Local Missions at Christ Church
Here you will find details about the local agencies, programs and efforts that Christ Church supports through the Local Missions Work Area. We encourage you to find an area that interests you and get involved!
Special Winter Emergency Need!
Volunteers are needed from December 18 through March 30 to help at West Market United Methodist Church to provide shelter for the homeless during cold months. This effort is in partnership with the Winter Emergency Shelter program with the Greensboro Urban Ministry. To learn more about how to volunteer, please consult the Local Missions bulletin board located near the church's main office door.
Ongoing Local Mission Opportunities
Agents of Grace -- Contact: Jean Carter
Agents of Grace is a Christian-based, multi-denominational organization that seeks to connect, unite and deploy people toward active community service. Volunteers are asked to take one Saturday each year and devote 6 hours to community service. It is usually held the last Saturday in August.
Aldersgate Delivery - Contact: Barbara Crews
Every six weeks, a CUMC crew picks up meals at Hinshaw Methodist Church and delivers them to 15-19 apartments in Aldersgate, a low-income housing project off Merritt Drive. Similar to Mobile Meals, but operates independently. Substitute drivers always are needed.
Crop Hunger Walk - Contact: TBD
Each October, CUMC walkers join thousands across the country to raise funds to feed the hungry. Walkers raise money by obtaining sponsors from their friends, family and co-workers. One-fourth of all money raised stays in Greensboro to support Potter's House, a lunch program run by Greensboro Urban Ministry (G.U.M.). Remaining funds are used by Church World Service to fight hunger across the globe.
First Food Sunday - Contact: Steve Taylor
This project started in 1985 by asking church members to bring non-perishable food on the first Sunday of each month. Members now may bring food any Sunday and leave it in the designated boxes outside the sanctuary. Once a month, the food is delivered to G.U.M. This year, CUMC has collected and delivered more than 4,000 pounds of food. In addition, $1,200 in cash donations has purchased an additional 2,000 pounds of food.
GUM Sandwich Ministry - Contact: Dru Hopkins
Each year, Sunday school classes and other CUMC groups make 3,600 sandwiches for the hungry in Greensboro. On three Saturdays of every month, a group prepares and delivers 100 bologna and cheese sandwiches to G.U.M. They are used wherever there is a need and a sandwich to fill it.
Habitat for Humanity Projects - Contact: Lisa Vine Reynolds
It is a CUMC tradition to build or help build a Habitat House every other year. Our next project will be in 2011. The current cost of building each house is about $60,000. Habitat homeowners contribute 300 hours of "sweat equity" to the building effort. Since its founding in 1987, the Greensboro Habitat chapter has built more than 285 homes. Please click here to learn more about Christ Church's recent Habitat involvement.
Habitat Siding Crew - Contact: Larry Williams
CUMC has a regular crew that installs vinyl siding on Habitat homes. Work days are the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. New volunteers are welcome, no experience is necessary, and you can work when you are available. To get on the email list or for more information, contact Larry Williams.
Habitat Lunch Crew - Contact: Viki Cooke
Lunch crew volunteers feed other Habitat workers on the first Saturday of every other month. CUMC supplies the food, and the lunch crew prepares and delivers the food to a central construction site. The job takes from two to four hours, depending on the number of workers being fed.
Harris Teeter Food Drive - Contact: Mary Ann Bemus
Food drives are held twice each year at Harris Teeter at the Shops at Friendly. Volunteers distribute G.U.M. flyers and encourage shoppers to purchase food and place it in donation boxes at the store. Many volunteers are needed for each drive. The September 2009 Christ Church food drive, held recently, collected nearly 5,000 lbs. of food - the largest collection from a single agency in Greensboro!
Mobile Meals - Contact: Dru Hopkins
Christ Church delivers 20 Mobile Meals routes every fourth Tuesday. Volunteers, who work in pairs, pick up prepared meals at Peace United Methodist Church and deliver them to elderly members of our community who are unable to prepare their own nutritious meals. The job takes two to three hours, and substitute drivers always are needed.
Pathways Family Shelter - Contact: Mitzi Clayton
Pathways Center provides housing to families who temporarily are unable to pay rent. CUMC volunteers gather between 5:30 and 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month to feed residents a hot meal. The center can house 16 families at one time, and last year, 41 families moved from Pathways into permanent housing. Since 1981, Pathways has served 2,262 families.
Project Rebuild - Contact: Robby Dunnagan
Greensboro Rotary Clubs sponsored this effort in support of the Home Repair Program coordinated by Housing Greensboro, Inc. Rather than build a house "from the ground up," the goal is to help with repairs and upgrades to existing homes. In August 2007, CUMC partnered with Rotary to carry out $16,000 in repairs at four homes. Future projects will be scheduled as funding is available.
Red Cross Blood Drive - Contact: Dorothy Robertson
CUMC sponsors several drives each year, with a goal of collecting 40 pints of blood. It doesn't sound like much, but even with a church of 2,000, we don't always meet our goal. Sign up to give a pint of life. Volunteers also are needed to donate snacks and staff the welcome station. The next scheduled drive is January 21, 2010 (watch for details).
Refugee Resettlement Team - Contact: Carolyn Hampton
CUMC has had a refugee resettlement committee for more than 25 years. Currently, we are assisting newly-arriving family members of Greensboro's Montagnard community. The goal is to have affordable, furnished housing ready when the refugees arrive. Tasks include everything from arranging for utilities to negotiating leases. Volunteers also provide transportation for grocery shopping, health screenings and other appointments. At present, the committee has about 10 volunteers, and many more are needed.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing - Contact: Paula Trivette
The Red Kettle staffed by CUMC takes in impressive funds each year! Volunteers work two-hour shifts from 10am to 8pm, usually at the Macy's entrance facing Belk at Friendly Center. This is a great outreach activity for all ages, 3rd graders and their Bible Buddies, Confirmation youth and their Friends in Faith, and families.
Senior Wheels - Contact: Betty Kusenburg
Senior Wheels provides transportation for individuals age 55+ to medical appointments and drug stores. CUMC volunteers work the third Wednesday of each month. Drivers can wait at the appointment or leave and return. If they are able, clients pay a nominal fee for the service. CUMC also supports Senior Wheels by hosting its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser.
Weaver House (Hot Meals) - Contact: Dru Hopkins
Weaver House, operated by G.U.M , offers year-round shelter to adult men and women. Guests are offered information on jobs, housing, and other services to help them overcome poverty and homelessness. CUMC volunteers cook for 70-100 residents six nights each year - every third Wednesday from April through September. Volunteers work 5:30-8:30 p.m. This has been an ongoing CUMC project for about 15 years. Substitutes are always needed.
Weaver House (Night Shelter Check-In) - Contact: Harold Pitts
As guests arrive to spend the night in one of the dorm-type rooms, CUMC volunteers are there to help. Our volunteers work the fourth Monday of each month from 6:30-9:30 p.m., checking people in, distributing clean linens and doing laundry for residents. (See previous entry for program description.)