Amy Winans

Our Director of Christian Education, Amy Winans, is blessed to have a dedicated staff of volunteer teachers to spread the message of Jesus Christ to our young disciples.

Finding a spot for a vegetable garden wasn't easy for Amy Winans, Director of Christian education at First Congregational UCC, Binghamton, N.Y.The church is located on a busy intersection in town and is surrounded more by pavement than fertile soil.No matter.Winans looked to the roof, and the "Potted Pantry" was born.Using 40- gallon utility tubs, Winans and her youth group kept the church's food pantry supplied with fresh veggies all summer.An impressed community member nominated the garden for the "Give Back to Grow" contest, sponsored by Scott's Lawn and Garden and the Garden Writer's Association of America.The Potted Pantry was first runner up, earning a $1,500 cash grant plus a $500 gift certificate -seed money for a garden next year.For Winans, who grew up on a farm and earned her degree in Environmental Science, the best part was watching her fellow urban gardeners get their hands in the soil, some for the first time."They saw that onions don't come in a mesh bag," she says with a laugh.

Lost coins are found in gold boxes

One woman standing in the narthex of Faith UCC in Tamarac, Fla., has made a difference with her "Lost Coin" gold boxes project.

Amy Winans, Director of Christian Education at First Congregational Church, searches through donated clothing for a visitor to the church's Super Giveaway in the Binghamton church's parking lot Sunday.

On a relatively warm winter day, volunteers stood outside the church at 30 Main St., serving soup to the needy and helping them find clothes and blankets to keep them warm.

Amy Winans, director of Christian education at the church, rejoiced at just how many items were donated for the event.However, she was humbled by just how many came in search of warmth.

"We started with a mountain of blankets, and in 45 minutes we were down to just about a dozen," she said.