Loads of Love
Loads of Love is a community ministry of Belmont Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. A few years ago the members were looking for a creative way to help our neighbors in need. After researching the existing resources in the community, the members decided to so start a laundry ministry. The church property already included a building which housed a clothing ministry. The downstairs basement was a perfect place to contain a laundry ministry. The church received a grant from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship with funds, which enabled us to renovate the space and add five high efficiency washers and dryers.
Our model for the ministry includes matching one or two volunteers from our church family with a family or individual who has been referred to us by agencies which work with families in need. The families come to us weekly or bi-weekly to do their laundry at a set appointed time. We provide all the supplies needed to do the laundry as offer drinks, snacks, games and videos for their enjoyment while they are at the laundry center. We are helping them save at least $25 each time they come to the ministry by not having to visit a commercial laundromat. We have processed thousands of loads of laundry.
Additionally, we are building friendships and relationships to help in other ways as well. We serve many single parents and see firsthand the difficulties that can arise when a parent has no one to call on for help. One of our volunteers received a phone call from a single father who had just found out that he needed to be hospitalized immediately. He was desperate for someone to take care of his daughter. There was no moment of hesitation for the laundry volunteer as she welcomed the child into her home until the father recovered from his illness.
We are blessed to have a core group of faithful volunteers who give of their time each and every week to help make the lives of those using our services a little easier. Our hope and prayer is that those we help will be able to use this helping hand as a way of stretching their already limited budget. If by eliminating their laundry expenses, we have enabled parents not to worry where the money will come from to buy medicine for their sick children or food for the last few days of the month, then we consider our time spent as a mission of love from God.
For additional information please call Love INC at (434) 977-7177 or the Belmont Church Office at (434) 296-7111.
Click here for additional information on Loads of Love
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Welcome to the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Whether they are called: “Prayer Shawls”, “Comfort Shawls”, “Peace Shawls” or “Mantles” just to name a few; …
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Prayer Shawls are blessed on the 4th Sunday of each month unless an urgent need arises and a shawl is available. Ways that people can help with this ministry that don’t knit or crochet is to pray for us but also they can make a monetary contribution towards yarn or they can actually purchase yarn for the ministry. All colors are accepted but a safe color selection is always red, white and blue for our fallen soldier shawls.
⇒I wanted to share with you a thank you note that I received this morning from a recipient of one our prayer shawls that we recently delivered to the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Please pray for this family as well as the other families who have lost loved ones in the war. I appreciate the ladies who are knitting and crocheting the shawls and for the support of the church in the prayer shawl ministry. God is truly at work in the hands of these ladies and this ministry.
It was a humbling experience to go to Dover and we will be making another trip in the spring to deliver more shawls if anyone is interested in going with us. If you think you would like to go to Dover, please let me know so that I can keep your name on my list. Thank you again to each of you for your prayers and support of this ministry as you can see from the note the shawls are meaningful to the individuals who receive them.
Health and happiness to you,
Rebecca B.
Ms B.
This is a note to thank you for the thoughtful acts of kindness. I received a shawl on Feb. 25, 2011 from the chaplain at Dover Air Force Base. My cousin was killed in Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 22, and he was brought home on the 25th. I just want you to know that the scarfs & shawls that were received, saved our family. As you may know the wind was horrendous on Friday and we (the family) were not prepared for that. Standing on the tarmac, watching with the rest of the family as Johnathan’s coffin was taken from the plane, I said a prayer for having the warmth of one of your scarfs around my head and neck. The work your group has done is beyond words. All I can do is let you know that we felt the warmth of your prayers in the moments on the tarmac.
May God always bless everyone of you for your time and kindness.
My cousin was Cpl. Johnathan W. T.
Again, thank you so much for your kindness.
Doris
Prayer Shawls for Fallen Soldiers’ Families
As of Jul 8, 2009 … PS4FS currently has 243 groups of knitters/crocheters and a few quilters; the majority are church-based, spread throughout our country. …
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Prayer Shawls for Fallen Soldiers’ Families
The Caring Ministry
The Caring Ministry team’s mission is to assist people in the Belmont area with utility bills and food. We have $100 a month budgeted for utility bills. This is given in $25 allotments. The food closet is supported by monetary and food donations. We also belong to the Food Lion Shop and Share program. We prepare bags for families of 2, 4, and 6. In each we try to give enough food for 2 days. We have a freezer for bread and margarine which each receives.
Most of the time we try to keep cheese and bologna for the larger bags.
The team fills the bags and aim to keep 3 of each kind made ready for distribution. Many thanks to the secretaries for taking the calls and giving out the bags.
Our policy is to give four or five bags a day. Families may come once a month for assistance. With the current financial situation we are having, many new people are asking for help.
A big thanks to all of you who have been generous with your contributions.
Food Closet
The food closet collection is an ongoing need. This is a very important ministry, especially in these tough economic times. We have been able to serve many needy families, but can always use more help. Please consider making a food or monetary donation. The food closet can use crackers, cereal (oatmeal or grits), canned meats (beef stew, tuna, salmon, Treet, Spam, Jack Mackerel), canned vegetables, dried beans, canned beans (kidney, black , pinto, etc.) macaroni & cheese, canned fruit, instant milk, soup, peanut butter, jelly, pork & beans, rice, individual coffee servings and spaghetti sauce and pasta.
Deacon Team Ministries
Belmont currently has six Team Ministries.
Bereavement and Celebration Ministry Team
The focus of the Bereavement Ministry Team is to provide support for all persons going through times of grief as well as helping in the kitchen for meals after a funeral. “You are not alone in the shadow of your loss; we will walk with you on your journey.” The Team also organizes the celebration of life events in the church, e.g., baptisms, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Please join us in celebrating LIFE, LOVE, JOY and HOPE of our church and community. “We rejoice with you.”
Feed My Sheep Team
The focus of the Team is to provide food for Church members and families that have been hospitalized, recovering from an illness, or for whatever reason cannot prepare meals for themselves. “Feed my sheep”
Homebound and Nursing Home Visitation Ministry Team
The focus of the Homebound Ministry Team is to reach to those who are unable to attend church services and activities for health reasons. “We care about you and are here for you in your time of need.”
Hospital Visitation Ministry Team
The focus of the Hospital Visitation Team is to visit our Church members, families, and friends who have been hospitalized. “You are not alone.”
Outreach and Old/New Member Ministry Team
The focus of the Outreach and Old/New Member Ministry Team is to build community with those who do not know about Belmont Baptist Church and its ministries. The Team also contacts inactive members. “We strive to pay attention to those near and far.”
Small Jobs and Transportation Team
The focus of the Small Jobs and Transportation Team is twofold: To provide for persons who need transportation to and from Belmont services and activities, as well as visits to the doctor and other important places in their lives. “Please let us help you get to church and other important places in your life.”
To provide persons who need a helping hand with various aspects of their life. This could be changing a light bulb, raking leaves, removing debris, shoveling a sidewalk, fixing a broken chair, or simply assisting someone with taking a walk. The ultimate goal of this ministry is to fulfill the need. “Please let us give you a hand with that.”