Congratulations to the Tools of Hope & Blanket Banner Award Winners for 2007!

The Top Ten Groups/Churches raising funds for the Tools of Hope & Banner program are

• Church Women United of Indian River County, Vero Beach
• Gardens Presbyterian Church, Palm Beach Gardens
• Hope United Church of Christ, Rockledge
• Memorial United Methodist Church, Fernandina Beach
• Church Women United of Jacksonville Beaches, Jacksonville
• Church Women United of South Brevard, Palm Bay
• Covenant Presbyterian Church, Ft. Myers
• Ocala West United Methodist Church, Ocala
• Coronado United Methodist Church, New Smyrna Beach
• Church Women United of West Volusia County, Delton

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The children's sermon at Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lakeland, Florida, each Sunday in September focused on a part of the world that was receiving blankets from Church World Service during tragedy and disaster. Rev. Ros Springer saw this as an opportunity to show the children that their offerings were being used to help others around the world. She also offered to match their offerings during the month, which generated excitement among the kids. During each children's sermon, the group of 8-10 little ones counted their offering and added a tiny blanket to the poster for each $5 collected. By the end of the month, this small group of children (with a little help from others in the congregation trying to bankrupt the pastor!), had donated $187, which would purchase 37 blankets and a hammer! With Rev. Ros matching gift, the childrens giving totaled $374, creating a challenge for the rest of the congregation. On the date set for Blanket Sunday, the donations of the adults pushed the total over $1,000, creating an exciting conclusion to the most successful Blanket Sunday experienced by Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

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• Visit the CWS Tools & Blankets Resources page for graphics, skits and other materials to liven up your Tools & Blankets event.

• Order materials online or phone our national service center, 1-800-297-1516

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