Getting Involved

Loose Change from Florida Church Brings Change for Roteang

Denise Gosch conducts successful baby bottle campaigns for Roteang in Lakeland, Florida.

The Stewardship Committee at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Lake Worth, Florida, selected the Roteang Orphanage in Cambodia as a mission project during the Lenten Season. The committee decided to model the mission after a similar project conducted by Denise Gosch from St. Paul Lutheran School in Lakeland, Florida.

On Sunday, March 2nd, Denise and her daughter, Cambria Sokly Gosch came to Epiphany Church to tell the congregation and the children and parents of the Early Learning Center about Roteang Orphanage and the needs of the children in Cambodia. Nearly two years ago, Cambria Sokly, was a baby living at the Roteang Orphanage when Denise traveled to Cambodia to be united with her.

Arden Hintzmann, Chairman of the Stewardship Committee, and his wife Lois are the Godparents of Cambria Sokly. Arden asked each family of Epiphany Lutheran Church and Early Learning Center to take home a baby bottle.
During the Lenten season each family was asked to put their loose change in the baby bottle and bring the baby bottle to services on Sunday where the
change was collected in a large baby bottle near the entrance of the church. The Early Learning Center students brought their baby bottle to the Wednesday morning chapel services.

The baby bottles were filled many times. Some people kept the baby bottles in their car as a place to collect change after going through the fast food drive- thru. Others took the bottles to work and put them on their desks, which sparked a lot of conversation and interest. Soon others in the office were adding their loose change to the baby bottle. The big collector baby bottle was filled many times. The church staff and youth group counted many pounds of change during the six week Lenten Season. On Easter Sunday the project was completed. The 100 families of the congregation and 75 families of the Early Learning Center contributed just over $3,200 to the project.

These funds will be sent to The Sharing Foundation to use for pharmaceuticals or the Roteang Village and Roteang Orphanage. The families of Epiphany are thankful to have the opportunity to "make a difference in the life of a child."

The Sharing Foundation is always looking for volunteers to help with projects, fundraisers and more. C’mon and help us help the children of Cambodia. Contact a board or parent council member with your ideas for getting involved.