The Donation Station ministry provides much-needed food, clothing and personal care items to people in Madison. Bins for donations are located on the lower level (across from the main office) and are open for drop-offs all year. Donations are taken to various agencies. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with this ministry should contact Lucy Gammeter.

Items collected at the Donation Station include:

• Non-perishable food items (no glass)
• Adult and youth clothing and shoes (in season only)

Please note: Donation Station does not collect any housewares.

Mother and Child Resource Ministry collects gently-used baby items for families in need. The ministry receives referrals from a variety of agencies around Dane county and receives calls from mothers who have a baby on the way and are not prepared. Volunteers deliver boxes of newborn clothes and blankets to hospitals or homes as requested. For information or to volunteer with Mother and Child Resource Ministry, contact Marilyn Beach.

Items collected include:

• Baby clothes (newborn-12 months)
• Bibs, blankets, bottles, diapers, diaper bags
• Newborn books and toys
• Strollers, pack and plays, bassinets
• Maternity clothing
• Children’s clothing (size 2T-4T, in season only)

Winter 2012 Needs: Mother and Child Resource Center is in urgent need of winter clothing for boys and girls in sizes Newborn and 0-3 months. These clothes are given to those in need in Dane County. Please leave  gently used or new donations in the Mother and Child donation bin on the lower level of the Brader Way building. Call 608.828.4232 with questions or for more information on Mother and Child.

Please note: Mother and Child does not accept any car seats.

The Blackhawk Emergency Response Team (BERT) offers disaster/emergency response through cleanup and rebuilding activities to communities suffering from natural disasters. Most of our work involves a sustained response after initial cleanup has been completed. We work with both local and national emergency volunteer agencies to help coordinate the work. BERT is multi-generational. Men, women, married, single, young, old, college-age, retired, father/son and mother/daughter volunteers have participated in recent trips.

Construction, carpentry, drywall, painting, plumbing and electrical skills are helpful though not required. We are willing to train you – and you will learn new skill sets that may be of help around your own home!

BERT takes one trip per month on a Saturday (September through May), leaving church around 6 am and returning in the evening. Longer trips may be scheduled as the need arises. Trip information is sent out by email and you can join the team as your schedule permits. Contact Dave Torkelson for more information.

Every participant is required to fill out a Safety Guidelines and Liability Release Form.

The Food Pantry Gardens provides much-needed food to people in the Madison community. This garden was made possible through a three-year grant from Community Action Coalition and the Madison Community Foundation. The grant has three initiatives:

• To support existing community gardens
• To start new community gardens
• To start and support food pantry gardens as a way
  to maximize fresh and local produce availability
  to low income populations

The Food Pantry Garden at Blackhawk Church grows fresh produce for areas food banks. In 2009, we harvested over 10,000 pounds of fresh produce and in 2010 over 25,000 pounds.

For more information:

• Contact the Food Pantry Garden volunteer coordinator
• Find up-to-date newsletters and growing season information here
• Visit Food Pantry Gardens on Facebook

The mission of the Blood Drive ministry at Blackhawk is to serve our community by encouraging individual attendees to regularly provide the gift of life through donations of whole blood and blood components. Our participation in donating blood can help others fight disease and offer them a chance to live.

Blood Drives are held about four times a year at Blackhawk. If you are at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds you may be eligible to give blood. Read
more about eligibility requirements here.

Next Blackhawk Blood Drive: Saturday, March 3, 2012
7:30-11:30 am, in the Underground at Brader Way

Please schedule your donation online or at the Registration Desk on February 19 or 26. If you would like to help at the Blood Drive or provide refreshments, sign up here. (Note: If you gave at the January Blood Drive, you can give again this month — there is enough time between donations.)