Fund-raising
Our church is moving ever-closer to supporting this mission program by funding 1/3 of the costs through the annual budget. Participants are expected to pay 1/3 of the cost out-of-pocket by making installment payments and taking advantage of the “Workers in the Vineyard” program through which church members “hire” ASSIST-JC workers for a wide variety of projects; these monies are deposited into individual accounts within the church financial system and are tracked by the church financial secretary, Dottie Andrews. Travelers and their parents are also expected to provide time and energy needed to hold fund-raisers for the other 1/3rd of the needed funds. Fund-raising events associated with our mission efforts have become a familiar part of the yearly rhythm around All Souls and the community. They include a buffet night at the Oriental Jade restaurant (approximately one half the proceeds from ticket sales comes back to us), a church-wide indoor yard sale in mid-October, making THOUSANDS of chocolate covered Easter egges to sell in the community during Lent, a Lobster Stew Dinner in late winter, and when talent and energy allow, a musical or theatrical event in winter or early Spring.
ASSIST-JC has been organized under the format of an Explorer Post (210) through the Boy Scouts of America. Explorer Posts are co-ed, and allow young people to participate in the “business” of the sponsoring agency. The sponsoring organization determines the scope and activity of the program, criteria for the leadership and recruits members. The “business” of All Souls Church is to be Christ’s servant—Christ’s hands and feet in the world today—and we recruit from within our congregation. The connection with Boy Scouts of America gives us a tremendous help with travel insurance. We also can take advantage of some of the very special programs offered by the Katahdin Area Boy Scout and occasionally use Camp Roosevelt for our outings during the year.