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]

Back-Pack Ministry
Overview
Food for the weekend is provided weekly throughout the school year for children identified by their school as likely not having adequate food when not in school.
Two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks are packed for each child; the bags are delivered to the school on Thursdays.
Service Opportunities
● Food donations include individual packs of cookies, cheese crackers, peanut butter crackers, instant grits, oatmeal, energy bars, trail mix, or cups of green beans, cups of corn, ramen noodles, cups of microwave mac and cheese, or cups of instant potatoes.
● Packing parties can be arranged at the church to pack the bags. Contact Kate Evans to arrange a time.
● Deliverers are needed. Delivery is made to school on Thursday AM
Contact Kate Evans – phone: 334-279-0153; email: [email protected]

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:

Overview
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]