Four congregations each received the maximum $400 matching grant from the 2008 diocesan budget’s MDG allocation to further their Millennium Development Goal projects. Those awarded are: St. James’, Pullman, to supply vitamins to under-nourished school children in Belize (MDG #1 & 2); Church of the Resurrection, Spokane Valley, for general support of Christ the King School in Belize (MDG #2 ); St. Luke’s, Coeur d’Alene, for the Waters of Hope project to ensure clean water in Saharan countries of Africa (MDG #4 & 6); and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Spokane, to support a primary school in Haiti (MDG #2).

Remaining funds totaling $2400 will be awarded to additional local congregations in a second round of matching grants. To be eligible, a congregation need only have approved its own MDG Resolution and have committed to a project for which MDG matching funds can be of help.  The application deadline is Friday, September 26.

As of mid-July, 16 vestries and bishop’s committees had made the commitment to spend 0.7% of their congregation’s budget on MDG work. Two others contribute to the MDGs through Episcopal Relief and Development, but have not yet adopted the resolution.

The sample resolution and simple application form are available under the Social Justice and Outreach option on the diocesan website. For more information, email Char Mills.