Thanks for ringing!

The Salvation Army raised a record amount this year thanks to everyone who donated and helped ring bells!  ...some of those people are from AHG :)

Here is a link to this story.

Thank you to those who spent their time helping this organization.  Many AHG families gave up 30 minutes or more of their time to help this community.

THANK YOU!

January Service Opportunity!

Each month until the end of May we will be focusing on one specific service opportunity that our troop can participate in together.  Here are the details for our January service opportunity.

      January Service Opp.

What we need YOU to do:  bring any coins (or cash...checks...those work too) to AHG meetings in January for Feed My Starving Children.  We are trying to raise enough money to supply a box of food for a child.  Look for the containers to drop off your coins at the AHG meetings.

How much money are we trying to raise?  $80.  It is a big goal but this $80 will supply food for one child for an entire year.

Just imagine this...it costs .22 cents to produce one of the packs of food.  These packages are full of vitamins and nutrients that these kids need in order to survive.  This isn't just so they can have a snack here and there...this is so they can live another day.  If we raise $80 we would be saving a child so they could live an entire year.  As Americans this is something that we truly can't imagine since food is always available to us and is at every corner, restaurant and store we visit.

According to numbers given from 2011, 18,000 kids die each day from starvation.  Hunger is a huge problem in our world and is something that we can help with and something that can be fixed.

How can you help with this at home:

• Look as a family for extra coins in your house.  
• Ask neighbors for any extra coins they may have laying around...even what is in their pocket.  
• Talk to your teachers and see if your class can bring in coins one day.  
• Ask your Sunday School group to participate on a weekend and tell them all about Feed My Starving Children.  
• Look in your car, in your couch cushions or in the extra change jar.  
• Ask your relatives at Christmas if they have any coins they could donate.  
• Pray...read about Feed My Starving Children and what this organization is all about and pray for the kids that need this food and that the money collected will be helping.
• Make your own container at home...get a can or plastic container.  Take a piece of paper and decorate it.  Tape it to the outside of the container so you are reminded what those coins are for.  Show your AHG Leader and group your container during our January meetings as you drop off the coins you collected.
• Are you on Facebook?  Have a blog?  Link this site and share it with your friends so they know what you are doing and collecting coins for.  You may have a friend, relative or neighbor who will see it and want to give you their entire change jar!

When are we collecting?  The AHG meetings in January are January 7th and 21st.  Our Winter Ceremony is January 7th but we will have some special helpers holding containers where you can drop your coins off and they will be by the doors to the sanctuary.  On January 21st we will have special containers sitting on the stage where you can put your coins during the meeting.

Extra Info: 
Flyer about Feed My Starving Children
Want to give more than just coins?  View this flyer and print it off, fill it out and turn in with your donation so you can receive a receipt for your giving.
Website for Feed My Starving Children

Did you know we at AHG have a chance to pack these meals?
AHG also has the opportunity to volunteer with a mobile pack for Feed My Starving Children...one time as a group and additional times that are available for you to serve as a family or parent/child team.    This is coming to Rochester in January and dates/times are still available to sign up.  For more info on this opportunity please view this post on our AHG Service Website. 

2 ways to still help The Salvation Army before Christmas

A Special Request to those in the Rochester area from The Salvation Army...

The Salvation Army has sent out a note to those who have been helping with a humble but urgent request.  There is now less than 2 weeks before Christmas and soon the Christmas Toy & Joy Shop will be open for families in the Rochester area.  

How can you help?

1)  Purchase a new toy, clothing or other gift for the store.  You can drop these new items (unwrapped, please) at The Salvation Army Sharing Tree at Apache Mall or either Perkins locations, Sams's Club, both Walmart location or to the main office location at 20 First Avenue NE in Rochester.  We are grateful for anything you can provide!

2)  Volunteer 2 hours to help a family shop for gifts.  Thursday, December 20th from 8:30am - 7:30pm and Friday, December 21st from 8:30am to 4:30pm is when families will be coming to shop for their kids.  Help is needed to walk with the family member as they look for age- appropriate gifts and for the correct number of items for each child in the family.  Call 507-288-3663 and ask for Jenny to sign up for just 2 hours either day.

Feed My Starving Children

Hunger.  A day or more without a meal.  Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit group that packages meals for those that are hungry around the world.  

AHG has 2 ways that you can be involved!

1)  Want to go with a group?  Join us to pack at Feed My Starving Children: Click on the link and you will be directed to the site where you can sign up and volunteer with other AHG group members to help pack meals at Feed My Starving Children in Christ Community Church on Sat, January 26, 2013 from 11:30am - 1:30pm.  We have 35 more spots left with our group.  The name that you will be signing up with is The Williams Family.  (please review the age requirements for this volunteer opportunity)

2)  Want to sign up on your own or as a family?  Other dates and times are also available on Thursday, January 24th, Friday, January 25th and Saturday, January 26th.  You can find out more info about those times at www.cccrochester.org or by clicking on the link to volunteer for this event here.

Right now there are many spots still available but they go fast and are open to the public...so sign up today!

Wear your AHG uniform, don't wear jewelry and be ready to strut a very fashionable new hairstyle while you serve.  :)

Want to know more about what Feed My Starving Children is?
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and we ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. Click here to learn more about FMSC and how you can become involved.