Compassion Ministry
2022-2023 Compassion Ministry Annual Report
Overview
The Compassion Ministry was founded eight years ago with the following goals:
Thank You
Thank you to the congregation for your support of the Compassion Ministry through your prayers, donations, and time volunteering. These all are appreciated as we continue to help those in need in our community.
The Compassion Ministry was founded eight years ago with the following goals:
- To reconnect with people in the community at Japantown and San Jose area
- To rebuild the community together through love and justice
- To rejoice with our neighbors by sharing what we have to offer
- The idea that our downtown San Jose community should be better off because Wesley United Methodist Church is there and cares.
Thank You
Thank you to the congregation for your support of the Compassion Ministry through your prayers, donations, and time volunteering. These all are appreciated as we continue to help those in need in our community.
2022-2023 Annual Report Summary
The Compassion Ministry has five key ministries: Food Distribution, Compassion Cooking Teams (currently on hold), Grant Elementary School support, Unhoused Outreach and Community Outreach/Social Justice.
The Compassion Ministry has five key ministries: Food Distribution, Compassion Cooking Teams (currently on hold), Grant Elementary School support, Unhoused Outreach and Community Outreach/Social Justice.
Food Distribution Ministry:
Our Food Distribution ministry has experienced significant growth since it was established in March 2020. We established a partnership with Second Harvest and received our first delivery on March 24, 2023. This partnership ensures that families receive a consistent supply of essential items such as meat, milk, eggs and fresh produce on a weekly basis. Our dedicated volunteers diligently sort through the produce to ensure that only quality items are distributed to our neighbors in need. Any unusable produce is discarded. Our neighbors in need include walk-ins, primarily elderly residents in our neighborhood, families from Grant Elementary School, as well as their friends and neighbors. Additionally, it extends to those facing homelessness at St. James Park.
The Compassion Workshop has been enhanced with an additional bay provided by the Board of Trustees. This space is now dedicated to storing food for our unhoused friends, as well as for preparing bags for distribution at St. James Park. Additionally, we have invested in a new commercial refrigerator to further support these efforts.
Our delivery from Second Harvest is now substantial enough that we no longer need to pick up from other food sources. However, Grace Solutions delivers their surplus food to the Compassion workshop on Tuesday mornings.
In January 2023, Compassion began collecting specific demographic data for reporting to Second Harvest and for tracking our involvement with Grant Elementary School. The chart below displays our monthly figures for the times individuals and families have been served. The October numbers include data up until October 17, 2023. Please take note that the count of Grant family members encompasses those who prefer to pick up at the Compassion Workshop when they are not on the school list.
Our Food Distribution ministry has experienced significant growth since it was established in March 2020. We established a partnership with Second Harvest and received our first delivery on March 24, 2023. This partnership ensures that families receive a consistent supply of essential items such as meat, milk, eggs and fresh produce on a weekly basis. Our dedicated volunteers diligently sort through the produce to ensure that only quality items are distributed to our neighbors in need. Any unusable produce is discarded. Our neighbors in need include walk-ins, primarily elderly residents in our neighborhood, families from Grant Elementary School, as well as their friends and neighbors. Additionally, it extends to those facing homelessness at St. James Park.
The Compassion Workshop has been enhanced with an additional bay provided by the Board of Trustees. This space is now dedicated to storing food for our unhoused friends, as well as for preparing bags for distribution at St. James Park. Additionally, we have invested in a new commercial refrigerator to further support these efforts.
Our delivery from Second Harvest is now substantial enough that we no longer need to pick up from other food sources. However, Grace Solutions delivers their surplus food to the Compassion workshop on Tuesday mornings.
In January 2023, Compassion began collecting specific demographic data for reporting to Second Harvest and for tracking our involvement with Grant Elementary School. The chart below displays our monthly figures for the times individuals and families have been served. The October numbers include data up until October 17, 2023. Please take note that the count of Grant family members encompasses those who prefer to pick up at the Compassion Workshop when they are not on the school list.
Compassion Cooking Teams (On Hold):
Our Compassion cooking teams prepared delicious dinners for the residents of Casa de Clara on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Casa de Clara is currently temporarily closed, but we look forward to preparing meals when they reopen.
Grant Elementary School Support:
We are grateful for our relationship with Grant Elementary School. Our tutoring program continues however San Jose Unified School district now requires a background check and fingerprinting to work with students, so volunteers were unable to restart until November 2022. Five volunteers worked with 5 students. Thanks to generous donations, Compassion was able to donate approximately $4,000 of school supplies in September 2023.
Unhoused Outreach:
Almost every week we deliver a bag of specially selected items to our friends at St. James Park. These items include canned food with pull tops, soft fruits, snacks, juice and water. Additionally, during food distribution, a group of volunteers prepare hot sandwiches to distribute at the park.
Community Outreach/Social Justice
The Compassion ministry collaborates with PACT (People Acting in Community Together), an organization focused on addressing significant social issues. Mark Teagle is the Co-Chair, Chairman of the Board.
The Compassion Ministry is committed to serve those in need with steadfast dedication and we are grateful for the support and collaboration that enable these ministries to exist. Together, we strive to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
Our Compassion cooking teams prepared delicious dinners for the residents of Casa de Clara on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Casa de Clara is currently temporarily closed, but we look forward to preparing meals when they reopen.
Grant Elementary School Support:
We are grateful for our relationship with Grant Elementary School. Our tutoring program continues however San Jose Unified School district now requires a background check and fingerprinting to work with students, so volunteers were unable to restart until November 2022. Five volunteers worked with 5 students. Thanks to generous donations, Compassion was able to donate approximately $4,000 of school supplies in September 2023.
Unhoused Outreach:
Almost every week we deliver a bag of specially selected items to our friends at St. James Park. These items include canned food with pull tops, soft fruits, snacks, juice and water. Additionally, during food distribution, a group of volunteers prepare hot sandwiches to distribute at the park.
Community Outreach/Social Justice
The Compassion ministry collaborates with PACT (People Acting in Community Together), an organization focused on addressing significant social issues. Mark Teagle is the Co-Chair, Chairman of the Board.
The Compassion Ministry is committed to serve those in need with steadfast dedication and we are grateful for the support and collaboration that enable these ministries to exist. Together, we strive to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
Neighborhood Food Distribution
Unhoused Ministry
Every Tuesday, a dedicated group of 2-5 volunteers gathers at the park. They bring with them 40-50 bags of food and a hot sandwich. Above all, they cherish the precious moments of fellowship with our friends.
Every Tuesday, a dedicated group of 2-5 volunteers gathers at the park. They bring with them 40-50 bags of food and a hot sandwich. Above all, they cherish the precious moments of fellowship with our friends.
Compassion Cooking Teams
-October 26, 2022 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 20 Casa de Clara guests
-November 9, 2022 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 20 Casa de Clara guests
-November 22, 2022 - 3 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-December 14, 2022 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-December 28, 2022 - 6 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests (Family service project)
-January 11, 2023 - 3 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-January 25, 2023 - 3 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-February 8, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-February 22, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-March 8, 2023 - 1 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-March 22, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-April 12, 2023 - 2 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-April 12, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-April 26, 2023 – 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-May 10, 2023 – 1 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-May 24, 2023 – 2 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-June 14, 2023 – 4 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-October 26, 2022 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 20 Casa de Clara guests
-November 9, 2022 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 20 Casa de Clara guests
-November 22, 2022 - 3 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-December 14, 2022 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-December 28, 2022 - 6 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests (Family service project)
-January 11, 2023 - 3 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-January 25, 2023 - 3 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-February 8, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-February 22, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-March 8, 2023 - 1 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-March 22, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-April 12, 2023 - 2 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-April 12, 2023 - 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-April 26, 2023 – 4 Wesley Volunteers, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-May 10, 2023 – 1 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-May 24, 2023 – 2 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-June 14, 2023 – 4 Wesley Volunteer, 5 Casa de Clara guests
-December 10, 2022 - Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
-January 2023 - MYF Blessing Bags for Holiday Season (40 total)
-January 24, 2023 - Children’s Ministry Birthday Boxes for Grant Elementary School Students (30 total)
- February 5, 2023 - Collaboration with Scouts Coat Drive
-February 14, 2023 - UWF (United Women of Faith) Blessing Bags
-February 14, 2023 - UWF (United Women of Faith) Blessing Bags
-April 16, 2023 Compassion Sunday
Projects
Projects
- Prepare lunch for volunteers: 17 Volunteers
- Posters for Grant Elementary School: 5 Volunteers
- Make bookmarks: 13 Volunteers
- Decorate books for Grant Elementary School: 7 Volunteers
- Garden to Table Silicon Valley: 14 Volunteers
- Humane Society - Organize towels and make poster: 6 Volunteers
- Take food to St. James Park: 6 Volunteers
- Yard work at Casa de Clara: 10 Volunteers
- Origami: 13 Volunteers
- Speaker: Tiffani Anderson: 13 Volunteers
- Floaters: 7 Volunteers
- Total Volunteers: 111
- Total Worship Attendance (including online): 150
-June 4, 2023 -Grant Elementary School Tutor Appreciation Lunch
-June 2023 - Kids Camp Project with Compassion
Compassion coordinated with Kid’s Camp staff volunteer Bev Acuna to have the children wrap gifts for the volunteers which will be distributed at Compassion’s Volunteer Appreciation night
-June 2023 - Kids Camp Project with Compassion
Compassion coordinated with Kid’s Camp staff volunteer Bev Acuna to have the children wrap gifts for the volunteers which will be distributed at Compassion’s Volunteer Appreciation night
-July 16, 2023 - Celebration for Grant Elementary School Principal Paulette Zades, who retired. The Compassion Ministry celebrated our 8+ year relationship with her as principal of the school during worship.
-September 2023 - Grant Elementary School Supplies Drive
Quantity & Item
Quantity & Item
- 30 - Board Geeks 12 Classroom Dry Erase Board for Kids 9"x12"- Small White Boards for Students, White Board for Kids, Teachers - Mini White Boards | Double Sided Small White Board Bulk (12 Pk)
- 25 - Crayola Crayons, Bulk School Supplies for Kids, 24 Count Crayon Box (Pack Of 6), Assorted Colors
- 10 - Crayola Jumbo Crayons Bulk, 6 Sets of 16 Large Crayons for Toddlers & Kids, School Supplies
- 28 - Crayola Large Crayons Tuck Box - 8 Count - 2 Packs
- 25 - Shuttle Art Dry Erase Markers, 15 Pack Black Magnetic Whiteboard Markers with Erase, Fine Point Dry Erase Markers Perfect for Writing on Whiteboards, Dry-Erase Boards
- 1- Madisi Wood-Cased #2 HB Pencils, Yellow, Pre-sharpened, Bulk Pack, 320 pencils
- 1 - Relay MP, Multipurpose Copy Paper, 20lb, 8.5 x 11, 92 Bright - 1 Pallet / 40 cases
Disbursements
-November 22, 2022 - 25 Grocery $50 Gift Cards
-April 25, 2023 - 30 Grocery Outlet $50 Gift cards
-September 5, 2023 - Steinhoff Orthodontists for the Flamate brothers’ orthodontics care (Ms. Gonzalez’s grandsons)
-November 22, 2022 - 25 Grocery $50 Gift Cards
-April 25, 2023 - 30 Grocery Outlet $50 Gift cards
-September 5, 2023 - Steinhoff Orthodontists for the Flamate brothers’ orthodontics care (Ms. Gonzalez’s grandsons)
Compassion Core Team: Mary Leano, Co-chair, Misao Kusuda, Co-chair, Mark Teagle, Staff Liaison, Clarissa Johnston-Abril, Roy Takeuchi, Warren Uesato