St. Paul’s Missions in the Community

At St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, we see local and international outreach as a vital part of our spiritual growth. The Justice and Compassion Ministry Team coordinates our activities in this area. Working with other groups in the church and local community organizations, our goal is to find ways to help the hungry, the poor, and those suffering from disaster. To do this, we offer monetary as well as volunteer support to the following programs:

· Bethesda HELP – answer calls from people with emergency needs and respond by driving clients to medical appointments, delivering food and clothing and providing financial assistance. Conduct can food drives to stock the food closet for potential clients.

· Bethesda Cares – serve meals at the lunch program for the homeless and needy. Assist with other services such as medical care and eviction prevention through financial contributions.

· Christ House – provide clothing, medical supplies and financial contributions to the health recovery facility in Washington, D.C. that cares for sick, homeless individuals. Christ House provides patients with medical care, social services and activities and nutritious meals.

· Community Based Shelter – provide food for all meals and serve dinners for one week each year at the Rockville shelter for homeless adults.

· Interfaith Housing Coalition (IHC) – provide furniture, mentoring and other support to formerly homeless families, as well as participate in the annual Help the Homeless Walk. IHC, comprised of faith communities in Montgomery County, provides affordable housing, social support, financial assistance, and medical needs.

· Mental Health Association (MHA) – as part of the “Birthday Project”, buy birthday presents for clients in the Shelter Plus Care program, a component of MHA’s Adult Homeless Mental Health Services. The MHA provides mental health services at county homeless shelters, a friendly visitor program, counseling for youth and families, as well as education and advocacy for mental health issues.

· Montgomery County Schools – assemble health kits each year for low income children attending Title I schools in the county.

· NIH Children’s Inn – supply dinners for families with patients being cared for in National Institutes of Health hospitals.

· Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April) – provide home construction and repair assistance to families identified in need for one entire day in April.

· Red Bird Missionary Conference – give the proceeds from the Mountain Way Craft Shop, operated by St. Paul’s members, to the conference mission projects. The Conference, in the heart of Appalachia and sponsored by the United Methodist Church, helps with healthcare, education, employment, and other ministries.

· Stepping Stones Shelter – serve meals and provide other outreach to this emergency shelter for women and families in Montgomery County.

· TEAM, Inc. (Talent, Education, Arts, Mentoring) – provide after school tutoring and mentoring at Brightwood Methodist Church to at-risk elementary children in Washington, D.C., as well as provide presents at Christmas through the Angel/Star Tree program.

We have also provided monetary support to organizations such as: United Methodist Board of Childcare; Heifer International; Montgomery County Hospice; National Federation of the Blind; Shepherd’s Table; UNICEF; Zimbabwee United Methodist Church.