Oak Ridge Today

Memphis detective to speak here on sex trafficking

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Barbara Tolbert

Barbara Tolbert

By Carolyn Krause

Human trafficking—forcing people into sex acts or labor against their will—is a growing threat to children, students, and young adults worldwide. It’s present throughout Tennessee and our nation, regardless of economic, social, or racial background.

Teens who run away from abusive homes and those enticed to leave “good” homes by promises of a fun job or an exciting time may become victims of sex trafficking. Other youths are “rented out” as prostitutes or sold into sex slavery by their own parents, especially those addicted to drugs or challenged by economic stress.

Some 300,000 American kids are estimated to be victims, or at risk of becoming victims, of the multibillion-dollar sex trafficking industry. [Read more…]

Letter: Church Women United thanks all who contributed to Blankets+ campaign

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To the Editor:

Church Women United in the Oak Ridge area thanks and blesses the many people in our community who contributed to our 2015 Blankets+ campaign this spring.

Foremost, we are thankful for the donations of many women from diverse church traditions—including AME Zion, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, God in Christ, interdenominational, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Unitarian—who respond to CWU’s calling to celebrate unity in diversity and to pray and work for a just, peaceful, and caring society.

In addition, we are thankful for Blankets+ contributions from members of Calvary Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Kern Memorial Methodist Church, Solway United Methodist Church, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and United Church, Chapel on the Hill. [Read more…]

Church Women United to celebrate friendship, caregiving, human rights

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Anita Henderlight

Anita Henderlight will be honored at the May 1 program of Church Women United for her work in South Sudan. (Submitted photo)

Church Women United invites the public to its celebration of May Friendship Day on Friday, May 1, with a worship program entitled “Journey of the Caregiver.”

The program focuses on caregiving as a task entrusted to us by God.

CWU will also present its 2015 Human Rights Award to Anita Ayers Henderlight, founding director of Africa-ELI, which fosters gender equity, improved economic conditions, peaceful development, and strengthened leadership capacity in South Sudan.

The celebration will be held in the parish hall of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 212 North Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a brief business meeting and the program at noon. A potluck lunch will be held afterward. Please bring something to share. [Read more…]

CWU program on Office on Aging, Family Resource Center on Friday

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Church Women United is hosting a public program on Friday, April 10, in Columbus Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Cherie Phillips of the Anderson County Office on Aging and Jo Bruce of the Family Resource Center will speak.

Fellowship with refreshments begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a brief meeting and the program at noon.

The program makes up for the March meeting that was canceled due to winter weather. [Read more…]

Church Women focus on services for aging residents

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Note: This event has been canceled.

Cherie Phillips of the Anderson County Office on Aging will be the guest speaker at the Friday, March 6, meeting of Church Women United at Oak Valley Baptist Church at 194 Hampton Road in Oak Ridge.

“Whether you have retired, are contemplating retirement, or have friends and family who are retired, come find out what advice and services are available to the aging in Anderson and Knox counties,” a press release said.

The meeting is open to the public. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a short meeting at noon and the program thereafter. Drop in and stay however long you can. For more information, contact Gay Marie Logsdon at (865) 483-7940.

CWU is a national interdenominational movement that brings together women of diverse races, cultures, and traditions in closer Christian fellowship, prayer, advocacy, and action for peace with justice in the world.

Church Women United seeks support in Blankets+ Campaign

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CWU 2015 Blankets+ Campaign

Church Women United participants Fay Martin (from left), Gay Marie Logsdon, Clara Chambles, Carolyn Mayes, Goldie Kennedy, and Laura Robbins encourage individuals, organizations, and churches to collect blankets and donations in support of the 2015 Blankets+ Campaign. (Submitted photo)

 

Church Women United in Oak Ridge invites area individuals, organizations, and church groups to join its spring 2015 Blankets+ Campaign benefiting disaster victims locally and worldwide. People are asked to support the campaign in two ways: by collecting bedding for Ecumenical Storehouse in Oak Ridge and by collecting cash donations for CWU to send to the Blankets+ Program managed by Church World Services.

Ecumenical Storehouse serves displaced individuals and families from Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane, and Scott counties who have lost their homes because of fire, flood, or other emergencies and have been referred to the storehouse for support in setting up a new household. The storehouse offers basics such as bedding, towels, dishes, and furniture regardless of the client’s color, race, faith, gender, or handicap. Ecumenical Storehouse is located at 134 East Division Road in Oak Ridge and can be contacted at (865) 481-0274. [Read more…]

Church Women United kick off ‘Blankets+’ drive on Friday

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Church Women United will meet on Friday to kick off the 2015 “Blankets+” drive benefiting disaster victims around the world.

The February 6 meeting will be at Kern Memorial United Methodist Church at 451 East Tennessee Avenue in Oak Ridge. The public is invited. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a brief meeting and the program at noon.

CWU is a national volunteer faith-based women’s movement that brings together women of diverse races, cultures, and traditions in closer Christian fellowship, prayer, advocacy, and action for peace with justice in the world.

For more information, contact Gay Marie Logsdon (483-7940).

Church Women United to focus on human rights on Dec. 5

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Jackie Jackson of East Tennessee Family Services will be the guest speaker at a Human Rights Celebration organized by Church Women United on Friday, December 5, at Spurgeon Chapel in Oak Ridge. The theme of the celebration is “Through God Our Hands Can Protect.”

Spurgeon Chapel is located on the corner of South Benedict and Houston Avenue in Oak Ridge. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m. and the meeting, and the program starts at noon, a press release said. A potluck lunch will follow.

Everyone is welcome, and reservations are appreciated. For more information, contact Gay Marie Logsdon (483-7940).

Church Women United has Friday program on Big Brothers, Big Sisters

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Church Women United of Oak Ridge is hosting a program about Big Brothers and Big Sisters of East Tennessee on Friday, October 3, at First Presbyterian Church at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Vivian Gwinn will be the guest speaker.

Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m. with refreshments, followed by a short meeting and program at noon, a press release said. Visitors are welcome to drop in and stay however long they can. The program will be held in Room 102 of the Activities Building at the southeast corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. The building is handicap-accessible. [Read more…]

Church Women United has lunchtime book review on Friday

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Church Women United resumes its lunchtime series of programs on Friday, September 5, with a book review of “Year of Plenty” by Craig L. Goodwin. The program will be held in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The hall is most easily accessed from the Vienna Road entrance.

Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m. with refreshments, followed by a brief meeting and program at noon. The public is welcome to attend, a press release said.

Church Women United is a national volunteer ecumenical women’s movement that brings together women of diverse races, cultures, and traditions in closer Christian fellowship, prayer, advocacy, and action for peace with justice in the world. For more information, contact Gay Marie Logsdon at (865) 483-7940.

Church Women United celebrates friendship, service

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Submitted

Church Women United invites the public to a program entitled “Through God Our Hands Can Serve” on Friday, May 2, in the parish hall of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 212 N. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge. The program celebrates May Friendship Day by focusing on the gifts that God has provided each of us to serve others.

Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a brief meeting and program at noon. A potluck lunch will be held afterward. Please bring something to share. Reservations are appreciated but not required.

CWU was founded in 1941 as a national interdenominational women’s movement to bring together women of diverse races, cultures, and traditions in closer Christian fellowship, prayer, advocacy, and service to strengthen communities and build peace with justice. For more information, contact Gay Marie Logsdon at (865) 483-7940.

Church Women United to host speaker from Healthy Start

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Susan Moore

Susan Moore

Susan Moore, program supervisor for Healthy Start of Anderson County, will discuss the program’s role in preventing child abuse during an April 4 presentation in Oak Ridge.

The program is part of the celebration of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and it’s hosted by Church Women United, a press release said.

Healthy Start of Anderson County has been deemed an elite “model program,” ensuring the medical well-being of mothers and infants and preventing child abuse. Healthy Start programs enhance child development by helping children meet physical and mental milestones that affect their readiness for school. Healthy Start also supports parents and extended families in creating a positive environment for the child within the family, the press release said. [Read more…]