Just how does a fund-raiser for the Good Works Program get started? The driving force for a successful project is a fierce desire to help others who are in need. Much energy, work and time are involved—after the idea has been researched, discussed and finally selected and approved.

There are many noteworthy examples of successful fund-raisers held over the years in the United Church of God. This article focuses on the recent outstanding cookbook fund-raiser project.

After the Good Works Program was created by the Council of Elders as an arm of the Church to channel the efforts of members to help other members, there was great interest in the program. One of the interested people was Belinda McCloud. Belinda and her husband, Greg, are graduates of the first class of ABC. Greg is in charge of facilities maintenance and other functions at the home office, and they attend the Cincinnati (Ohio) East congregation.

Belinda had been instrumental in the very successful drive a few years ago to collect white shirts for school children south of the U.S. border, as well as a number of other humanitarian projects.

Belinda began to discuss ideas of how to raise money and to get many people involved. Through many discussions with friends, the cookbook idea was brought up, information sought, discussed with other friends and finally taken to Tom Kirkpatrick, Good Works Program coordinator, for his approval. He, of course, needed concrete information, numbers, cost, etc. This was when the real work began.

Research as to a publisher, size of book, number of recipes to be included and a myriad of details too long to list all had to be checked. After presenting the pertinent information and discussing it further with Dr. Kirkpatrick, the green light to go ahead was given.

The work of soliciting recipes from around the world began. The response was overwhelming. Belinda said that in her wildest imagination she never thought so many men and women from around the world would desire to share a recipe and participate in the project.

Sorting, categorizing and typing the hundreds of recipes was a monumental task and help came from many volunteers from the Cincinnati East congregation. Then it was time to move on to the decisions regarding the type of binding, the cover and the number of books to be ordered. After much discussion, counsel and talk with the publisher, the final decisions were made and the order given to the printer.

I think that after seeing the final outcome, we all agree that the hours of labor contributed by so many with Belinda's oversight produced a beautiful cookbook and was a very successful fund-raiser! To quote Dr. Kirkpatrick, "It certainly surpassed my expectations!"

Do you have the next winning combination for another successful moneymaker for the Good Works Program? UN