Serve With Us

Congregations Helping People, located in a Salem First UMC office space, is an expanding group of Salem churches that have come together to combine resources and work cooperatively to help people in need. You can reach this organization by phone at 503-391-4365. People seeking help are often forced to go from church to church, obtaining piecemeal the aid they need. Church staff, though eager to help, may not have the time, funds or expertise to provide the best possible help and advice. CHP provides experienced, qualified social workers assisted by caring volunteers, to link people with the right resources to address their immediate and long-term needs. When those resources do not exist, or the person doesn’t qualify, CHP may be able to provide direct assistance. Congregations Helping People is a privately-funded, nonprofit organization, governed by the volunteer board of directors. We always need volunteers to talk with people when they come in to assess their need and make sure they have the paperwork they need with them.

Salem First United Methodist Church works in partnership with the Salem Interfaith Hospitality Network (Salem IHN) to move homeless families into stable and sustainable housing. The Hosts donate their space to house homeless families overnight for one week, every three months on a rotating basis. The Salem First United Methodist volunteers provide homeless families with basic human needs–shelter, safety, and sustenance–with a spirit of warmth and hospitality. Our participation helps provide temporary “homes” in which families are treated as guests of the congregation. The MICAH ballroom is used to create an environment where guests can maintain their dignity and self-esteem. The kindness of hosts can help alleviate the hurt and alienation of homelessness, and both volunteers and guests can grow and learn from each other. Volunteers are needed every three months to provide dinner for the IHN guests, serve as meal hosts, and support staff and also as overnight hosts. Volunteers are always welcome and are encouraged to visit with those guests who welcome conversation. There are usually children who enjoy playing with willing volunteers.

Saturdays of Service is an all church mission, offered quarterly for participants of all ages! Several projects are lined up and participants reach out to the local community through food pantry work, United Gospel Mission kitchen cleaning, Marion Polk Food share garden work, packing bag lunches for needy school children, yard work at Jason Lee Mission Cemetery, and making dog and cat toys for animals at the Humane Society.