Annual Report

Recently I needed to create an annual report for Utica Eastside Mission. This was a great task. I love taking the time to look back over the year and report about all the great things that have happened. Here are the highlights!

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

This year local churches were involved in mission in the city of Utica because of their collaboration with Utica Eastside Mission. Mohawk District congregations were inspired to share their witness and encourage others to be involved in local mission. This year 16 district churches gave their time and talents to Utica Eastside Mission.

Residents living on the east side of Utica see the United Methodist Church as a place of safety and compassion because of the witness of Utica Eastside Mission. Authentic relationships were created across race and class barriers when local church members volunteered at health-fairs, community meals, the after-school program, or social events. This year UEM passed out 30 back packs filled with school supplies, filled 6 large garbage bags at our neighborhood clean-up and treated the After-School program children to 18 fieldtrips.

Young adults were given leadership opportunities in the church because of Utica Eastside Mission, this year. As a direct result of those opportunities, young adults are encouraged to be involved in the United Methodist Church. Utica Eastside Mission employed 3 individuals this year and all were young adults. One individual is a neighborhood resident, one a Utica college student, and one a United Methodist Church and Community Worker.This year local churches were involved in mission in the city of Utica because of their collaboration with Utica Eastside Mission. Mohawk District congregations were inspired to share their witness and encourage others to be involved in local mission. This year 16 district churches gave their time and talents to Utica Eastside Mission.

Children and adults received healthy meals and nutrition education because of our after-school program, community meals, and health fairs. Neighborhood residents received the tools and education to combat disease and improve their health and the health of their families. UEM served 2,519 healthy meals this past year and participated in a 5 week long nutrition education program.

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY WORKER MESSAGE:

Greetings!

It has been my pleasure to work at Utica Eastside Mission this year. I have watched as lives of neighborhood residents and local church congregants were changed. Children experienced the love of Jesus Christ through the United Methodist Church in Utica, NY, neighborhood residents witnessed the expression of that love through the children and volunteers, and United Methodist Churches in the Mohawk District volunteered their time in mission and were blessed in return.

The accomplishments of Utica Eastside Mission would not be possible without the support of our volunteers and donors. I sincerely thank you for taking the time and choosing to be in mission with us! We are all Christ’s hands and feet and his footsteps are evident across this city in

profound ways. Thank you for making this year fantastic! I am excited to see where next year takes us!

Blessings,

Mary B. Gladstone-Highland

MESSAGE FROM AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM PARTICIPANT:

Seven year old Mariam marches into the UEM office with a sticker and a scowl on her face. “Hey! Why couldn’t I hang out in the office with you today?” she exclaims.

I explain that I was busy earlier and ask her if she would like to be interviewed. She hops up on the filing cabinet, grabs the video camera and says “shoot!”

Mariam proceeds to answer my questions about the After-School program with dramatic intensity. “What is your favorite thing about the program?” I ask. “You have fun!” she explains. I continue with “What is the best thing we did this year?”and she adds “We went to the museum.” Mariam goes on to explain that she enjoyed spending time at Munson Williams Procter Art Institute and having a story read to her. She tells me that she has friends at the After-School program and has learned “to be nice” to everyone.

Mariam is just one of kids that attend the Utica Eastside Mission After-School program. She works hard on her homework and appreciates the UEM staff and volunteers. All the children served by Utica Eastside Mission are unique and unrepeatable miracles of God and we are blessed to know them. Being in mission with UEM is a chance to get to meet great kids like Mariam.

CALL TO ACTION:

If each church in the Mohawk District made a commitment of $600 a year in support of Utica Eastside Mission, our current operating budget would be paid for in full. Please consider answering the call to this challenge and become an annual donor.

FINANCIALS:

Income 7% Individual Donations 18% Grants 75% Church Donations

Expenses 59% Programming 41% Administrative

Utica Eastside Mission currently receives income from three different sources, individual donors, congregational donations, and grants from the Upper New York Annual Conference. A majority of UEM expenses are spent directly on Utica Eastside Mission programs such as the After-School program. For a copy of the full UEM financial report please contact the UEM office at (315)-292-1239 or by e-mail at uticaeastsidemission@gmail.com