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Community Outreach

The purpose of the Missions or Community outreach program at First United Methodist Church is to identify opportunities for community outreach, and to engage in and support community service activities and projects.  Our goal is to evaluate and support initiatives that address issues of hunger, homelessness and the lack of basic goods and services.  Such needs range from food, clothing, housing, transportation, toiletries, school supplies, and other basic items and services that are essential for human dignity.  

Members of First United Methodist Church are involved in mission projects throughout the year, helping to spread the message of God’s love and care.  Such projects include the following:

BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARTY
Held in August, children from the surrounding community are invited to the church for an afternoon of games and free food.  Each child is given a bag of school supplies (pencils, crayons, paper, erasers, etc.)

CHAMP
This is a mail mission for American soldiers serving overseas.  Packages of small items such as candy, gum, lotions, magazines, condiments and toiletries are collected, packaged, and mailed to the soldiers.

CHRISTMAS PROJECTS
Each year, First Church participates in programs to provide gifts for the less fortunate. In the past, items of clothing for both adults and children have been collected, along with new toys for children of specific age groups.

ELEMENTARY READING PROGRAM
Volunteers spend an hour each week reading to children at selected elementary schools.

FESTIVAL OF SHARING
Each fall, First Church holds a drive to collect items to be included in health kits, personal hygiene kits, sewing kits, layettes and baby kits, prison kits, and school kits. Items include such essentials as soap, pencils, diapers, washcloths, and toothbrushes. The items are packaged and are then distributed to low-income homes in Missouri and mission hospitals throughout the world.

FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY
Members of First Church bring donations of non-perishable food items or cash to designated bins at the church on the second Sunday of each month. The donations are then given to FISH, a local organization which assist in meeting the needs of the less fortunate.

LABOR READY
Church members prepare brown bag lunches once a week for day workers working through Labor Ready in St. Charles.

MISSIONARIES
First Church provides financial support to missionaries who spread the news about Jesus Christ in distant lands.

SHOWERS OF BLESSING
First Church provides homeless individuals in the St. Charles community showers, light snacks, and fellowship weekly on Wednesdays.

VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION
Volunteers in Mission provides mission trip experiences to members of the Church.
An annual trip is made to the UMCOR-Sager Brown Distribution Center in Baldwin, Louisiana to pack emergency kits and flood buckets for distribution around the United States and around the world.