Alternative Giving Mart: The Annual Alternative Giving Mart takes place the first weekend in Advent and approximately two weeks later.  It is one of the ministry programs run by the missions work area of the Outreach Commission.  In this program we link with Heifer Project, International and other agencies to supply animals, plants, blankets, immunizations, health insurance for children and other necessities to needy persons nationally and internationally.  On the specified dates we sell “shares” of cows, pigs, goats, chickens, etc as well as blankets, immunizations, and health insurance.  These items are distributed to persons in need by the various agencies.  Recipients of Heifer Project animals are required to give the first offspring to neighbors so the gift keeps on giving. We encourage church members to give shares as Christmas presents to family friend, co-workers and teachers.  Paper ornaments and gift cards are supplied to inform recipients of the gift that has been given in their honor.  

Major tasks associated with Alternative Giving Mart are: Notifying each group who sponsors an animal or program of the dates the sales are planned (i.e. UMM sponsor goats, MOM’s sponsor immunizations etc.),  Publicity, Producing the paper ornaments (lollipops, blankets, etc. are made by their sponsoring groups),  Collecting money for items on sale dates.

Angel Tree: The Angel Tree is an opportunity to give a gift to a needy person or organization at Christmas.  The gifts are received a the White Gifts service (first Sunday in December) and are collected by the various agencies involved.  The major tasks associated with the Angel Tree are:  Obtaining the list of needs by calling various agencies,   Making angel tags to hang on the trees on the Harvest Tables during November.  Each tag has a description of the gift desired

      Food Collection: Food is collected monthly for SHIM-  Prepare bags for distribution on the last Sunday of the month; Recruit people to hand out bags;  Transport food to SHIM center in Library. Food is collected and distributed where needed during disasters (i.e.flood)

     Hands-on Mission Chairperson and Volunteer: This work area chairperson discovers and coordinates various projects in which members of the local church can serve others who are in need though direct hands–on care and service.  These projects vary in time required, types of service rendered and number of persons needed. 
The chairperson:   Attends Quarterly Outreach Commission meetings,    Seeks out projects that are worthy and within means of the members of the congregation,  Seeks volunteers appropriate for the task, Provides publicity for each project ,  Coordinates supplies, accommodation, transportation, etc. for each project.

The Volunteer: Volunteers participate for part of a day-up to a week in a variety of ways as part of the Outreach ministry. 
Examples:  Assist local United Methodist ministries in repair and maintenance of their facilities,  Sort and distribute food or clothing through our local interfaith ministry,  Build a relationship with an inner city youth through volunteering with them in a garden project or by tutoring,  Be an overnight or meal host or van driver for IHN,  Help victims of floods or other disasters through on-site rebuilding projects,  Help collect funds for the IHN (soup kettle) after services on the weekend before our guests are scheduled to arrive,  Help attach lists of food to and/or hand out grocery bags after services the weekend before monthly food collection.

     Hospital Revitalization: This team is committed to facilitating the goals of CUMC to provide sponsorship of a doctor; providing medical equipment and supplies to Nyadire UMC Mission Hospital Zimbabwe    

     IHN Homeless Ministry: IHN houses several people in our facility for one week approximately every eight weeks. Volunteers are needed to:  Dinner host 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. (Janette Massaro, coordinator of dinner hosts). Two people share in cooking a meal and serving it at 6:00 p.m. in F102. They also set up the room/tables, eat dinner with the families and Evening host and help in anyway needed during this time.

 Evening host 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Sallie Beck, coordinator of Evening hosts) Assist Dinner host with setting up the room for dinner, as well as setting up the Nintendo and TV/videos.  They join in the meal and help with the clean up. The host is available to the guests for conversation/watching TV.  Helping tutor or play with children, getting needed supplies.  Remain until the overnight host arrives at 8:30 p.m.

 Overnight host 8:30 p.m. – 6:30 a.m. Help guest as they settle in for the evening.  Make sure the dishwasher is emptied and toys, books, etc. put away.  Lock up the church at 10:00 p.m. Sleep in the host room (cot provided, but must bring own linens/sleeping bag) and be available as needed during the night.  The hosts opens the outside door at 6:00 a.m. for the Breakfast host to enter and may leave when they come.

 Breakfast volunteers 6:00-7:30a.m. (Lynn Young, coordinator of Breakfast) Arrive at 6:00 and set out breakfast food provided.) May bring additional food, if you wish.)  See guests off to Van and the Center (usually they leave around 6:30). 8:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Clean up table, kitchen, baths, and set up room for Prime Time use.

 Van drivers 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Dick Guenther, coordinator of Van Drivers) AM drivers-Leave from church around 6:30 a.m. for the IHN Family House in Washington (takes about 40 minutes each way) using the IHN van.  Return the keys and van to church for use by the afternoon driver. PM drivers-Leave from the church for the Washington Center, using the IHN van in time to have the guests back to church between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. (dinner at 6:00 p.m.)

     Missions

     People Enjoying People (PEP): A Social ministry for adults with mental retardation.  Approximately 100 guests attend our programs, which consist of a light dinner, crafts, and usually a musical program.    

     Project Linus: Project Linus participants meet at the church the first Wednesday of each month to make blankets, afghans, and quilts to be given to seriously ill and traumatized children “children who need a big hug.” New, homemade, washable blankets can be made at home and brought to the church by people unable to attend the meetings.

     SERVV/ A Greater Gift: SERRV is one of the annual ministry programs run by missions work area of the Outreach Commission.  SERRV is a private corporation which acts as an outlet for the arts and crafts items made in third world countries and areas of the United States.  We purchase items from their catalogue and re-sell them to members of the congregation.  The profits of each item is returned to the individual craftsperson. SERRV sales take place twice in the Fall – usually about two weeks apart. 

The major tasks associated with SERRV are: Ordering items,  Publicity of upcoming sales,  Checking shipments for completeness and possible breakage,  Selling items on specified dates,  Reconciling inventory against income,  Balancing,  Returning unsold items to SERRV.

      SERRV Mission Statement: SERRV is a nonprofit alternative trade organization that promotes social and economic justice for people in developing regions of the world by marketing their handcrafts in just and direct manner.

     Special Projects: Include projects occur as needed:  UMCOR kits, Clothing/shoe collections, Shoe boxes for children, Making neck coolers for the military, Collecting reading materials for military, Response to local disasters, And new projects as the need arises.

     United Methodist Women: The organized unit of United Methodist women is a community of women whose Purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ to develop a creative, supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

Monthly meetings include Unit meetings as well as small group circle meetings. Mission projects, Reading program, spiritual growth are all part of UMW.

Contact Sara Dickey (outreach@christumc.net)  for more details about Outreach Ministry.