About two years ago, three members of Oakdale United Methodist Church established the Pillowcase Project. Pillowcases are donated to the UMASS Pediatric Oncology Unit because a bright cheery pillowcase can be a comforting gift in such a sterile, scary environment.
The Immanuel United Methodist Church parking lot transformed into a hive of energy and purpose as volunteers came together with one mission: to give children the comfort and security of their own beds. The church partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that builds and delivers beds to children who need them. The goal was 40, but church and community volunteers surpassed that, building 62 beds. The Upper New York Conference produced a video from the event.
As part of World Breastfeeding Week, United Methodists organized information and awareness-raising sessions to support the health of mothers and children.