Note from the Pastor

Each year the church allocates funds in the annual budget to be distributed through the Missions Board to various entities. Most people are probably aware of the charities we help, but for new members and those not familiar with the church budget, the Missions Board thought it would be nice to feature one of these programs.

This month we are featuring Community Action of Ventura County (CAVC). CAVC works throughout Ventura County to help low-income, disadvantaged, and at-risk families and individuals become self-sufficient. The programs it offers fall into three broad categories: weatherization and utility assistance, family services, and legal assistance.

Working in partnership with utility companies and the U.S. Department of Energy, CAVC’s weatherization program helps low-income residents reduce their utility bills and conserve energy by installing in qualified homes energy efficient windows, doors, insulation, weather stripping, refrigerators, furnaces, and fans. The energy assistance program helps county residents pay their utility bills to avoid interruptions in service.

At its main office in Oxnard, CAVC offers a variety of services to low-income families and individuals. The Transition Center is a year-round daytime shelter offering the homeless a safe haven, counseling, support, and referrals for a variety of other forms of assistance. On Thursdays, CAVC distributes fresh produce, canned goods, and other donated foods from its pantry to income-qualified county residents. The Los Compadres program aims to prevent violence and encourage responsibility and self-respect among at-risk young men between the ages of 13 and 24. CAVC also provides low-cost housing for formerly homeless men at the Goldberg House in Ventura. It hopes in the near future to expand this program to include transitional housing for young adults who have “aged out” of the foster care system.

Finally, CAVC’s Legal Department provides no-cost and low-cost legal assistance for county residents in the areas of family law, housing and landlord-tenant disputes, restraining orders, guardianships, conservatorships, civil matters, wills, and general legal information.

Photo courtesy of CAVC.

Another important aspect of the Habitat for Humanity program is Habitat’s ReStore Building Material Thrift Store .

ReStore is a venue for both shopping and donations. Here home remodelers can find good home improvement products and building materials at reasonable prices, and those who have completed a home project can donate items and materials they no longer need. Suitable donations include doors, windows, cabinets, working appliances (no more than five years old, please), and nearly any building or remodeling material in good shape.

Recycling through ReStore saves dumping costs and provides a tax deduction, too. Further, Habitat points out, “donated building materials help those in need twice. Donations will go back into the community to help people who are upgrading their homes, and all operating profits from ReStore sales go into Habitat’s building programs.

ReStore of Ventura County is located at 167 Lambert St., Oxnard (corner of Vineyard & Lambert, 1.5 mi north of the 101). The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays. If you have any questions about an item you wish to donate, please call 981-2268 or email the organization at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Volunteers are always needed.

Photo courtesty of ReStore of Ventura County.

Too many books you'll never read—or read again? Magazines you can't remember why you've saved? DVDs, videotapes, or records you're ready to part with? Here's your solution!

The Missions Board is planning a community-wide book sale on a Saturday at the end of the summer or early fall, so it's not a day too soon to begin collecting donations.

A box will be on the patio each Sunday from June through August. If bringing your donations to the church is too cumbersome, you may call or email your strong and cheerful Sower editor for in-home pick-up (Margaret at 477-9898 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Photo: Creative Commons licensed by David Hawgood.

Each year the church allocates funds in the annual budget to be distributed through the Missions Board to various entities. Most people are probably aware of the charities we help, but for new members and those not familiar with the church budget, the Missions Board thought it would be nice to feature one of these programs in each issue of the Sower.

This month we are featuring Habitat for Humanity. As most of you know, Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County has served this county since 1983. Since that time they have built many homes and repaired many more. Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County is the oldest Habitat affiliate in California. It utilizes donated land; designs and builds simple, decent homes; and screens, selects, and supports future homeowners.

Donations from individuals, businesses, charitable groups, and sponsoring organizations provide 100% of the total cost of home construction. We are proud to provide funds to this worthy organization through our church Missions Board.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons licensed photo by echobase 2000 on Flickr.