The purpose of the Festival of Sharing is to gather resources and raise awareness about world hunger, poverty, and injustice. As in years past, this year’s festival will be the third Saturday in October or October 18, 2014.
The program is an interfaith celebration and supports local, regional, and international efforts. Not everyone can make it to Sedalia, MO on that Saturday though, so there are some regional gatherings where items can be dropped off. In the St. Louis area, items can be dropped off from 3-5 PM on Sunday, September 28th at Emmaus Homes (part of the Eastern Association of Missouri Mid-South UCC). The address is:
3731 Mueller RoadSt. Charles, MO 63301
(For other options about where to drop off kits, supplies, or money, check the festival’s website.)
There are several options for kits that you can either assemble or donate money to assemble. Details can be found here, but here’s a quick list of options:
Missouri Packs
- Baby Bundle Pack
- Family Food Pack
- Personal Hygiene Pack
- Paper Products Pack
- Readin’ & Writin’ Pack
- Student Dental Pack
- Backpacks of Love
- Youth Personal Care Pack
- Women’s Prison Kit
International Packs
- Emergency Clean-Up Bucket
- Health Kit
- Layette
- School Kit
- Safe Motherhood Kit
- IMA Medicine Box
In addition to creating packs, you can also give to various causes. These range from a Beans and Rice Fund and Habitat for Humanity to the Rainbow Network and Garden Seeds. (Yup, they collect seeds for needy families to use to cultivate their own food. Per their website, seeds “collected at Festival of Sharing are distributed to Community Gardens around Missouri enabling Missouri families to grow their own food, providing food to share with other families, and food that can be sold for a small income.”) You can check out the full details about the festival by viewing the information booklet. (Warning: it is 24 pages long, so it might take it a moment to open.)
If you just need a copy of the form to submit your gift, it is page 11 on the document above or use the link below.