A Christian ministry in Union County, NC, helping meet people’s physical and spiritual needs.

December 2016

Phone: 704-289-4237 Email: opreachout@aol.com Website: www.opreachout.org

Lord of the Harvest Community Thanksgiving dinner

served 850 people this year! Lord of the Harvest, in its 26th year, is a cooperative

effort among Operation Reach Out, Restoration House Ministries, and the

Shrine Club of Union County. Thank you to all who donated food and/or helped

serve that day!

Over 50 Bicycles in Need of Repair for Christmas

Operation Reach Out has been blessed with over 50 used bicycles. Some can be repaired; others are only good for parts. We’d love to be able to give these bicycles to children in the area through the Christmas Bureau. Can you donate a few hours and help us? Please call 704-289-4237 or email opreachout@aol.com.

January to September 2016 Report of Giving

Because of your support, Operation Reach Out has been able to help hundreds of families in the Monroe and Union County areas the first three quarters of 2016. With your continued support, we plan on 2017 being even better! Thank you so much!

Financial Aid (utilities, fuel oil/kerosene, gasoline, medicine): 151 families = $10,654

Food Pantry: 577 families @value of $47,083

Clothing: 121 families @value of $5,235

Furniture: 90 families @value of $3,700

Household items: 63 families @value of $3,145

Total number of lunches served: 3,770

Grand Total of Families Helped: 1,002 Grand Total Value of Giving: $69,817

Operation Reach Out is 100% supported by

proceeds from Finders Keepers and by

donations from individuals, churches,

civic organizations, & businesses.

“...As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,

you did it to Me.” (Matt 25:40)

Dear Friends,

The holidays are here, and all of us at Operation Reach Out Campus Ministries are preparing for “the wonder of Christmas.”

What magic in the moment some 2,016 years ago when at just the right place and at just the right time, God sent His son to be born in a manger in the town of Bethlehem!

Sometimes we allow the commercialism of Christmas to override the miracle of that moment, but this holiday season, let’s focus on the gift of JESUS. Be a part of helping us help others! The moment is now, the time is right, the method is this: “Give, and it shall be given to you—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!” (Luke 6:38)

Are you ready for "The Wonder of Christmas?"

Help us make this Christmas special for those in need.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

James Sessoms, Executive Director

Nourishing Body & Soul Daily Bible Study & Lunch 12:00-1:00 PM

Please help us help families of the Union County Christmas Bureau. Finders Keepers is donating any NEW, UNOPENED, UNUSED items that we receive to the Christmas Bureau to help meet the needs & wishes of the 100’S of families on their list.

Finders Keepers 800 Skyway Drive in Monroe, across from the Farmer’s Market.

Hours: Tues-Fri 10 am-5 pm ~ Sat 9 am-4 pm ~ Sun-Mon CLOSED

December Lunch Calendar 1—Margaret & Margaret 2—Blacks Memorial 5—Union Methodist UMC 6—Sandra 7—Weddington UMC 8—Open Hands 9—Lakeview 12—Waxhaw UMC 13—Mountain Spring Woman on Mission 14—Weddington Moms in Prayer 15—OPEN 16—FBC Weddington 19—Bethlehem UMC 20—FBC Weddington 21—Mineral Springs UMC 22—Linda Hastings 23—Lakeview Baptist 26—Diana Neer 27—Roanoke Baptist 28—Diana Neer 29—OPEN 30—OPEN

If you’d like to be part of our lunch ministry, please call the office of ORO at

704-289-4237 or email Kim at opreachout@aol.com

CHECK THESE OUT!

ON SALE WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY:

FRAMED PRINTS: only $1, $3, or $5

LADIES TOPS : 50% off

ALL (men’s, women’s, kids) JEANS: 50% off

ALL CHRISTMAS: 25% off

Tuesdays are SENIOR CITIZENS’ DAY—25%

off all clothing, 10% off furniture & hard

lines.

BOOKS are only 10¢ each—every day!

We have NEW (irregular) MATTRESSES &

BOX SPRING SETS: twin—$159; full—$199;

Q—$219; K—$259 (plus tax on each set)

Lots of men’s, women’s, & kids’ COATS:

only $3-$5

January 2017 Lunch Calendar 2—Union Methodist UMC 3—Sandra 4—Weddington UMC 5—Margaret Love 6—Blacks Memorial 9—Waxhaw UMC 10—Mt. Springs Woman on Mission 11—Mineral Springs UMC 12—OPEN 13—OPEN 16—Bethlehem UMC 17—FBC Weddington 18—Prospect UMC 19—OPEN 20—FBC Weddington 23—OPEN 24—Roanoke Baptist 25—Weddington Moms in Prayer 26—OPEN 27—Lakeview Baptist 30—Diana Neer 31—OPEN

Last October, students from Weddington Christian Academy attended Bible study at ORO.

Thank You So Much!

“Throw in the Towel” Brings in Nearly

2,200 Items!!

Thanks to the churches and their congregations for the generous

donations of over 800 towels and 440 wash cloths as well as hundreds of sheets, pillow cases, blankets, and

pillows!

Thanks to the

Weaver Family for donating all the leftover food

from a sports banquet. It made for a huge, delicious lunch for

our Bible study friends!

Thank you to the Weddington Christian Academy Students

who spent a day last October helping out at Operation Reach Out and at Finders Keepers.

They then attended Bible study & helped serve lunch afterwards!

Thank you to Sherri & Sheri from the

Susanna Wesley Circle at Weddington UMC

for using funds from their annual Kids Consignment Sale to purchase

food for our food pantry!

Thank you to our friends at

Carillon Assisted Living on Secrest Short Cut Road in Monroe. They raised over $200 for our ministries at last

weekend’s concert! We appreciate their continuing support.

New Space for Campus Ministries! Thanks to those who have helped renovate the buildings on our campus in preparation for our upcoming campus ministries. We’ve been blessed with donations, ministry leaders, hard-working staff, and amazing volunteers! It has taken a team, and the results are wonderful!

We Always Need Volunteers! (If under age 16, must be accompanied by an adult.)

Scan & email application to opreachout@aol.com or mail it to Operation Reach Out, P.O. Box 403, Monroe NC 28111 Or stop by our office and drop it off at 1308 Miller Street in Monroe