Back Bay Mission – Hands Across the Country

Memorial UCC has a slot reserved during the second week of October (that’s the 10th through the 15th) to travel to Biloxi, Miss. and work with our partners at the Back Bay Mission. Back Bay is a UCC project that has been in Biloxi since 1922. It is one of the major social service agencies for the poor in that city. And it has been a hub of activity in the years of rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina.  Read more about Back Bay at www.thebackbaymission.org

Now is the time to start making plans for our 2010 trip. There are some folks from the UCC church in Baraboo who may join us. The group from St. Charles, Ill., that we have worked with in the past will also be there. People with building skills have an important role to play, of course, but so do folks who can help out in a variety of ways, including serving at the daily lunch program.

If you are thinking about going or would like more information, please get in touch with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A letter from Bonnie Van Overbeke: Update on Back Bay Mission

On August 29, 2005 hurricane Katrina pounded the Gulf Coast destroying homes and lives and livelihoods.   Although the buildings at Back Bay Mission—as well as many of the homes of its staff—were destroyed, the spirit of the Mission was not! 

Over the last five years, under the leadership of Rev. Shari Prestemon, the Mission has not only survived, its budget and outreach has more than doubled and its influence in the community increased.   The campus has been rebuilt with not only expanded facilities for staff and work camper volunteers, but the addition of a community and day center for the homeless where they can receive help from Back Bay Mission social workers, meet with service providers, get help finding employments or housing,  wash clothes, and get food from the food pantry.
 
With the aid of federal stimulus money we have added staff and increased our work with families threatened with eviction.   Because the hurricane increased the need for affordable homes in the community, Back Bay Mission has also added an affordable housing specialist and purchased land on which to build 32 affordable homes.   Ground has been broken at the Bethel Estates property and two model homes will be completed by March.
           
None of this would have been possible without the help of UCC congregations in Wisconsin Conference who gave not only money but time and talent, helping to rebuild and repair the homes of hundreds of people.   Memorial has been one of the many congregations that support the work of the mission.  Many of our youth and adults have hammered and painted, laid floors and hung doors.   Others have contributed financially by buying frozen shrimp or eating shrimp jambalaya at the Back Bay Bayou Bash organized by Rick Orton and Karin Wells. 

On behalf of the staff and the people they serve, I would like to thank you for your donations and for your prayers.  The past five years has strained and strengthened the mission of Back Bay Mission.  The need continues to be great and our resources stretched.   As a member of its Board of Directors, I encourage you to keep the mission in your prayers, continue your financial support of the mission, and consider going with one of the work camp teams.
  
Bonnie

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Memorial UCC has an active partnership with Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi. Confirmation students and adult teams have traveled to Biloxi to work camps helping to restore homes by carpentry, painting, and cleaning. Bonnie Van Overbeke, our former pastor,  serves on the Board of Directors. Hurricane Katrina inflicted devastating damage in 2005 to lives and property on the Gulf Coast, including Biloxi and the Back Bay Mission operation, and much of our work there since then has been involved in rebuilding homes in the aftermath.

Our confirmation class was at Back Bay in June, 2009.

An adult group will go from Oct. 10-16, 2010.

For more information, visit the web site of Back Bay Mission.