SOWER - Update
Written: 8/28/2009
Sharing Our Witness - Enriching Relationships
Sowing the Seeds of Christian Love in Southeast Kentucky
SOWER is a West Ohio Conference VIM project which constructs new housing as part of the Henderson Settlement work camp program. Henderson Settlement, Frakes, Kentucky, is a component of the Red Bird Missionary Conference providing a multitude of services to the southern Bell and Whitley counties in Kentucky and parts of two counties in Tennessee. The Work Camp Program is one of the services provided and has traditionally repaired existing housing to raise the quality of life for the owner families. However, a number of years ago it was realized that new housing was also needed because 1) in some cases it would be more cost effective to replace than repair, 2) the family had lost their home, or 3) lived in substandard rental housing which could not be worked on.
In 2009 the SOWER VIM project completed an 18 by 30 house addition for a single mother with 5 boys. The addition expanded the house to 5 bedrooms and two baths. This represented the 10th home completed by SOWER teams.
The SOWER VIM Team is in the planning stages for constructing the 11th home for a family. The approximate cost of materials to build one of these houses from the ground up is approximately $36,000. The SOWER VIM Project needs to have at least the majority of the $36,000 in materials costs covered by pledges of support before late January 2010 to be able to commitment to building this next house. The SOWER VIM Leadership Team is requesting that the churches of West Ohio prayerfully consider supporting this worthwhile project financially with a pledge of support prior to the January '10 decision time. Those that have served on SOWER work teams understand how much the volunteers get out of the experience as well as the level of need in the Henderson Settlement service area. As an example of the need, the last available data put the average annual income for a family of four in Bell County, KY at ~$22,000. The average income in the Henderson Settlement Service area of southwestern Bell County is well below this figure along with a real unemployment rate in excess of 50%. West Ohio Conference churches are invited to participate in this rewarding project with your prayers, your volunteer labor, and your financial support.
Work weeks for the house construction have been requested for May, July, and August of 2010.
Please send all pledges [any checks should be made out to the West Ohio Conference UMC], or questions to:
Ralph & Carolyn Brandon
SOWER VIM Team Leaders
SOWER@wocumc.org
In Christ's Service,
Ralph & Carolyn Brandon
SOWER VIM Team Leaders