Click on a project listed below for more information   
**family friendly projects

Outreach in Washtenaw County	Outreach in the USA and around the World
Alpha House for homeless families** CAN (Community Action Network) for disadvantaged children CROP Walk to alleviate hunger** ECIR for International students FiSH (Families in Service Here) ** Food Drives Habitat for Humanity to create low-income housing Holiday Giving** LOVE Thy Neighbor food for homeless program**	NOAH homeless services Appalachia Henderson Settlement** Bulgaria orphanage food program and church construction Costa Rica orphanage construction Estonia church construction The Kenya Project Wesley College Student spring mission opportunities Youth (7th - 12th grade) mission trips

Learn about individual outreach projects: 

Appalachia - Henderson Settlement

Henderson Settlement is a part of the Red Bird Mission Conference of the United Methodist Church of Kentucky and there are a number of community care and outreach ministry projects, ranging from agricultural, craft and clothing ministries, as well as home improvement and building projects. 

Crop Walk for Hunger Relief  

CROP Hunger Walks are ecumenical, interfaith community events to raise funds for helping the hungry in our community and around the world. CROP stands for “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty".  The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice in Ann Arbor organizes the annual fall walk. 

ECIR Fellowship

The Ecumenical Center and International Residence (ECIR) is a campus ministry that provides welcome and hospitality in God’s Spirit for international students as they come to study in Ann Arbor from around the world. 

Estonia Outreach Ministries

Working with the Baltic Methodist Theological seminary, the FUMC Estonia Project provides resources and support to enable local Estonian people to spread the good news. 

Families in Service Here (FISH)

As part of the Children and Family Ministries Team, the Families in Service Here (FISH) project matches families with service opportunities that make a difference to children living right here in Ann Arbor.

Food Drive

At various times during the year, we supplement the shelves of non-perishable food collected by Food Gatherers. 

FUMC CAN

FUMC CAN make a difference in serving the needs of the extremely poor, especially children and youth, in the Ann Arbor community. Working with the Community Action Network (CAN), the FUMC CAN Project focuses on service to local families with children living in the Green Baxter Court low income housing, by providing homework assistance, food, clothing, and other necessities – as well as a variety of family oriented service projects. Contact: Mary Danforth (426-7910, m19danforth44@sbcglobal.net)

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley is a non-profit organization, working in partnership with low-income families in Washtenaw County, to build or rehabilitate homes.

Holiday Giving Program

The FUMC Holiday Giving program focuses on service to the local poor, by providing gifts and necessities to children and their families who are homeless or living in low income housing complexes. Contact: Pat Simmons (761-5282, pbsimmons@comcast.net )

IHN Alpha House

Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) is a consortium of over 30 local congregations of various denominations that volunteer to serve the needs of homeless families in Washtenaw County. Through its Alpha House, IHN provides temporary shelter, food and support services in a caring atmosphere of dignity and safety. Member congregations assure that the mission of Alpha House is served on a rotating basis, a week at a time. Over 80 volunteers are needed for each of our service weeks (typically in November, February, and June) to make each week of hosting possible. Contact: Beth Lipton (665-9033, turboteach@aol.com)

The Kenya Project

Our ministry is focused primarily on providing Basic Education in the developing world as a means to address social issues created by poverty. FUMC has partnered with community leaders and educators in a rural, poor community in Africa to provide meaningful education to the young people in the community. Based in long-term commitment, this partnership has transformed both the community and individual lives, resulting in a close, deeply meaningful relationship between this Kenyan community and FUMC. In addition, a special Connecting Congregation relationship has been established with Mwanika Methodist Church in the local community there. Contact: Gary McClusky (fumc.kenya@gmail.com, 663-4482)

LOVE Thy Neighbor

The LOVE Thy Neighbor program is focused onlocaloutreachvolunteere fforts, with an initial focus on engaging the FUMC congregation to help address needs of the local homeless and hungry. Where possible, we will work with existing community and service organizations to bring the fellowship and strength of FUMC’s energy and resources to help address critical needs. Where unmet needs exist, we will seek to find and implement creative, practical ways to fill the gaps. An immediate need for providing a weekly lunch on Saturdays and/or Sundays has been identified as a possible first step. Contact: Bob Simmons (761-5282, junodad001@comcast.net )

NOAH

The NOAH Project, one of FUMC’s Jubilee Ministry Projects, is an initiative of Central Church in Detroit. This historic church community’s commitment to ameliorating the desperate conditions of the jobless, working poor, seniors, single parents, and homeless population in central city Detroit is exemplified in the efforts of the NOAH Project - Networking, Organizing, and Advocating of Health - a collaborative effort with Family Service, Inc. FUMC supports NOAH  by providing sandwiches in support its mid-day meal and bag lunch program. In addition to serving the mid-day meal, NOAH provides a bag lunch as a means for additional nourishment during the later part of the day since most recipients do not have access to any other nourishment during the later part of the day. Contact: Cynthia Lee (997-0593, grancynlee@aol.com )

Wesley Foundation Alternative Spring Break Service Learning Opportunities

Service Learning experiences are one of the three main focuses of the Wesley Foundation’s ministry to and with university students. While we are involved in service locally throughout the year Spring Break affords students a chance to be immersed in service-learning in an area of need further away from Ann Arbor for a whole week. The purpose of both experiences is to build community while learning and serving. While physical labor is one component of the experience, building relationships and understanding are of equal or perhaps even greater importance. Contact: Eric Stone (662-4536, ext.24, eastone@umich.edu)

Youth Bulgarian Outreach Program

For the past five years, youth offerings have been supporting a feeding program for disadvantaged and orphaned children and youth in Yambol, Bulgaria, through the Bulgarian Methodist Church. The offering has grown to include salary support for the local Methodist minister. This program provides one meal a day for ninety children, and helps a pastor serve this Bulgarian congregation. In 2006, FUMC youth Bulgarian Project spearheaded a campaign that raised $50,000 in nine months, to be administered by the World Methodist Evangelism for building the church in Yambol, Bulgaria. The continuing goal of this project is to change the world for street children and orphans in Yambol, Bulgaria and to support the congregation at Yambol as they serve the local community and spread the good news of Christ.Contact: Beth Miller (662-4536, ext. 20, beth@fumc-a2.org )

Youth Summer Mission Trips

Mission trips are an integral component of our youth ministry program. Summer mission trips provide meaningful and life changing experiences for our youth. These trips challenge youth to put their faith in action. These opportunities for serving others take youth out of their comfort zone. Meaning is found in serving. God is encountered in unique ways. For the past eleven years, FUMC Ann Arbor has sent a group of Jr. High youth and counselors to the Upper Peninsula to lead Vacation Bible School at the Zeba Indian Mission. Sr. High trips vary each year to offer different mission experiences, including Puerto Rico, Brazil, Bulgaria, and Zeba Indian Mission. Contact: Beth Miller (662-4536, ext. 20, beth@fumc-a2.org  )

UMW Missions

The United Methodist Women (UMW) is a group of women who seek to know God, and to experience freedom as whole persons as shown by Jesus Christ. The members of UMW seek to develop supportive fellowship and expanded understanding of the mission of the church. One of the key focuses of the organization is supporting the local and global ministries of the church, especially the services to women, children, and youth. Contact: Bev Bole (663-8411)

 

FUND RAISING PROJECTS

Cookie Walk

Each year, the UMW Cookie Walk is one of the most popular fundraising events at FUMC. In 2007, over 1,130 dozen cookies (that’s 13,560!) were made and bought, raising over $6,000 for local and global missions. Many people are needed to help in many ways – from organizing and running the event, to baking  and decorating cookies – to  buying and eating! “It’s hard to believe that mixing together such simple things as flour, sugar and butter can lead to helping so many people who are in need, including those who are hungry and cold, those who are waiting to be empowered, as well as all of us here at FUMC who need to be a part of a community – one that cares for all, leaving no one out.” Contact: Bev Bole (663-8411)

Harvest Dinner

Each fall, the members of FUMC gather together for a Harvest Dinner. Our 25th annual Harvest Dinner was held Saturday, November 3, 2007 in our social hall. Proceeds from the delicious and plentiful Thanksgiving dinner were be used to support Outreach Ministries. Everyone can participate – either as a volunteer or as a diner! This event presents an outstanding opportunity to get involved and build new relationships while helping serve the needs of others. Contact: Karla Paterson (662-2745, patersonfam@comcast.net)

Outreach  Ministries Silent Auction

A Silent Auction has been held in conjunction with the Harvest Dinner for the last few years. In addition to volunteers to organize and run the auction, there is an opportunity for everyone to donate something for the auction. Donated services and items are available for bidding during the Harvest Dinner, with bidding continuing until 12:30 pm the next day (Sunday). Past donations have included tutoring, an afternoon of sailing, handcrafted jewelry, handmade quilts and scarves, handyman services, football tickets, musical entertainment, to name a few. Proceeds of the auction are used to fund Outreach Ministries projects. Contact: Mary Danforth (m19danforth44@sbcglobal.net, 426-7910)

World Peace Café

Each week, the World Peace Café (WPC) offers café style coffee and tea from free trade and sustainable operations during FUMC Connections, along with high quality snacks, juices and smoothies. Staffed by teams of volunteers, WPC has three main goals: Fellowship, Stewardship, and very good coffee (and tea). The donations and income from WPC not only covers the cost of operation, but helps fund many FUMC mission projects. Contact: Ruth Ann Church (662-7611, ruth.church@sbcglobal.net )

 

Appalachia - Henderson Settlement

Henderson Settlement is a part of the Red Bird Mission Conference of the United Methodist Church of Kentucky.  Continually adapting its mission to meet the changing needs of the community, there are a number of community care and outreach ministry projects, ranging from agricultural, craft and clothing ministries, as well as home improvement and building projects. The Appalachia Project provides a unique opportunity for families with children to participate in multi-generational service projects during school breaks. Contact: Ellen Lewis (662-4536, ext. 12; ellen@fumc-a2.org )

Crop Walk for Hunger Relief

CROP Hunger Walks are ecumenical, interfaith community events. CROP stands for “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.” Walkers and supporters raise funds to help those who are hungry in our community and around the world. The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice in Ann Arbor organizes the annual fall walk, which is often held during the afternoon of the first Sunday in October. In 2007, the FUMC Crop Walk Project  raised nearly $7,500 for hunger relief. Contact: Lynn Palacios (769-0392; Palaca2@aol.com)

ECIR Fellowship

The Ecumenical Center and International Residence (ECIR) is a campus ministry that provides welcome and hospitality in God’s Spirit for international students as they come to study in Ann Arbor from around the world. The FUMC ECIR Project offers the opportunity to participate in a number of ECIR programs - including weekly Global Village Dinners, community service-learning opportunities, interfaith explorations, dinners in U.S. homes, as well as alternative spring break trips to Honduras and to US Gulf Coast areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Contact: John Wiseman