Outreach

In your own way and your own time, you will feel that you are a part of a Church that reaches out both in the community and in the world to those in need. ELUMC helps out in many projects including Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, Church World Service, Open Pantry (Loaves and Fishes, and is the founder of the Pioneer Valley Free Health Service. Click on the projects below, to view any recent news and more about our involvement in the project.

Children of the World music video
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Habitat For Humanity

The house on 183 Tyler Street has been dedicated with a quilt dedicated by us. Check out the pictures on their website.

News also says that the second house from the Second Circle of Faith has completed as well.

Heifer Project International

Preparations for the Christmas Eve offereing towards Heifer Project has already begun, including a Children's Time. Check for more updates!

Church World Service

Crop Walk turned out to be a success. Good Job!

Church World Service, or CWS, was founded in 1946 and includes 36 Protestant Orthodox, and and Anglican denominations in the U.S. who work in partnership with other churches and organizations in more than 80 countries. CWS helps us support sustainable self-help development programs, meets emergency need, responds to disaters, aids refugees and helps address the root causes of poverty. The main outreach opportunities are Tools of Hope and Blankets, Gift of the Heart Kits, and Crop Walks. They also work to educate people and raise their awareness, via print, video, and online information, on global issues such as world hunger and poverty. CWS responds to disasters like floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and the September 11, 2001 attack, by sending highly trained volunteers t partner with those on the scene to provide shelter, food, counseling and whatever else is needed for people to survive.

For several years, ELUMC has been part of some 4,000 congregations and groups in the U.S. that have participated in the Tools of Hope, Blanket Sunday, and Crop Walks. Through monetary contributions and walking and/or supporting supporting walkers in the crop walkers in the Crop Walk, we have helped many in need.

To learn more about Church World Service, log on to their website at www.churchworldservice.org

Open Pantry (Loaves and Fishes)

The Youth traveled downtown to Old First Church in Court Square, Springfield, the home of the Open Pantry. Plans had been made earlier for them to help pack Thanksgiving bags for those in need. Arrangements had been made with the Outreach Team to bring down the groceries that had been collected before the worship service. They unloaded and sorted it all-645 pounds! In addition, the youth packed 144 bags with food items for families in need. This is what some of the youth had to say about their experience:

"I enjoyed organizing the shelves and I was glad to be able to help people who couldn't afford enough food so they could get some."

"After working at Open Pantry, I noticed that it takes a lot of work to feed that many people, ... I give thanks for the volunteers around the world giving up their time to feed everyone. The other thing that intrigued me the most was the fact that of all the people who need food, only about 25% actually go to Open Pantry. The thought of us being embarrassed in school, while other people are embarrassed to need help."

"It really felt like we were doing something good. I'm looking forward to volunteering there in the future."

"When I went to the Open Pantry, I felt good to be helping people out. When I found out about the people's conditions, I felt blessed and grateful for the things I have. It made me appreciate everything my parents have done for me and understand where they are coming from."

"When I had worked at Leominster's Open Pantry a few weeks ago, I had met a man who kept asking to trade his food for cans of pea soup. I never realized how thankful someone could be over pea soup! Then yesterday, while talking with the lady who works at our Open Pantry, she told me of a little girl who had gone up to her and said "I'm hungry a lot of the time". I was sad at first, but then felt better knowing what we were doing was a good thing."

Our congregation collects food on a regular basis for Open Pantry Community Services. There is an Emergency Food Pantry located at the Old First Church on Elm Street in Springfield, MA. This serves as a distribution area where needy residents, who have cooking facilities available to them, can come and receive food items.
     We also participate in Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen. Lunch and dinner are prepared and served daily by individual or group volunteers. Our church provides lunch on the third Wednesday of each month. The food is prepared at our church and brought to Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield, MA where the meal is then served.

Pioneer Valley Free Health Service