Middleboro's "Big Give" Makes the News

NewsCenter 5 Television Reports on North Congregational Church's Giving Campaign

Editor's Note: North Congregational Church UCC in Middleboro was lucky enough to have their "Big Give" campaign covered by NewsCenter 5 television. Click on the image to the right to watch/listen to the video or cut/paste this url into your browser: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/ video/15808098/ index.html. If your computer doesn't support the video, or you don't have speakers, just read the transcript below.

Please note that because the video clip is housed on the television website, the story is preceded by a 15 second commercial.

NewsCenter 5's Anchor Ed Harding:
By now undoubtedly you have heard of 'Oprah's Big Give.' Well here's a story about Middleboro's Big Give. Instead of collecting donations, the church handed out cash.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Morelli tells where all that cash went.

Morelli:
Sunday morning at the North Congregational Church in Middleboro and a giving game comes to an end.

The Rev. Dr. Patricia Kogut, Senior Pastor:
The money was a way to get people's attention.

Morelli:
The money came Easter week when Rev. Patty Kogut handed out six envelopes, each containing 100 dollars -- seed money for church members to do something good.

Kogut:
The message was really about 'yes, these people are going to go and try to multiply it and make a difference,' but also that we can all do that in big and small ways.

Morelli:
And so, in small ways and big, the money went to work. One member gave it to a shelter for homeless children, another to a soup kitchen. Pamela Grieco didn't get one of the $100 envelopes so she used her own money to participate; but the main lesson she learned is that giving doesn't take money at all.

Grieco:
With the economy the way it is, not everybody has the money to give -- but you can give of your time. There are so many things you can do that don't cost you any money.

Morelli:
And then there was Noelle Armstrong who helped a local family struggling and then put out an email asking for more help. It came in a tidal wave.

Noelle:
One person drove up my driveway and handed my husband gift certificates to the grocery store and then left. I said 'who was that, Johnny?' He said 'I don't even know honey; just wave and say thank you.' For this family, and this cause, my heart is so full.

Morelli:
So why was the $100 giving game such a success?

Kogut:
In our lives we can get overwhelmed and immobilized when we see the need. And we don't know what to do. I think what made some of these stories so amazing is that people saw the need and they responded because they could.

Contact information for the North Congregational Church in Middleboro:
phone: (508) 947-0732 or email: nccucc1@aol.com.

Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.

You may reprint this story by including the following line in your article:
"Source: Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, www.macucc.org/spotlight"