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Help Center "Pagalbos Centras" Manor 7a-2, Birzai -41,136 Tel.845036510 Email: pagalboscentras@gmail.com “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” (I Corinthians 12:4-6). This year Pagalbos centras (Help Center) is celebrating its ten-year jubilee. We are sincerely thankful to Walla for her tremendous contribution to the work of Pagalbos centras, for the Bible studies, for the Prayer Hours at the center and for spreading of God’s word in the village of Pačeriaukštė. Financial report: the current remaining amount of money for 1st of January 2011 in Biržai bank was 31 683 Lt. The total amount of money in the account of UMCL was 6 800 US dollars. The report on the work of the center: The Help center provides support to 10-15 clients daily. The clients apply for help after they have experienced different disasters, fires or when they feel frustrated, hungry, struck by various crises. We invite them for a cup of coffee or tea, listen to them and try to help them. We provide help for everyone who asks for it, never refuse to help and never ask them which confession they belong to. We want to thank God and all our friends in Sweden, the USA, Germany, also the administration of Biržai Municipality, the Ministry of Social Care and Work, the Food Bank, the businessmen of Biržai region and all those who contribute to the work of the Pagalbos centras Currently we have got 13 employees and 15 volunteers from Biržai and the village of Pačeriaukštė. Only 2 of the workers work full-time, others are employed for 2-4 hours a day, but all of us work not paying attention to working hours and we serve God and people at any time. The current programs: Children and Youth Day Center. Children from the families, which are in need of social support, come to the Center for after-school activities. They are provided with food (hot lunch and dinner), they are engaged in informal education and other activities after school and during holidays. We work with their families as well. Two professional social workers, a mentor, a teacher of Art, some additional workers, volunteers work with them. The Program of Home Care. This program is being carried out by 4 social nursing workers, a doctor (a nurse) and the leader of the program. We take care of 23 patients, who are immobile or partially mobile. Country Family Program. We have been taking care of large, socially supportive families or families, belonging to the group of risk, where 180 children are raised, for ten years. We maintain close contacts with 5 Community Councils and the Service for the Protection of Child’s Rights. Women’s Day Centers. Two Women’s Day centers have been in operation for over 2 years. Their aim is to bring women together for fellowship, for providing with mutual help and help for other people. Over 30 women take part in the activities of this program. Children’s Summer Camps. We annually organize children’s summer camps, where 100-120 children have a nice time. Women’s Group. Rev. Walla organizes missionary trips around Sweden. We give concerts in Methodist churches in Sweden, in the events, organized by some social organizations, in homes for retired people etc. We make new friends. We also give a lot of concerts in Biržai. Preventive Program. This program is designed for the people who have drug and alcohol related problems. Pačeriaukštė Family Help Center. Currently there is a Crisis center, a Children‘s Day Center, Prevention Program for families, the Program for providing laundry and shower services in this center. The second-hand clothes store, which cooperates and gets donations from the store in Karlšamn, adds to the sssupport of the Center. We are very thankful to God for our brand-new project-a bakery, the opening of which we are going to celebrate in April. We want to thank our friends from social organization „Friend to friend‘ in Sweden, our friends from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, the United Methodist Church in Sweden for the donations for this project. We want to thank Justine and Joran for all the appliances for the bakery-the furnice, the refrigerators, the tables etc. I could name even more people, who added to the project of the bakery. We pray for them all and we are thankful to all of them. May God‘s love and Grace visit everyone, working in the Center and everyone, coming to the Center. With love, Regina Židonienė
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