MCC Material Resource Shipment

One of the ways in which MCC provides aid and creates opportunities for people in North America to connect with people around the world is through their Material Resource Department. The following explanation is taken from mcc.org…

As followers of Jesus Christ, members of the Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Amish congregations are aware of the importance of standing with those who are suffering and caring for their needs. Sharing resources is one concrete way to signal this awareness and desire to respond. The response is rooted in thankfulness and obedience to Christ. The underlying principles of compassion, mutual respect, partnership, and search for peace and justice for all people applies equally to the utilization of all MCC resources: people, money, food and material resources.

Material Resources responds to people who are in the midst of conflict, disaster, or poverty. Collecting and shipping material aid such as school and health kits, newborn and refugee kits, blankets and other materials provides a tangible way to share God’s love with those in need.

Recently, MCC Zambia received a shipping container from MCC Material Resources filled with AIDS kits, school kits, blankets and other supplies. The majority of these resources are being distributed through the Brethren In Christ (BIC) Church in Zambia, MCC Zambia’s largest partner. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had opportunity to witness the distribution of some of these materials. I watched as students excitedly and gratefully received school kits. Each kit including notebooks, pencils, erasers and a hand-sewn drawstring bag. I was also present at Macha Mission Hospital to witness staff making beds with new handmade blankets.  It’s encouraging to know that many people, thousands of miles away, gave generously and worked hard to assemble all of these materials!  If you’ve been a part of this effort currently or in the past… THANK YOU! 

PS. Yes, there can be some drawbacks to giving material handouts, such as creating a system of dependency and negatively affecting the local economy. Thankfully, MCC is very cognizant of these issues and works hard to ensure that materials are distributed responsibly and appropriately. MCC works  closely with its partners to seek to distribute resources to those who have the greatest need and are most vulnerable.