YOUR AREA folks as you like - AT LEAST TWO - and ask them to do likewise.
4. If you set up a local project to coordinate this effort, please let me know so we can share information - especially any press coverage that results.
Thanks for anything you can do to support Operation Cover The Children!
Sergeant Charles J Lovelace Sr.
J-4 NCO Task Force Med-E
Contact info in Afghanistan:
SGT Charles Lovelace
TF MED-E 452nd CSH
ATTN: J4 Logistics
Bagram Air Base Afghanistan
APO, AE 09354
E-mail: charlesj.lovelace@gmail.com
