home

Once again, the residents of Piedmont and members of Piedmont Community Church decided to make a difference. The 2007 Alternative Gift Market was a great success, raising almost $70,000 for charities in Oakland and around the globe. To see how your contributions will change the world, you can look at the numbers.

Locally we supported the following:

• The 24 Hour Emergency Shelter in Oakland will provide food and shelter for families in need and help sponsor kids with scholarships. First Place will provide support for foster kids. (Total $3,355.00)
• Faith Network of the East Bay will provide food bags for a month for 100 families, and send 13 kids to camp. (Total $4,714.00)
• Our Oakland Elementary Partner Schools will get uniforms and board games. (Total $1,440.00)
• The East Bay Agency for Children will get books and months of art supplies for their Circle of Care program, and support for their Therapeutic Nursery program. (Total $1,100.00)
• City Team Oakland will be able to provide medical visits, warm coats, career counseling, and food to the homeless. (Total $3,500.00)

Internationally we supported these charities:

• Heifer International will distribute over 50 flocks of chicks, 50 Hope Baskets, 10 Pigs and Sheep, and 7 Water Buffalo to help families become self sufficient. (Total $6,605.00)
• The Nature Conservancy will plant 191 trees, rescue 10 acres of reef, and protect 24 acres of rainforest. (Total $1,905.00)
• East Meets West in Vietnam will provide 121 children with dental care, save 10 premature babies, provide scholarships for 17 children, and sponsor 5 villages in their Village of Hope program. (Total $5,910.00)
• The International Justice Mission will rescue and provide services for 36 people in need. (Total $2060.00)
• The Seva Foundation will provide surgery to help 31 people see, and fund 7 mobile eye camps. (Total $1995.00)
• The International Women’s Development Agency will provide training, textbooks, and literacy classes to help women start self-sufficient businesses. (Total $2,325.00)

In Africa, we will make the following difference:

• The Village Enterprise Fund will train people in running a business, and then provide micro-
  The Gift of Hope; grants for 14 groups of five. (Total $2,007.00)
• The Medical Benevolence Foundation will vaccinate 341 children, provide 43 nutrition programs for children, vaccinate 7 villages, and support medical missionaries. (Total $2,756.00)
• Our Mission Hospital program will support both Nkoma and Embangweni Hospitals with medical supplies, train 12 nurses, and run a mobile clinic for over 2 years. (Total $6,320.00)
• The Marion Medical Foundation will build 24 new shallow wells to provide fresh water to hundreds. (Total $8,430.00)
• Esther’s Aid will feed 304 children, get 8 sewing machines, and 21 monthly scholarships. (Total $3,212.00)
• Kafita Church in Malawi, our sister church, will get 10 new sewing machines, 20 tool kits and supplies for the youth carpentry program, and funds for training. Our new Widows Farm Project will provide land, tools, and supplies to support the long-term well being of widows. (Total $11,075.00)

When you see the numbers, they are staggering. Any one of these items would make a huge difference to someone, but combined they will truly change the world. I would like to thank the members of the AGM committee who put in many hours making this work. Most importantly, a big thank you to the congregation, as well as the residents of Piedmont, for making this a huge success.

Sincerely, Bill Taylor
AGM Ministry Team Leader