Longtime Circle of Friends member, Greg Solano, operates the hot press. Photos courtesy of Circle of Friends.

Carey McBride from Canyon Lake UMC and Gene Mason from Open Heart UMC, both in Rapid City, South Dakota, assist a small team of adults from Black Hills Works* in a variety of activities. Their “Muffin Monday” ministry brightens lives of students and passers-by every Tuesday morning at Robbinsdale Elementary School.

Now, they’re creating a new look for the Solar Oven Partners (SOP) March team, our Dominican working partners, and for future teams.

For years, SOP team members received T-shirts with the SOP logo, usually good for one day’s wear in hot climates and dusty settings. Now, bright blue aprons—with the SOP logo stamped by Circle of Friends—will be worn by all team members.

Director Marj Evans-de-Carpio says aprons will make SOP team members easily visible as they work together. She added, “We can wear this uniform every day.”

In the past, only volunteers from the United States had T-shirts. Now in-country volunteers will get uniforms, too. Aprons make a visual statement—team members include Black and White, Dominican partners and Volunteers in Mission. “The implicit message is very important for both team members and seminar attendees that we are partners working side by side,” Marj said.

For Open Heart’s Circle of Friends, hands-on helping is their brand. Carey, Gene and the Circle of Friends crew combine work sessions with snacks, games, and worship, whether the products are muffins, aprons, or even making meals for workshop teams manufacturing Solar Oven reflectors at Open Heart UMC.

“The fact that SOP aprons are made by Circle of Friends is a beautiful enhancement to our ministry,” Marj said.

Learn more and follow the active mission of Solar Oven Partners here.