Morro Bay, CA – Four churches in San Luis Obispo County, California – Estero Bay UMC in Morro Bay, Trinity UMC in Los Osos, First UMC in Paso Robles, and Atascadero UMC – raised $5,108 in May 2014 for the Imagine No Malaria initiative to end malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa.

To raise public awareness about Imagine No Malaria the churches held a benefit concert, showed films documenting first-hand accounts of malaria’s devastating effects on African communities, developed and distributed fact sheets, and publicized the fundraising events in local newspapers and radio stations. The funds will be used to purchase hundreds of mosquito bed nets and to support in-country malaria programs throughout Africa.

In addition to addressing this global challenge, Estero Bay UMC and Trinity UMC held a food drive to fight hunger in San Luis Obispo County. They encouraged church members and the communities they serve to contribute jars of peanut butter and canned food items. Together they collected 182 jars of peanut butter and 691 cans and packages of nonperishable food. The food drive supported the San Luis Obispo County Food Bank Coalition, the Salvation Army’s food distribution center in Morro Bay, and the Trinity UMC Emergency Food Pantry.