Social Justice
We believe that we are called, not only to love and serve, but also to stand in solidarity with our neighbor in need. We work to build houses, fund housing projects, provide clothing and household items, and support proposals to increase the availability of affordable housing. We work on food insecurity, advocate for key federal funding and policies that help support people experiencing hunger, provide meals for and raise funds to help those who are hungry. We build relationships and support communities all over the world through our mission teams. We stand against injustice of any form. We are an official sanctuary solidarity congregation. We support full inclusion of our LGBT siblings in the United Methodist church and everywhere in the world. We believe that Black Lives Matter and we actively and vocally stand against racism. We believe that it is vital to the body of Christ to celebrate the spiritual gifts of people with disabilities and incorporate them into the life of the church. Our love is manifested by our actions. Our action is a stance of solidarity with those in need. We seek to know God. We are grounded in unconditional love. We affirm all persons. We learn from one another as we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, an outsider who tore down dividing walls and calls us to unity. We are progressive, relevant, and committed to seeking peace and building hope through worship, service, social justice, and education. No matter where you are on your faith journey, or how you worship, we welcome you to help us build our community. This includes all races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages and stages of life, abilities and disabilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
“What does the Lord require of me, but to do justice, love mercy and to walk humbly with my God?” Micah 6:8
Contact: justice@fumc-a2.org.
Access Team
The Access Team’s mission is to create and nurture a culture of hospitality in which people with disabilities are welcomed and participate in our church community. They meet monthly to address issues about accessibility, awareness of the gifts and challenges, and advocate for the disability community.
They organize monthly Disability Awareness Talks (DATs) to help educate and give insights into how our community can be supportive and inclusive. See a list of upcoming and past topics here.
Contact: Mary McClusky
Alpha House
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) is a consortium of over 30 local churches of various denominations that volunteer to serve the needs of families living at Alpha House family homeless shelter. Each church serves on a rotating basis, a week at a time. FUMC serves three times a year. Hosting requires that volunteers provide a hot meal each evening. In addition, activity volunteers play with the children after dinner which provides time for the parents to do their own chores or attend required meetings. Churches also provide food for lunches and supplies needed during their host week. If you would like to help with the cost of supplies, you can do so here.
2026 dates: Feb. 23 – March 1, June 1-7, Oct. 26 – Nov. 1
Contact: Beth Lipton
*Family friendly, youth volunteers welcome
Creation Care
An environment group focused on educating ourselves and our congregation. Meeting topics include climate change, plastics in environment, toxic algae (drinking water in Toledo) and environmental justice (Flint water crisis). Our goal is to make changes to our own lifestyles, propose environmental goals for ourselves and the congregation and collaborate with faith-based organizations. Let’s learn, share and take action — change happens when we all work together! View the keeping it out of the landfill list here.
Creation Care typically meets the first Sunday of the month, at 11:30 a.m. downtown.
Contact: James Pauer
CROP Walk
The annual Washtenaw/Ann Arbor CROP Hunger Walk brings walkers and supporters together to help those who are hungry. People from various faiths and groups join in this community wide event; and walkers of all ages walk a 1 or 3-mile route on a Sunday in the fall. Of the funds raised, 25% supports hunger relief efforts in our community and 75% supports the worldwide hunger relief work of Church World Service. During 2025 and 2026 First UMC will be hosting the walk, and we welcome your volunteer support to do so.
Contact: Becky Wong
*Family friendly, youth volunteers welcome
Habitat for Humanity
Our mission is to enable home ownership for Washtenaw County families who would otherwise not have this opportunity. We do this by participating with other local congregations as the Good News Group (GNG). GNG is a community sponsor of Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. GNG recruits volunteers to help renovate old homes into energy efficient homes and provides financial support through donations from the GNG congregations.
Learn about volunteering, the house being refurbished, build schedule, donating and more here.
Contact: Mark Wickham
Hope Clinic
Hope Clinic offers hot “to go” meals to consumers every evening (5-6 p.m.) except for Wednesdays and serves 150+ people at each meal. Volunteers are needed for the 4th Thursday of each month at the clinic, 3-6:30 p.m.
Other ways to help with food assistance at Hope Clinic are to volunteer at various other times throughout the week sorting and distributing food in the pantry and farm stand, assisting with pantry appointments or packing food for delivery to shut-ins. Donations of canned goods, breakfast cereal and personal items are always welcome. View all volunteer options here.
Contact: Elaine Logan
House by the Side of the Road
House By the Side of the Road gives out free bedding, clothing, small household items and toys to individuals and families in need. They are open five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. -2 p.m. They have no paid staff and need volunteers for sorting, tagging and hanging up clothes, putting out household items, and helping with checking in and out. They accept financial donations in support of activities here or they can be mailed to 2051 South State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. They also accept donations of useable items at their loading dock behind their building.
Contact: housebyroad@gmail.com
Immigration Law & Justice Michigan
Immigration Law & Justice Michigan (ILJ-MI) is a nonprofit that provides pro bono legal service to vulnerable immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers living in Michigan communities. The national program model was begun by UMCOR more than 20 years ago, and United Methodist churches continue to be valuable partners. ILJ-MI legal staff help low-income immigrants understand their choices and navigate the complexities and barriers of the legal system. To find out more, volunteer or make a donation, visit the ILJ-MI website.
Contact: Tori Booker
Kenya Mission
FUMC partners with a rural Kenyan community to provide education and a sustainable feeding program to the poorest of the poor. The Bishop Lawi Imathiu Secondary School (BLISS) serves over 600 secondary school students and was built primarily with funds donated by FUMC Ann Arbor. Much of our recent focus has been on assisting the educational and feeding efforts at Gichunge Primary School. The mission team usually departs for Kenya in February.
Contact: Kathy Macdonald
Love Thy Neighbor
Love Thy Neighbor (LTN) is an outreach of FUMC which provides food for our neighbors in the community who are facing food-insecurity. Every morning LTN provides non-perishable, pop-top ready-to-eat canned foods, snacks and nutrition drinks to the guests of the St. Andrew’s Breakfast Program. We welcome you to support LTN financially.
Learn more about LTN or sign up to volunteer.
Contact: lovethyneighbor2008@gmail.com
Mind The Gap
Mind the Gap is a group of people who are passionate about helping solve food insecurity issues in our community, Michigan and in the U.S. They are interested in educating themselves, finding ways to decrease food insecurity and advocating for people experiencing food insecurity. Mind the Gap leads FUMC’s annual participation in Bread for the World Offering of Letters to advocate for key federal funding and policies that help support people of all ages experiencing hunger and/or food insecurity.
Mind the Gap welcomes new members, contact them below to learn more about participating.
Contact: Lynn Palacios