Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Mission Service Opportunities
SERVCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR LOCAL MISSION PARNERS:
Aldersgate Food Pantry
Our food pantry provides food and other
essential items for the needy every Tuesday from 10AM to Noon. At Thanksgiving
and Christmas additional groceries to provide a special holiday meal are distributed.
Service
Opportunities
●
Volunteers are
needed to bag and take bags to the client’s vehicle on distribution days.
Buyers and stockers are also needed but work on their own schedule.
●
Food donations of
canned vegetables, cereal, rice, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti
and spaghetti sauce, mac and cheese, toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning/
laundry supplies are needed.
Contact Marcia Wheat –
phone: 334-213-0853; email: [email protected]
Communities of Transformation
Overview
Communities of Transformation (COT) is a community-based
initiative that supports individuals who are personally experiencing poverty
and dream of a brighter future. It is centered around weekly meetings (Tuesdays
at 5:30pm), which include personal development training, the support and
encouragement of community volunteers, a free meal and childcare.
Service Opportunities
● Matched volunteers attend weekly meetings and collectively
create the supportive and nurturing atmosphere that is a key component of COT’s
program. They also work with participants in small groups to set and achieve
self-identified goals. Every Matched Volunteer completes training so that they
are comfortable with their role, understand their responsibilities, and are
effective in their efforts.
● Meal volunteers pick up the meal each Tuesday at 3:30 from
Resurrection Catholic Church and deliver it to the weekly meeting. Thanks to a
partnership with the Beacon Center, COT receives free meals for all attendees,
but delivery is not included! Ideally, a
volunteer would sign up to deliver meals for one month (4-5 times). The shared
meal is a critical part of this relational ministry!
● Children volunteers help with childcare during the Tuesday
evening meetings.
NOTE: For more information, visit
www.communitiesoftransformation.org/volunteer.
Mary
Ellen’s Hearth
Overview
Mary Ellen’s Hearth provides transitional housing for
homeless mothers and their children at the former Nellie Burge Community
Center, 1226 Clay St. This ministry has
been incorporated into the United Methodist’s Embrace Alabama Kids (formerly
The Methodist Children’s Home). This provides a comprehensive management of
services and a more seamless network of resources for women and children.
Mothers and their children can live at MEH for up to 2 years while getting
training and/or education and working toward a stable environment for their
family.
Service
Opportunities
·
Volunteers
are needed to answer the telephone, man the desk, entertain the children when
mothers are in training sessions, and provide clerical help.
·
Monetary
donations are appreciated.
·
Collect
and deliver supplies including:
Masks and Hand Sanitizer
Paper
Towels
Cleaning Supplies / Disinfectant Spray
Lysol/Clorox Wipes
Toilet Paper
Vaseline
Laundry Detergent (especially the small size –
that is for 6 loads)
Dryer Sheets
Garbage Bags
Dishwasher Soap
Towels and Wash Cloths for the kitchen
Freezer and Storage Bags
Batteries: Sizes: 2A, 3A, & C
Unfortunately, they are not able to take clothes or shoes any
longer.
Contact Patsy Eiland - phone
334-398-0174; email: [email protected]
Medical Outreach
Ministries
Overview
Medical
Outreach Ministries ministers to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
of the medically underserved in our area by providing free healthcare and a
“medical home” to adults.
Services
include medical visits by appointment, on-line tele-doc appointments, and
filling of prescriptions. In early 2020 the ministry moved into a new clinic
facility at 5741 Carmichael Parkway.
Service Opportunities
●
Volunteers
are needed to perform clerical functions, sort, and bag medications, and help
in other ways at the clinic. Social distancing is practiced.
●
Medication
donations are accepted if the medicine has not expired, and the seal has not
been broken. Gifts of medical or office supplies, computer support and other
services are appreciated.
Contact Patsy Eiland – phone: 334-398-0174; email: [email protected]
Reality & Truth Ministries
[One Church Ministries]
Overview
Reality and
Truth seeks to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those in need,
especially the homeless, in our community by providing daily supper, Bible
study, toiletry items, new underwear, and gently used clothing. Meals are made and served by local churches,
civic organizations, and businesses. A prison ministry provides Bible study for
incarcerated women at Tutwiler Prison. Transition services are provided for
women leaving prison.
Service
Opportunities
●
Aldersgate
UMC provides supper on the second Friday of each month at 108 Camden Street. This is an excellent group
project, but individuals can serve, as well. Volunteers are needed to
purchase, prepare, deliver, and serve the meal. A devotional with prayer for
the meal is always welcomed. Meals are prepared in the CAC kitchen and
transported to site in take out containers. Water bottles should also be
provided. This is an excellent Sunday School class or small group project. Make 50 boxes. Boxes, cutlery, and napkins
are provided. Patsy Eiland will have these available in the CAC kitchen for the
team. It only requires 2 to 3 individuals to hand out meals, but more can
certainly go and interact with the participants.
●
Volunteers
are also needed to help collect items and package toiletry kits in a gallon
size
plastic bag. Include such items as: Soap, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste,
razors,
hand lotion, small bottle of
shampoo, and a writing pen and pad. A non-perishable
snack item can be included (place in a small, sealed plastic bag).
●
Collect
and deliver new men‘s or women’s underwear
and socks or gently worn shoes.
●
Collect
and deliver paper towels, gallon storage bags, trash bags, disinfectant spray,
hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies.
NOTE: Clothing and household items cannot be accepted at this
time.
Contact
Patsy Eiland – phone: 334-398-0174; email: [email protected]
Renascence
Overview
This
non-profit organization assists men recently released on parole for non-violent
offenses, providing a structured support network to begin a successful,
productive transition into society. It
provides a halfway home for men who are seeking a fresh start after being
incarcerated. In addition to a place to live, a network of volunteers and
services are made available to help them succeed including managing financing,
succeeding in obtaining and keeping a job, training opportunities, spiritual
support, and assistance in making appointments and getting health care. The
current director is Susan Hunt, an ordained Deacon in the AWFC of the UMC.
Service
Opportunities
●
Volunteers
are needed to take residents to get IDs or to make doctor’s appointments.
●
Volunteers
can make and deliver a meal to the house for approximately 12 men.
●
Volunteers
can donate new underwear, gloves, toiletries, towels, twin sheets, men’s belts,
and reading glasses.
●
Donations
of bicycles and city bus passes are needed.
Contact Patsy Eiland – phone: 334-398-0174; email: [email protected]
Save Kids of Incarcerated Parents
(SKIP), Inc.
Overview
This non-profit organization provides supportive services to
children of incarcerated parents and their families to help stop the cycle of
incarceration through academic enrichment, social skills development, family
resources services assistance, and parent/caregiver group support.
A new building has been purchased and is being renovated to
house the program.
Service Opportunities
●
They
need tutors, mentors, counselors, and others to assist with after school,
Saturday, and summer camp programs. Activities will resume when school begins
in the fall.
Contact Patsy Eiland – phone:
334-398-0174, email: [email protected]
OTHER LOCAL SERVCE OPPORTUNITIES:
Meals on Wheels
Overview
Meals on Wheels is an outreach service
of the Montgomery Area Council on Aging.
It is MACOA's flagship program. Every Monday through Friday, MACOA
volunteers deliver hot nutritious noon meals to over 400 homebound seniors who
are unable to prepare their own meals. This vital program is a source of
much-needed nutrition, provides welcome, daily contact with senior clients, and
serves to regularly check recipients' welfare. For seniors who are unable to
prepare meals, the program is a blessing, and it gives a sense of security
because of its regular personal contact.
The MACOA Frozen Meals Program was
established to provide tri-county seniors a well-balanced, nutritious meal. It
was developed to serve those who are not able to participate in our hot Meals
on Wheels program, due to an extensive waiting list. However, many use it as a
temporary service following surgery, illness, or other extenuating
circumstances. Over 1,600 seniors receive needed nourishment through our frozen
food programs in Montgomery, Autauga, and Elmore counties.
The Frozen Meals program calls on our
local area sponsors like churches, restaurants, businesses, individuals to
provide these meals.
Service Opportunities
●
Aldersgate
UMC delivers meals Monday through Friday in the Dalraida area. Drivers commit
to one day per month. Back-up drivers are also needed.
●
Volunteers
pick up at MACOA at 10:30 AM and deliver to about 10 homes.
●
Aldersgate
also provides frozen meals prepared from extras at Wednesday night suppers to
other meals at the church.
Contact Jimmy
Dennis – phone: 334-462-6743; email: [email protected]
Operation Christmas
Child – Shoe Box Ministry
Overview
Every fall
Samaritan’s Purse collects shoe boxes full of toys, school supplies and other
goodies to distribute with Gospel messages to children around the world.
Service
Opportunities
●
Fill
a shoe box, or several with toys, small books, school supplies, socks, tee
shirt, brush, comb, toothbrush, flashlight, and bracelets or other accessories.
●
Volunteers are also needed to organize and
publicize collection of the boxes and to deliver the boxes to a central pick-up
point on collection Sunday.
Contact Peggy Massey – phone: 334-613-0176; email: [email protected]
SERVCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL MISSION PARTNERS:
Aldersgate has nine international missionary partners who we financially support through Faith Promise. These missionaries need prayer support and encouragement in addition to our financial support. There are all different levels of involvement depending on who you choose to support.
Aldersgate’s international partners are
● Ed and Linda Baker, water ministry with TMS Global
● Kristin Fisher, rescuing women and girls in Myanmar with She Is Safe
● Cameron and Anne Gongwer, medical and literacy ministry with TMS Global
● Neal and Shirley Hicks, outreach to Japanese in Tennessee with TMS Global
● Szabolcs Kerekes, evangelism ministry in Hungary with Church Resource Ministries
● Adam and Melissa Williford, housing ministry in Mexico with YUGO Ministries
● Mark Wittig, sports ministry in Colombia with Christian Union Sports Club
● Church Planters, serving in Central Asia with Youth with a Mission
● Servants in Faith and Technology {SIFAT) – multi-faceted international ministries
Service Opportunities
· Adopt a missionary for a month, a quarter, or a year. Provide prayer support and encouragement through written or video correspondence, birthday greetings, small gifts, etc.
Contact Wendy Askew – phone: 334-271-8923; email: [email protected]
Visit
the SIFAT Campus
Overview
Servants in Faith and Technology (SIFAT) has a campus in
Lineville, AL. Set on a 176-acre farm, the SIFAT campus offers multiple opportunities
for groups. Year-round, they partner with individuals, groups and organizations
to meet their unique needs and objectives.
They do their best to accommodate all age groups and price ranges. They
are passionate about meeting your needs. They believe that their campus exists
to be used by God to transform the lives of people for His purposes and His
glory.
Is your group in need of a retreat? Whether you choose to
participate in a retreat fully facilitated by SIFAT staff, or you choose to
simply rent facilities, they desire to serve you.
Additionally, SIFAT is seeking work teams of all skill levels
and all ages to help us steward the property that God has given them. If you
are interested in giving to SIFAT through this form of service on our campus,
this could be a great opportunity.
Service Opportunities
·
Take
a group to the SIFAT campus in Lineville, Alabama, for a workday or a
retreat. Opportunities exist in both
fall and spring.
Contact Wendy Askew – phone: 334-271-8923;
email: [email protected]
Other Opportunities to Serve
Join Aldersgate teams on short term
mission trips when they are made available. Trips to Ensenada, Mexico, to work
with YUGO and the Willifords and to Quito, Ecuador, to work with SIFAT Ecuador
are anticipated once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and our GO Lead Team
deems such travel as safe.
Contact Robert Thompson – phone:
334-850-2794; email: [email protected]