The sanctuary of Aldersgate's former property, 632 Laurel Hill Rd., Chapel Hill
The sale of Aldersgate's property in January, 2018, enabled the church to give 100 percent of Sunday offerings during 2018 to benefit local charities and organizations. As the church began to wind down the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, we made substantial gifts from the proceeds of that sale.
Here is a recap:
At the end of 2018, Aldersgate established endowed scholarships at Duke Divinity School and UNC Chapel Hill. We funded a suite at the (renovated) SECU Family House in Chapel Hill, and gave $100,000 to Zion UMC in Leland, NC, a church severely damaged by Hurricane Florence.
Aldersgate established an endowment at the United Methodist Foundation to benefit forever UNC Wesley Campus Ministries and the scholarship program at the Methodist Home for Children.
The Aldersgate United Methodist Women built a playground at the Chapel Hill women's and children's shelter.
Other substantial gifts were made to: Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, South Orange Rescue Squad, Camp Don Lee (for repairs from Hurricane Florence), Interfaith Council for Social Services in Chapel Hill (IFC), Southern Poverty Law Research Fund, and Women Veterans Support Services.
We gave financial gifts to three local United Methodist churches our members joined.
We gave financial gifts to three local United Methodist churches our members joined.
All of our Sunday offerings during 2018 helped with local needs:
Our February offerings went to TABLE Inc., a Chapel Hill organization that feeds hungry children --https://www.tablenc.org/
March's offerings established a fund through the Estes Hills Elementary School PTA to help students, families, and staff in crisis.
Our April offerings went to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center -- http://ocrcc.org/
May offerings were given to the N.C. Conference Mission Endowment Fund, for the good work that United Methodist churches are doing right here in central and eastern North Carolina.
June offerings benefited "Hope Reins," a local Christian organization that provides horse therapy for children.
July offerings were given to "Timber Treasures," a carpenter who makes and gives away (as a ministry) exquisite carved wooden crosses. You'll find many United Methodists in Chapel Hill wearing one of these gifted crosses.
We raised more than $3,000 in August to give to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, just in time for Hurricanes Florence and Michael.
In September, our offerings were given to benefit the UNC Wesley Campus Ministries.
During October, we raised money for the Veteran's Hospital volunteer services in Durham, while November's offerings went to the former Aldersgate preschool, currently located at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. An Aldersgate bench also was dedicated at the preschool.
