The AIDS Walk supports services and programs that help more than 10,000 Hoosiers with HIV/AIDS. Funds raised will provide assistance with shelter, utilities, food, medicine, and other daily living needs. The funds are managed by the Greg Powers/Direct Emergency Financial Assistance Fund (DEFA).

Won’t you sign up today to be part of Team JMCC? Your participation can make a huge difference to people right here in Indiana. The walk is Saturday October 10, 1:00 pm at University Park. You can join the team or make a donation online, or sign up and get details at church on Sunday.

If you can’t walk (or don’t want to) you can participate by gathering pledges or sponsoring someone else. You’re even welcome to join the team on Saturday for the team picture, turn in your pledges, and not walk, if that’s what you’d prefer. Our goal is to raise funds to help those in need!

As you may know, Fred Phelps and the Westboro Church have announced plans to picket at North Central High School’s production of The Laramie Project, a play about how the brutal slaying of University of Wyoming student Matt Shepard impacted an entire community.

You can read North Central Principal C E Quandt’s letter to students, families, and the community here.

He has requested, “all parents and community members to ignore the protesters, if you see them. Do not draw attention to them, do not engage with them, and do not give them any undue publicity.”

The best way we can counter this protest is to attend the play. Performances will be this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (September 24-26) at 7:00 pm at the North Central High School Auditorium. Tickets are $7 at the door.

The Jewish Community Center has also been mentioned as a possible site of a Phelps protest. They have also requested that there be no counter-protest or interaction of any kind with protesters.