HAMA Board Meets on Variety of Issues
By Pastor Tamera Mortenson
HAMA Vice President
With 12 in attendance, the Holden Area Ministerial Association (HAMA) board met to discuss business on October 7.
In old business, Treasurer Travis Webb said that the issue with the utility account had been rectified and that a report had been filed.
New protective policies have been put into place to prevent any future issues.
In food pantry news, volunteer Greg Johnson reported that in September, 174 households were served, including 519 people and 89 seniors.
The food pantry is well stocked, and we thank everyone for donations and support.
The building and grounds committee head, Mike Wakeman, reported that the same person who handles the lawn mowing cleaned out the gutters as well and that he will clean them again after the leaves have fallen.
We are also in need for volunteers to rake out or shovel out the dirt around the building before winter.
It was also reported that we will need some tree trimming done since there are broken limbs high up in the trees near the building. Mike will be looking into the cost.
Mike and David Mortenson are also to be getting a safe mailbox installed at the building.
In school news, Andie Smith reported that she is starting to put a list together for Adopt-A-Family.
She said she has had help from the life skills class organizing the Bright Futures HUB and has been informing people what the HUB is and thanks everyone for donations.
Bright Futures is giving out needed coats by appointment only, to adhere to social distancing. Bright Futures will be handing out candy for Halloween, though it will look different this year.
Harvesters is providing backpack snacks again this year and a cabinet has been put in the high school for more ease of access.
Andie is hoping for more supplies of spirit wear to give out to students who don’t have any.
The HAMA board started on our plans for Advent. Tim Whitmore will be leading the preparation for our Advent event, so mark your calendars for November 29 at 2 p.m.
As with everything this year, things will be looking different. With COVID-19, there are issues with safely traveling from church to church in an Advent Walk, so the tentative plan has us holding the event at one church.
We are talking about having the pastors taking turns speaking on the Route to the Manger of Bethlehem and it will also be live-streaming.
Pastor Mike offered to host at New Life Fellowship with social distancing in place. We will need to limit attendance and will be asking for people to RSVP. Each person attending must wear a mask to the event.
Watch for more information as we finalize the details the first part of November.
In closing the meeting, Chet Hurshman asked us to be in prayer as to God’s vision for HAMA’s future and if expanding to benefit the community would be needed.
We will come back with ideas about the need for more space to help even more people in different ways.
