Missions

World Service & Conference Benevolences

Ministerial Education Fund

Black College Fund

Connectional Ministry

Africa University Fund

General Administration

New Church Development

Kalamazoo District missions and administration

West Michigan Conference missions and administration

To learn more about these funds, please pick up a "Who We Are" booklet from the Welcome Center or go the the United Methodist Web site at www.umcgiving.org

VUMC, in cooperation with SCCS, hosts and supplies all the volunteers for this food distribution project, the third Saturday of each month. Loaves and Fishes truck the food in. Over 100 families, which represent many more individuals, get food at no cost, to help their food budgets go a little further. Sally Kohler organizes this amazing ministry. The volunteers unpack, sort, distribute the food, and then assist in carrying the food to recipient’s vehicles. If you are interested in helping, arrive at the church at 8am. You are usually finished by 10am.

VUMC assists when needed in loading the backpacks that are distributed in the local schools, providing the children with high protein, nutritional food on the weekends.

VUMC also collects food for the program in Vicksburg and is a financial supporter to the program.

South County Community Services (SCCS) VUMC is very involved in projects that serve our local people. We donate financial support, adopt families at Christmas, supply food baskets, help with personal items and continually collect food for the food pantry.

VUMC assists when needed in loading the backpacks that are distributed in the local schools, providing the children with high protein, nutritional food on the weekends.

VUMC also collects food for the program in Vicksburg and is a financial donator to the program.

South County Community Services (SCCS) VUMC is very involved in projects that serve our local people. We donate financial support, adopt families at Christmas, supply food baskets, help with personal items and continually collect food for the food pantry.

Sign up in the Narthex to donate $10 to Generous hands and South County Community Services

Donate blood at the church through the Red Cross

We make school and heath kits. Stay tuned for the next opportunity to help make more!

Is Sewing Your Thing? Check out the SEW WHAT NOW GOD group. They meet every Tuesday at 11 am and enjoys the leadership of Kathy Phillips. She can give you more information.

African Dresses for Girls: Other sewing projects are African dresses. Some of these kits are in a basket in the Mission Area.

Bronson Hospital: can use pediatric unit pillowcases (kid friendly prints, fleeces, fleece with a satin border on the open end), quilts or blankets, kids 23x30, teens and children 40x60. YWCA can use quilts or blankets.

Knitting and Crocheting for Missions

Do you enjoy knitting and/or crocheting and want to put it to a mission use? While the knitting group is not meeting together on a regular basis, you can still enjoy this at home. Some of the projects have gone to:

UMCOR: baby sweaters for layettes

Bronson Hospital: newborn hats (no embellishments), red scarves for women with heart disease (5” wide, 50-60” in length); afghans for preemies, 12X!@ and afghans for newborn, 23X30 afghans for child or teen, 40X60” SCCS: children’s and adults hats and mittens or gloves

DISABLED VETERANS: lab robes, approximately 24X40” Contact Barb Addis for additional information and ideas.

The CROP Walk is an annual fundraising event held in April. You recruit supporters and then spend an enjoyable time walking for hunger. If you are unable to walk, rocking chairs are provided so that you may still support this worthwhile cause. Brad Addis is the capable coordinator of this event and can answer any questions you may have.

CROP is the name given to community fund-raising events sponsored by the Church World Service, an international relief agency. Money from the CROP Walk is used to provide food, medical aide, disaster relief and self help development efforts for people in need through the world. 25% of the funds collected remain in the community being donated to SCCS. As much as $12,000 has been raised by just walking with friends!

Background/History

The Hot Lunch program provides the 22,000 children in The Methodist Church of Haiti schools (103 primary and 10 secondary) with hot, nutritional meals that many children otherwise would not receive. Before the program, children would attend school relying only on the breakfast eaten at home or snack foods purchased in the street. This program ensures access to nutritional meals, cooked on-site, to provide energy to learn throughout the day.

Goals & Objectives

Over the next 5 years, L'Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti (EMH), The Methodist Church of Haiti

1. To transition program management to BEMHEG (Education Department of the EMH).

2. Hire and train program staff to serve as educators in nutrition and hygiene as well as program monitors over 5 years.

3. Provide basic cooking materials, utensils and cooking gas to schools.

4. Provide training to kitchen staff.

5. Integrate development programs such as school gardens and composting into Hot Lunch activities.

6. Promote community ownership and contribution through Parent-Teacher associations and trainings.

Your loose change in the offering plate goes to this vital program so don’t forget to throw in an extra quarter or two. Ongoing Missions, Imagine No Malaria and UMCOR health Kits. Remember the dollars with the 7’s, place them in envelopes on the mission table and slip them under the office door.