Designated Offering
Episcopal Relief and Development
Each month, we designate a particular social service organization for financial support through special collections on Sundays. This October, our special offering goes to Episcopal Relief and Development.
Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is a program of the national Episcopal Church. ERD provides support on worldwide issues, such as hunger and poverty, health, economic development, and disaster relief. Right now, ERD is providing humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine and as well as in areas of damaging earthquakes and floods.
Those are just a few of the problems that ERD addresses. In the United States and around the world, it provides relief for AIDS and malaria; offers animals, seeds, and tools for subsistence farmers; and makes grants to women who want to establish businesses. It works to improve health care and education, and it brings clean water to communities without it. It also engages in disaster response during events such as hurricanes. ERD brings food, water, and medicines to disaster victims who have lost everything.
In short, ERD works with church partners and organizations around the world to facilitate healthier, more fulfilling lives in communities struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Its programs make a difference in the lives of over three million people annually.
Over the years, Good Sam has generously supported ERD and its many programs, especially those related to subsistence farming, healthcare, and the building of wells. For example, a few years ago, the Episcopal Church Women of our parish held a successful drive to help ERD build a well for a community without clean water.
Make a designated offering
Please give prayerful consideration to this month’s designated offering. To participate, make out a check to Church of the Good Samaritan, write “designated offering” on the memo line, and place it in the plate during the Sunday services offertory (or mail it to our office). You can also use the “designated offering” envelope found in the back of each pew.
At the end of each month, we write a single check from Good Sam to the organization we’ve designated for our support. Thank you for helping to ensure that this valuable service can continue!