Upcoming Giving Opportunities

To Put More Ovens in Haitian Hands 

As demand for solar ovens continues to grow in Haiti, we are very excited to announce two upcoming unique and wonderful opportunities to give from your heart in financial support to Haiti Solar Oven Partners (HSOP).

First, HSOP is blessed to be one of two recipients of the Bishop's Thanksgiving Appeal through special Thanksgiving offerings taken at Dakotas Conference churches this November.

Second, on one day only, Tuesday, December 3, supporters can double their contributions to HSOP by participating in UMC #Giving Tuesday. On that day, contributions made to any project online and by credit card through The Advance, will be matched. One hundred percent of the gifts given through The Advance go to the ministry of your choice.   

UMC #Giving Tuesday doubles your gift  

In announcing the UMC #Giving Tuesday, the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church will allocate the "matching funds" dollar for dollar up to the first $500,000 in gifts to Advance projects received online on December 3, 2013, beginning at 12 midnight EST. To donate to HSOP you can go to www.umcmission.org/give, type in Haiti Solar Oven Project or Advance #418812.

The online gift site will allow donors to designate credit be given to their local church and also if they want to designate the gift in memory or honor of someone.

HSOP Director Rick Jost urges those wishing to take advantage of the matching funds to go online early, recommending they consider donating right after midnight Eastern Standard Time--which would be one hour earlier for those in Central Standard Time and two hours earlier for those in Mountain Time.

"This is a wonderful opportunity," said Jost. "We're hearing a lot of buzz about Giving Tuesday, and so we urge people to contribute early and before the online donations for all Advance projects reaches the $500,000 limit."  

Read more about the UMC #Giving Tuesday. 

Bishop Ough

Bishop's Thanksgiving Appeal

In a statement announcing HSOP as one of

the recipients of the Bishop's Thanksgiving Offering, Bishop Bruce R. Ough  

explains that one-half of the 2013 Bishop's Thanksgiving Offering will go to buy materials to be fabricated by volunteers in HSOP's Volga, SD, and Moffit, ND, workshops and to pay for shipping of oven components to Haiti.  

The remaining half will be directed to a Blizzard Emergency Relief Fund to aid those impacted by the Atlas Blizzard that hit western South Dakota in October.

The Bishop invites individuals and congregations to join the Conference in meeting the Haiti Solar Oven Partners' goal to double training and distribution from about 1,000 ovens per year up to 2,000.  

"This offering extends God's hands in Haiti, bringing a sustainable, practical way for families to cook, bake and pasteurize water--all without the charcoal industry that has devastated Haiti's environment," said Bishop Ough. "Thank you for your generous offering in Christ's name."   

Bulletin insert resources for the Bishop's Thanksgiving Appeal are available.