The Buzz on the Streets

KUMC Mission Trip to San Francisco Aug 2010

Early on August 16ththe women of the Kent United Methodist Church were up putting the last supplies into their suitcases for the intense week of Mission work in San Francisco. They were scheduled to help Monday and Tuesday evening with the dinner feeding at Glide Memorial Methodist Church in the tenderloin District of San Francisco where everyday they feed people in need of a good meal with no questions asked—they just feed them. Glide Memorial faced a major change in its direction of the church when Cecil Williams entered in the 60′s to lead this church into social outreach and justice. Quite recently, Will Smith starred in a movie which was based on a true story filmed at Glide Memorial. After 4 intense hours of working the assembly line and wiping tables, picking up trays, filling coffee, and interacting with the patrons at this feeding kitchen each night these seven women knew that they had put their Faith into action by providing a meal to over 1,000 people in need that night. Overwhelming when you think about it. One might think just participating in this act of kindness would be enough but not for this dynamic group. They were out to also accomplish much more.

Gum Moon Community Center is also sponsored by the United Methodist Women. It is a Community Center that helps Asian Chinese immigrants in many capacities and women facing serious problems in society. Some are victims of domestic violence, many rescued from serious bad situations and now have transitional housing where they will find help getting English skills, job skills, budgeting, counseling, and life skills. It is truly a place for them to find a new life and opportunities for success. They also house pre-school children and teach them and many other after school programs for youths.  So Tuesday morning before doing the feeding at Glide this same group of women were up again early and split the group in half. Half worked with the children sharing with them how to bake cookies, reading to them, and just playing and interacting.

 Norma King and Lora Lee Brown cooking with the children

Leslie Hamada reading to children

The other half taught the women housed there and others that came in how to make unique clever purses with fabric for themselves or to sell for profit and also how to make beautiful jewelry with beads. They produced earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Quality items they could also sell and make a home business venture successful.

Mercedes Hanlon working with purses

Jenni Yeoh teaching beads

Linda Roser and Joan Roberts helping ladies

The last part of the week was directed toward helping withGum Moon’s big Fund Raiser 10 course Dinner on Friday night. The women made 36 dried lavender center pieces for tables, eight fresh flower arrangements with small EifeelTowers lit with battery operated candles for the sponsor tables that contributed 10 thousand a table. Four large fresh flower sprays for special guests and 40 fresh flower corsages. The final contribution was appetizers and deserts for 500. Their contributions and talents helped make this Fund Raiser a huge success.

It is said: “the hand the rocks the cradle rules the world.” Whether true or not this dynamic group accomplished great things for the City of San Francisco in one short week and will continue in all their individual projects to make SKC a more beautiful, kind, and giving place. Watch out for the Power of a few Good Women.