We believe we should have a passion for connecting with others and that God is calling us to become increasingly more vested in our neighborhood and local community. Our community of Open Door Churches offers opportunities for both regular and one-time types of community service in which to participate.
Here are some current service activities offered (call the church listed with any questions):
Please bring an unwrapped gift for children from babies to teenagers (craft kits are a great gift idea) and place it in the box in the Fellowship Hall. The gifts will be distributed to children whose families are struggling financially.
Every Christmas we collect food and gifts for families in need from our neighborhood schools. Along with food boxes for Christmas, we also give gifts to children in each family. This year we are helping 10 families which means there are 32 children! Please take a tag or two from our Christmas tree and bring back your tag attached to your gift. Last day to bring in the gifts and food items is December 12th. If you are unable to shop but would like to participate please mark your donations for Christmas gift boxes.
Every 1st Monday of the month from 5:30-8 p.m., volunteer with us to help hand out food to our neighbors who need it. The food bank is located at Faith Lutheran Church in Keizer, Oregon.
On the 1st Friday of every month from 6-9 p.m. at Forest Ridge Elementary School, help us watch the kids so parents and guardians can take a much needed break and spend time together.
We support the Jason Lee Food Bank (located in the Las Naciones United Methodist Church at 820 Jefferson St Ne, Salem, OR 97301.) Volunteers are needed to sort, hand out food, and obtain client’s information. Jason Lee Food Bank is open four days a week.
Las Naciones United Methodist Church has a community dinner on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:30-8 p.m. We need volunteers to be a part of this community outreach to cook and prepare dinner, serve dinner, set up tables and clean, and lead activities for kids (crafts and/or Bible class and coloring, games, etc.). Join in this time together and create community as we welcome our friends and neighbors!
An important part of our neighborhood activities for many years, every month we give parents a night off while we watch their children. Join us from 6-9pm!
We support the Jason Lee Food Bank (located in the Las Naciones United Methodist Church at 820 Jefferson St Ne, Salem, OR – 97301.) Volunteers are needed to sort, hand out food, and obtain client’s information. Jason Lee Food Bank is open four days a week and also serves dinner on Thursday nights (when volunteers are also needed).
Every Sunday members of the Salem community churches help serve a free lunch to the homeless community through the Kairos Soup Kitchen. Morningside helps staff the kitchen every 5th Sunday of the month.
Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Willamette Valley has been serving the community since 1991, working in concert with volunteers, donors, and partner families to build decent, affordable homes. To date, our affiliate has built more than 85 homes, housing more than 400 individuals- including over 300 children.
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.
Come help at our local bank run out of Trinity United Methodist Church. Open on a weekly basis, volunteer with us to sort and distribute food.
Our annual gift bag distribution to the children of our Lord’s Cupboard clients begins after Thanksgiving and we distribute on Lord’s Cupboard open days starting in late November. Hours are 12:45- 4:00 p.m. with distribution going through late December. This is a project of the Outreach Committee and we need people to cover all the dates, two people per day. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Wilson.
Our annual gift bag distribution to the children of our Lord’s Cupboard clients begins after Thanksgiving and we distribute on Lord’s Cupboard open days starting in late November. Hours are 12:45- 4:00 p.m. with distribution going through late December. This is a project of the Outreach Committee and we need people to cover all the dates, two people per day. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Wilson.