Summer ministry at Wesley
Summer brings excitement: for renewal, for rest, for sunshine, for warmth, for joy. Summer can also bring the need for community. At Wesley UMC, we strive to be a landing spot and an active part of our community. Keep reading to find out more about summer opportunities at Wesley UMC.
Summer Meal Ministry
A simple meal will be delivered to children in 4 neighborhoods in Charleston, 5 days a week for 11 weeks, through the united efforts of Wesley United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Christ First Church, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the PEO Chapter CF. Notifications will be sent to families by the school system and Facebook. Last summer over 3000 meals were provided over the 10-week school break and we expect an increase this year.
The Church and Society Work Area is asking for your assistance. These are the opportunities:
May 28 – August 6 we need 5 people for our team for each Wednesday from 9-12:30. Duties will include making sandwiches, packing coolers, delivering food to 4 locations, interacting briefly with the kids, and returning to the church to clean out the coolers. You are welcome to volunteer for as many days as you wish. Signups are available in the narthex or by contacting the church office.
Beginning the week of May 19, we need a group of people to pack snack bags at Wesley periodically. Typically, we pack for 2 weeks each time. Depending on the number of volunteers, this can be an hour to 2 hours. Times are arranged to be convenient for the volunteers. Signups are available in the narthex or by contacting the church office.
Donations for the snack bags. These must be sealed packages bought commercially. We need some version of chips, some version of dessert, and individual servings of packaged fruit such as apple sauce, peaches, raisins, etc. We cannot use anything that contains peanut butter.
Donate clean plastic grocery store/Walmart bags for children to use to get their food home when they pick it up.
Financial donations to offset the cost of the sandwich materials and fresh fruit can be put in the Sunday offering plate with a note "Summer Meals" or dropped in the church office.
Please contact the church office (217-345-3917) or Judy Brown at jlbrown0830@yahoo.com or 217-549-7592 if you have questions or to volunteer. Donations can be brought to church and left in bins labeled “Summer lunch donations” or shipped to the church office.
Kids who typically eat one or two meals each day at school don’t have this food available during the summer, and we can help!
