Kindness – INC Giving Project

Singing For Our Veterans

“27Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.” Proverbs 3:27 GNT

This Bible verse encompasses the whole idea of the INC Giving Project, a program of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, to help, to do good deeds, and to strengthen the community.

From winter clothing drives, tree planting, and food bank donations, I’ve volunteered for each and every activity. I’m always ecstatic to see the camaraderie of the INC Giving volunteers when it comes to these activities, and the great number of volunteers and good spirits will constantly be an uplifting source of happiness for me.

Recently, the local congregation of Eastwood had an INC Giving: Singing for a Cause event. Both children and youth officers were hard at work in the weeks coming to this event; practicing songs, dance moves, and of course, being cute. Classic songs, such as “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, “You Are My Sunshine” and many more, were being prepared for the elderly at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans.

I had my own role at this event – being an emcee with another volunteer from our local congregation, Mia Medina. For both of us, it was our first time as emcees. So, of course, we were both anxious while we practiced. But no matter how much or how little we practiced, we could never prepare for the excitement that would come on that day.

On the day of the event, it was raining. But it didn’t deter the spirits of the performers or ours, the hosts. Last-minute practices of the songs and the program were echoing the halls of the building, while the elderly and their family members filled up seats. Up to the last second, our excitement was high. And then, we had a bumpy start.

After the first performance, Mia and I got a grip on ourselves and our impromptu lines. The children performed with great delight and were very cute. Our audience members were overjoyed and zealous over the kids’ performances.

One little child, in particular, surprised us with his affinity for the piano. Jian Morales, a young choir member, shocked the audience, and the other volunteers, with his beautiful rendition of classical pieces.

As the event came to a close, the final song involved the kids handing flowered presents to the elderly. It was a great experience all-round. The audience, the tech crew, the performers, and Mia and I, had a wonderful time at this event. The final words were said by the staff in charge of us being there.

As we wholeheartedly thanked them for being with us that afternoon, they respond with the same respect and thankfulness for the joy we brought them. This made all the hard work, practices, and semi-stressful times all worth it.

Doing good deeds is never a duty. It is a joy that adds to your own piece of mind and health. Small acts of random kindness is enough to create a wave of positivity and great happiness.

Whenever we can, absolutely do good things.

About the Writer:

Dave finished his architectural technology program at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He is applying for a Bachelor of Design degree at U of A. He is also the president of the Kadiwa, or youth group, in his local congregation and is an aspiring teacher for the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Children’s Worship Service.

He believes in doing good, helping others, paying it forward and encourages everyone to be kind, be helpful, and always be a friend.

Ideas for Your Local Congregation

Volunteers play a huge part in the services organizations are able to provide in your city. Find out how many volunteers are needed and depending on the size of volunteers, you may need to find several opportunities to give everyone a chance to participate.

Here are some ways your local congregation can participate in the weekend of service:

Contact City Officials to see how you can lead/sponsor a Community Clean Up
Find out what city events are happening in your city and if there is a need for volunteers
Spend quality time with residents of elderly community. Activities include
- Singing for A Cause
- Art of Giving Projects
- Gardening or other group volunteering with organizations that deliver food to seniors, running errands, visiting local seniors
Police/Fire Appreciation Days – Visit your local precinct/stations and bring recognition and treats for the services they provide your community
Coordinate a group volunteer opportunity with a local shelter, food banks, etc that is always in need of volunteers
Coordinate with a community center to sponsor “A Help Up” event for low income communities

How One Idea Impacted 200

Rhea Mae Cabardo, a small business owner and INC Giving volunteer from Omaha, Nebraska was sitting at her desk as usual when she felt a strong pull at her heart that she was supposed to do something for the kids at her sister’s school.

How did you get started?

Literally, that moment when I felt that tug, I contacted the school secretary and told her what I was inspired to do. I then drove over to Oriental Trading Company and spoke to the Marketing Manager. I sent them a follow-up email and within days they had sent me boxes to my house with more than 2000 items. I emailed Google and visited local supermarkets and informed them of what I was doing. I contacted the Universities in the area and all of those I had reached out to was more than willing to donate.

I have a small business marketing company and reached out to all the local small business owners and they were ready and willing to sponsor bags. After putting it on Facebook and Instagram, my friends from all over the world inquired and sent money to sponsor bags as well.

What was the reaction from those you contacted?

They were eager and did not hesitate to give what they could after speaking with them. It was so inspiring to see their hearts and love for children.

How did get in contact with the school?

My sister is the counselor and set up a time for me to talk to the school’s principal.

It snowballed into something amazing, in regards to the response from the community at large.

What was your biggest take away…and what would you say to someone thinking about doing something good for a local school?

My biggest take away is, don’t silence the small voice that’s telling you to be of service. Whether it’s to be of service to one person, 2 people or thousands. Sometimes the doubt is louder than that small voice telling you to do it that good thing. For a brief moment, the doubt kept creeping saying, “someone else will do it, who do you think you are, where are you going to get the money to do this.” But I just prayed and was reminded that if God is part of this, everything will fall into place.

So at the end of December, proudly wearing her INC Giving T-shirt, Rhea delivered about 200 bags for the students of Florence Elementary School. When interviewed about what inspired her, Rhea simply said, “that the community cares about them, they’re thought about and they’re love.”

Rhea’s efforts was featured on KMTV News 3, the Point Forward, a local online publication and the Omaha Public School Newsletter.

Rhea Mae Cabardo works is a small business owner based in Omaha, Nebraska. She often helps with the events of the INCGiving Project in her hometown. She is already making plans to do a similar event this year with another local school

Showing Kindness to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

We have seen and heard about the sad events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: 17 students killed by a shooter. Another senseless act.

In the wake, one of the many questions being tossed around the nation is, “How can I help?”

Staff from the high school have reached out to answer this question. With a simple search, you can find the school’s requests as well as various organizations asking for help in preparation for school reopening on February 27th.

Please join us in sharing kindness and love to the staff and students. Here are some of our suggestions. As with all acts of kindness, don’t forget to share incgiving.org or incmedia.org

Supportive Banners: Organizers are asking for supportive signs and banners, preferably laminated.
Care Packages: School supplies and practical items. We suggest including a card. You can use the template below.

We have also included below a mailing label ready to print and fill out for easy mailing.

“Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.” – Proverbs 3:27 TEV

Card Template (8.5 x11 Print Size): INCG_Card_Template

Mailing Label(8.5 x 11 Print Size): INCG_AddressLabel

21 Day Kindness Challenge

Starting February 1st, check out the kindness challenge of each day and post about it with #INCGiving #21DaysKindnessChallenge.

Complete the 21-Day Challenge and be featured, here. Challenge accepted?

INCGiving Kindness Challenge

They say it takes 21 days for something to become a habit, so we’re challenging you to 21 days of kindness. Take a photo, share it online and use #INCGiving. We’ll be featuring some of your posts for inspiration on a future blog and on social media.

Below is a list of 21 different acts of kindness you can take part in. They’re easy. They’re simple. But, most of all, we hope they remind you of how powerful doing good can be.

Say thank you, smile and hand an incmedia.org card to your server, your neighbor, the carpool, anyone really!
Buy someone a cup of coffee or pay for a stranger’s meal.
Write and leave positive sticky notes for your friend, kids, parents, etc.
Show kindness on your commute. Give away your parking spot, give up a seat on the train for someone, and be polite on the road.
Help someone carry his or her shopping bags to the parking lot.
Practice gratitude – compliment a stranger, say thank you to mail carriers, send a “thank you” card/email to a teacher that inspires/inspired you.
Send a card to people who dedicate their lives to helping us – soldiers, police officers, firefighters and teachers to name a few.
Leave quarters at a laundromat or tape some change to a vending machine for someone to use along with an incmedia.org card.
Contact an organization you’ve always wanted to volunteer at to find out how and schedule a time to volunteer.
Be a welcoming neighbor — rake someone’s leaves, offer to clear someone’s driveway during the winter, bring in your neighbor’s trashcans.
Help new (or even not so new) parents – offer to unload their car, cook a meal, pick up groceries, etc.
Leave a nice server the biggest tip you can afford.
Deliver a bouquet of flowers to a nearby nursing home.
Donate a piece of clothing for every new item you bought recently.
Bring doughnuts (or a healthy treat, like cut-up fruit) to share at work or school.
Tweet or Facebook message a genuine compliment to three people right now.
Leave free bus fare for someone or fill up a metro/subway/train card for someone to use.
Offer a homeless person your bag from the restaurant.
Help clear someone’s driveway.
Donate new/used books.
Volunteer – go to a soup kitchen, a shelter, a food bank, etc. and spend a couple of hours volunteering.

Love For Our Teachers

It’s June and the school year was almost over. As many youngsters and students were already thinking of their summer plans and eagerly anticipating the upcoming months of sleepovers, no homework, and fun in the sun, it’s easy to overlook the staff and teachers who took care of our children for the last ten months. However, this was not the case for the Church of Christ, Iglesia Ni Cristo, in Winnipeg, Ecclesiastical District of Central Canada. Church members organized a Teacher’s Appreciation Day for the teachers, workers and school trustees for the different school divisions in Metro Winnipeg.

This was the very first event of its kind in this Region. And members from the Winnipeg congregations were eager to show their love and appreciation to the school teachers in attendance.

“Teachers were very important to me because they’ve allowed me to really change my community and help me shape my identity in a way where I can contribute,” says Renato Mamucud, from the Local Congregation of Winnipeg South who graduated with a Law degree from The University of Manitoba. “Teachers are one of the few kinds of people that kids see every day, that is a positive influence.”

The event featured food and entertainment, including musical performances by the children and youth of the local congregations of Winnipeg. Certificates and flowers were also given to the many teachers in attendance to show the heartfelt appreciation and gratitude the brethren had for them.

“It was just such a pleasure to be here! Just the fact that the kids wanted to include us in the event, it’s just very humbling!” says Lauree Kopetsky, a high school teacher from St. James Collegiate in Winnipeg.

When asked about his experience at the event, high school teacher Steve Halbert responded: “To be part of this was just very flattering, greatly appreciated. We had so many kids that come from families that are members of the Church. We are just very happy to be part of the festivities!”

Contributed by: Jeb Javier, Winnipeg, Canada

A Box Of Hope

One by one, I watched the students walk into the dimly lit room and one by one I watched them exit with an armful of snacks and smiles on their faces. The snack closet volunteer revealed that this school, located about a half hour outside of Oklahoma City, is one of many schools across the state that have a food pantry available for their children. For many of these children the only complete meal they eat is at school from the free lunch program making the weekends difficult and often uncertain when it comes to food. Teachers identify students that come to school hungry and they are given items from the food pantry before they are sent home over the weekend.

This was my first exposure to the rural Oklahoma school system and it seemed a world away from Oklahoma City, the state’s capital where I lived for over half of my life. It presented me with two new understandings about the state: these are the farms that people picture when they think of Oklahoma and poverty is a very real problem even for the very young.

As I played through in my mind the cycle of poverty and hunger considered normal for these children, I found that one piece of the cycle was still a little unclear: a source. Perusing past the snack closet, “The Regional Food Bank” was posted across each box. I looked it up. The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma website boasted:

They are the largest non-profit food bank in Oklahoma,
They have over twelve hundred feeding programs across the state from homeless shelters, soup kitchens, to school food pantries much like the one I was at.

Everything started making more sense and ironically our local was set to volunteer at the food bank a few Saturdays later. The murky waters of this food supply was being unearthed and quickly brought into the light.

Early on a Saturday morning, I rolled out of bed clad in my INCGiving shirt and closed-toed shoes ready for the unknown. The information we received in our emails said we’d be “bagging and boxing food.” Upon arriving, I checked in our local congregation for our shift and geared up for our station. After a demonstration from one of the coordinators we took off sorting crates of donations, boxing, weighing, labelling.

Our group was definitely the loudest of the hundreds of other volunteers and groups there that Saturday. How, you ask? How can you be loud in an assembly line of bagging and boxing? Our station was filled with laughter, chatter and smiles. The spirit of brotherly love shining through the early Saturday morning fatigue and the local congregation united for a cause that was close to the community, close to home, and close to my heart.

The recurring theme throughout the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the various programs they lead is “Fighting Hunger…Feeding Hope.” I have heard about the Regional Food Bank, I have seen their posters, I have even volunteered previously; but this year I had the opportunity to see the direct line of who these efforts are helping. It’s more than a tray of cookies or a box of cereal. It really is hope. In that same hope I have a new-found trust in something I cannot see. It is with that hope united with faith and love that we continue to reach out, an endeavor that is always guided by the Church Administration. I can only hope to be an instrument in good works to shine as a light anywhere, from the “big” city buzz to even the slower-paced regions like here in rural Oklahoma.

Contributed by Sharron Vaughn, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Saving Lives

Stephanie Dinogan from Omaha, Nebraska arrived early at the Omaha house of worship. She had organized blood drives before but this time it was different. This time she walked in not just as the coordinator but also as one of the hopeful donors.

After meeting with the Red Cross representative, Fiona Sullivan and the Drive Director, Rob Knobbe at 7:00 AM Central Time, Stephanie and the other volunteers took their spot at the registration table and by 8:30 AM, the scheduled donors began to stream in, punctual and very eager to be part of a special event.

photo_2016-05-17_19-20-30 — Donor and Blood Drive Coordinator in Omaha, Nebraska, Sister Stephanie Dinogan

“It’s my first time donating! When I look back on this moment I’ll remember uniting with my brothers and sisters in faith in this remarkable effort to save the lives of others.” said Sister Stephanie Dinogan

Donors came in all ages. Elderly sisters bravely donated once again and new high school graduates lined up to do their part. There were young members as well, too young to donate but not too young to help out. They encouraged everyone to donate because they were the product of 16 blood transfusions as a little baby.

Anytime we leave with more blood than what we came with, it’s a success…I would love to come back and do this again. And you know the saying that one donation can save up to 3 people? So, even if you think you could have gotten more, even 30 people could save 60 people. – Rob Knobbe, Blood Drive Director, Omaha, Nebraska.

“Everyone said the same thing, we were literally donating at the same time as hundreds maybe even thousands of other people,” said Stephanie Dinogan.

In Manitoba, Canada, donors also gathered to donate blood. Those from outside the city of Winnipeg also drove in to support this activity. They joined the thousands of members of the Church of Christ from across the North American continent that, at that moment, were doing the same thing.

“From the moment we walked into the blood bank, the excitement and anticipation from first-time donors up to regular donors, were truly felt. Up to 50 donors can help 10 patients in cancer treatment, and by the Church contributing to this cause, they are helping in supplying that need.” – Zandrhea Pelimiano, Calgary, Alberta

Meanwhile, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, James Sabayo was prepared to donate blood for the first time. His dad, Roland Sabayo, a leukemia survivor inspired him and a few others in the congregation to also do their part.

Listening to the experiences of those whose lives were affected through the kindness of donors’ fueled members with inspiration as they arrived to donate blood.

In the United States, blood banks saw the same overwhelming response from volunteers eager to do their part.

RebeccaAssistingBroJojoMadlangbayan — Rebecca Ruitenberg, Community Blood Services – Donor Tech, Elizabeth, New Jersey helping Brother Jojo Madlangbayan.

“It’s really good [for organizations to host blood drives like this one]. We can’t do our job if you guys don’t do your job and have the blood drives. And so, if you don’t have blood drives, we can’t collect our product efficiently and at such a quantity as we’ve gotten today; [which] is amazing. – Rebecca Ruitenberg, Community Blood Services – Donor Tech, Elizabeth, New Jersey

Many walked in with various reasons as to why they wanted to help.

“My mom, when she was alive, she had a few blood transfusions. If you can donate [blood] and it can go to someone who really needs it, then unknowingly, you’ve saved someone’s life. It’s great, it’s like I’m literally saving lives.” Blake Zaide, Chicago, Illinois

“This is a very noble activity. As a blood transfusion recipient myself, I know very well the importance of donating blood, that’s why I did not hesitate. – Dr. Charlene Vargas, Local Coordinator, Orlando, Florida.

“I donate regularly because growing up I knew my grandma needed blood transfusions. I know it’s needed by a lot of people and it’s not hurting me in any way. So if it doesn’t hurt me anyway and it benefits people who need it, Why not?”– Christine Valencia, Markham, District of Eastern Canada, 4th time blood donor.
“I remember that there were times Myla was needing blood transfusions almost every week and platelets transfusions every 2 to 3 days! Seeing brethren nationwide, in the US and Canada, makes us so happy – knowing many just like Myla before, will benefit from this drive!” – Leyna Cunanan, Alameda, California

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After her daughter Myla was diagnosed with Myeloid Sarcoma, a solid tumor composed of immature white blood cells, Leyna has taken countless trips in and out of the hospital and knows all too well what events like this can do for her daughter and for the community. But what was most inspiring to her was when she saw this flyer on the Asian American Donor Program’s Facebook page.

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“We are so excited. I just saw a flyer of a patient with our Iglesia Ni Cristo address on it.”

The Asian-American Donor Program is dedicated to increasing the availability of potential stem cells donors for patients with life-threatening diseases curable by a stem cell transplant. Because of the shortage of registered donors in different ethnic groups, many of those diagnosed run the risk of never finding a match — making events like the ones sponsored by the Church Of Christ, through the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, not only timely but life-saving.

Blog-Myla-002 — Sister Myla with her siblings volunteering for another Bone Marrow Drive. Since being diagnosed, she and her family have actively campaigned for more people to sign up as Bone Marrow Donors.

“Myla and our family hope that with the bone marrow registration drive many patients will find their match.” – Leyna Cunanan

So, at many of the Blood Drive sites were also tables for individuals to register to be a Bone Marrow Donor. Be the Match, the organization that coordinates Bone Marrow Registration in the US, however, was not able to send recruiters to all the different sites of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, so individuals like Vivian Abernathy trained some of the young volunteers from the Church to go out to different locations themselves and help register Bone Marrow Donors.

“Those types of volunteers for us are like gold. They are so important because today, we were able to reach out to different spots that INC is doing blood donations that we weren’t able to be at. We are so blessed to have you (INC) to do that.” –Vivan Abernathy, Be The Match Coordinator, who worked with INC brethren from the local congregations of Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, and Glendale at Children’s Hospital LA for the Nationwide Blood Donation & Bone Marrow Registry Drive

In total, thousands of members throughout the United States and Canada united together in blood donation and bone marrow registration drives hosted at 137 different sites.

“I think we all felt almost at peace that we are all in the same Church, staying united with the Church Administration…. and also having fun doing it!” – Cecille Assim, Burnaby, British Columbia

The event was especially important for the Cecille Assim, an oncology nurse and daughter of a cancer survivor. The event allowed her and husband in Burnaby, British Columbia, her sister Camille in Edmonton, Alberta and her parents and brother in Ottawa, Ontario to participate despite the distance between them.

“We were all texting and sharing pictures all day! My sis and I even wore the same shirt that day for the pamphlet drive and blood donation!

We all first off wanted to participate because we wanted to be united with the Church Administration. And secondly we knew this could help someone like my mom. We all can’t help someone directly affected by cancer. But this is one way to help them in their time of need. And not only cancer patients…but those going through surgery, motor vehicle accidents and more!” – Cecille Assim, Burnaby, British Columbia

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Watch the INCGiving Show: Giving the Gift of Life – FYM Foundation Sponsors Blood Donation & Bone Marrow Registry Drives

Contributors: Rhodora Rigor, Thea Canero, Rhoslyn Gaviola, Jessica Garcia, Robyn Aguirre, Stephanie Dinogan, Cecille Assim, Marilen Barreda, INC Media Bureaus in Canada and United States

INCGiving: Bringing Smiles with Band-Aids

When I was 3, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was diagnosed with cancer somewhere near my birthday. It was quite a rough time, but God and the doctors He sent to take care of me helped me a lot. Since they were helping me so much during that time, me and my family were very thankful. So, we made a vow that every year for my birthday we will donate things to the hospital I went to, such as Band-Aids, toys, and gift cards. This year we donated character Band-Aids and gift cards to the Pediatric Cancer patients and Pediatric Department of the hospital. Why character Band-Aids? My hospital doesn’t have the funds to provide the Band-Aids with fun designs.

Often, it’s the boring, plain, skin-color Band-Aids that are given to kids. These ones are more fun and put more smiles on those children who are going through multiple procedures. Plus, I loved getting character Band-Aids after one of my shotties. We also have gift cards for the teenagers who got bone marrow transplants and spinal taps. Most donations that are brought to the hospital are for kids and there aren’t a lot of gifts to be given to teenagers. This year held many surprises and was actually one of my largest donation drives to date.

Every year is the same. My mom helps me out by posting my donation drive online and writing letters to her school to donate Band-Aids to my hospital. But this year was different. It started out when I was in class doing a project. We had to make a slideshow about our partners. My friend’s slide had a picture of me because I was his favorite person. Our Technology teacher, Ms. Baut, asked how he managed to get a photo of me. She was curious because it wasn’t any ordinary picture but it looked like it was off a television program. And it was. It was a picture of me from incmedia.org and a link to a TV segment about me and my giving project. He then introduced her to INC Media. After she watched a video about me, she was very inspired and amazed. I started to tell her about the Church and how I donate to my hospital every year. And how my Church told my story through the media.

She said that she could have the whole school donate Band-Aids! My school was a big help and helped me collect 278 boxes of character band-aides.

This was the first year that I was able to rally people to help without my parents’ help, and, to top it all, I was able to share my faith with not only one teacher, but other teachers as well.

Over the years brethren, family, and friends have donated Band-Aids from all over the world: The Philippines, Switzerland, London, California, Arizona, Canada, Florida, Georgia, etc. all through the help of social media. I’ve gained so much support with my donation drive this year, and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my generous supporters. This year is one of the most special years of my donations, with the most Band-Aids I’ve ever received in any of the 6 years of donating. I collected 741 character Band-Aids along with nearly $365 worth of gift cards. That’s amazing! Thank you so much for all the support you guys have given me! You all have a special place in my heart and I hope that you will have a BRILLIANT day!

I really believe in the verse “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it” (Proverbs 3:27). I do my best every year to give to those who are sick like I once was. And when I can, I will share my faith because it was God who healed me and even answered the prayers of a little boy like me.

As a thank you, I also visited my doctors and nurses and gave them a yummy treat for taking care of me. And thank you cards I gave to the doctors, nurses and my school.

Thank you, Mr. Fritzgerald, my principal, thank you to my oncologist, Dr. Goodwell.

and Ms. Bout my technology teacher who helped with my donation drive. Thank you, Dr. Kwon and my nurse and the gift cards I donated.

Contributed By: Bro. Chance Serrano

Local Congregation of Chicago, Illinois

District of Northern Mid-West