ABC announces Caregivers Awards.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) will honor four caregivers at its Annual Recognition Dinner on Saturday, July 2, at 5 p.m. during Annual Conference in Peoria, Ill.

Phyllis Harvey of Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren will be recognized for her lifetime of caregiving. She is a retired nurse and supervisor of nurses. She founded a Senior Ministries Program at Modesto and encourages older adults in the church to stay connected and involved in the church's ministry. She also created a Health and Healing Ministry in the congregation that promotes good health, offers screenings, and sponsors a yearly Health Fair.

Carl and Doreen Myers of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., will receive a caregiving award for their lifetime of giving care to others. Carl is a retired district minister for Illinois and Wisconsin District, and Doreen is a homemaker. Both have been instrumental in developing a caring community at Highland Avenue. On the denominational level, they have served on the Denominational Deacon Cabinet and the planning committee for National Older Adult Conference.

Seventeen-year-old Micah Stapleton of Woodbury Church of the Brethren, Hopewell, Pa., will be recognized for raising funds for drilling wells in Africa. For years, Stapleton's family had been cleaning up litter along a few miles of Route 869. For his senior project, he expanded that service and began recycling aluminum soda cans. To raise enough funds by the deadline for the project, he developed a presentation asking other congregations in his community and district to donate. With the help of the Woodbury congregation and others, he sent a check of $11,666.44 to Life Outreach International.

ABC's second "Open Roof" Award will recognize Black Rock Church of the Brethren, Glenville, Pa., which has focused on accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities. The church formed a Special Needs Ministry Exploration Committee to look at the disabilities issues. Among other education efforts, the congregation installed a ramp, posted a handicapped entrance sign, made pew cuts for wheelchair use at various points in the sanctuary, and has handicapped accessible bathrooms on both floors.

Source: 5/11/2005 Newsline
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