Meals on Wheels
A nation-wide non
profit organization, Meals on Wheels provides information and services for seniors so no one
goes hungry. The need has doubled since March 2020 and Community United
Methodist Church continues their support by providing volunteers for the last
week of every month. Two volunteers pick up the food with the list of
recipients and directions for distribution. There is no personal contact and
generally a cooler is provided on the outside of the home. If you are
interested in volunteering, contact Lou Schroeder 757-495-1809.
Rise Against Hunger
This has been an
annual fundraising event at CUMC the past few years that helps people world
wide with food assistance offering aide
to the world’s most vulnerable. Rise Against Hunger is an independent
non-profit organization that provides meals for children both within and
outside of the United States. RAH events
pack grain based and vitamin enriched meals by churches or other organizations and
send to countries in the developing world. Meals are delivered to schools so
that families are encouraged to send children to school because education is
the fastest way out of poverty and hunger. CUMC was able to provide 20,000
meals in Nicaragua in 2019.
Serving the Homeless:
VB Housing Resource Center
The HRC serves
people who are experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis. This facility is
an integration of shelter, housing, healthcare
center, dining hall, learning facility, support services and community
resources in one facility. It is a community system of city agencies, nonprofit
service providers, and faith organizations.
CUMC collaborates
with the HRC in several ways with Indirect
Service where Small Groups collect laundry
soap, diapers, or requested items such as board games. We have collected blankets and air mattresses to stock HRC supplies.
Two programs offered by CUMC:
The Schoolwork Assistance Program provides tutoring and after school activities for children of families that reside in the resource center
in order to keep them current with their academic requirements. The volunteer
tutors are screened and must meet the requirements of Virginia Beach Public
Schools. (NOTE: this program is currently on hold).
The Internet Access program is a project to assist newly placed families that are housing insecure to get access to the Internet. This mission is specifically designed to help children of these families get online access for school-related work, studies, and projects.
Winter Shelter Meals: In January 2022 CUMC, will partner with The Gathering at Scott Memorial to provide a week of meals for the Virginia Beach Winter Shelter program. CUMC small groups and volunteers will help cook and serve breakfast and dinner, and offer a bag lunch to homeless individuals. As the Virginia Beach Winter Shelter program returns to physical housing inside church facilities in 2023 or 2024, CUMC hopes to return as a full host church in our own facility.
Blessing Bags: This is our newest mission that CUMC is
undertaking. Prepared bags are provided for the homeless and are distributed by
The Gathering at Scott Memorial United Methodist Church in partnership for
serving the homeless. These are gallon size ziplock bags with commonly used
items such as soap, shampoo, a rain poncho, hand warmer/winter, razor, first
aid kit, breakfast bar, canned meat/crackers, and water. A Blessing Bag and/or
a bag of shelf stable food are provided to the homeless or shut-ins that do not
have transportation to get to the distribution center. A Hotline Card from
the HRC and a devotional enclosure from CUMC are placed in each Blessing
Bag.
Judeo-Christian Outreach Center offers the citizens of Hampton
Roads, who so desire, the opportunity to improve their lives by providing them
with shelter, food, clothing, and the opportunity to participate in substance
abuse counseling, job training, and GED preparation, with the knowledge that
someone cares about their well being. http://www.jcoc.org (click on
Wish List to see how you may assist). They are located within a few miles
of The Gathering at Scott Memorial United Methodist Church which offers additional support for the homeless in that
area.
Community United
Methodist Church partners with other churches in the area to provide four meals a year at the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center. The average number
served was 65, but the need is increasing. Our focus this year has been to
offer healthy choices.
Serving Locally:
Meeting on a regular basis and
sponsored locally at CUMC:
Boy Scouts of America: Troop 362
Cub Scouts Pack 362
Girl Scouts Troop 235
UMCOR Kits for the United Methodist
Conference are prepared and donated annually in June. These are school supplies, health kits, or baby kits.
Angel Tree for Christmas is celebrated every December. We sponsor local families for Christmas. We are providing a few toys, clothing, coats and shoes for children, gift cards for adult children and parents and a full holiday meal for each family.
Mission Trips:
Emergency Response Team (ERT)
This is a service ministry to provide help to local
communities that have experienced flooding, hurricane or tornado damage. The
goal is to provide clean up and roof tarping that will minimize damage (not
repair). Team members are required to complete ERT training to become
certified.
Due to COVID-19, no specific plans have been made for mission trips. However, CUMC volunteers works locally with Faith Works Coalition to build wheel chair ramps and conduct home repairs for low income and elderly homeowners who struggle to stay safe, warm and dry. Our members periodically participate in ongoing home repair projects.
