Outreach Opportunities

We are strangers called by God to be brothers and sisters - to be a community of people set apart     in the world to be faithful to Jesus Christ. We are called in mission to and with our neighbors, especially those searching for a church home in the University community. Wesley Mem participates in a number of local, conference, and international missions. Listed below are organizations we involved in.

• People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM)

  “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” 1 John 3:17-18
  
  People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM) is an interfaith collaboration of congregations and community partners in Charlottesville. Our passion is to help the homeless find shelter at night, especially during the cold winter months.
  
  Wesley Mem recently served as host to PACEM this past winter.

  Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together (IMPACT )
  IMPACT is a grass roots organization created to secure a greater degree of justice and fairness in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

  IMPACT Report
  IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together) is a non-partisan, faith-based organization of congregations promoting justice by demanding that systems be responsible for the consequences of their actions or policies. IMPACT promotes justice actions in our community in response to our faith commitments. There are many scriptural references to God’s call for justice; three important ones are Micah 6: 6-8; Matthew 23: 23-24; and Nehemiah 5: 1-13. IMPACT has been working in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area for about two years. Last year we were able to get some movement on affordable housing and public transportation.  This year the focus, as selected by the 600+ who attended the October assembly, are affordable housing and adult dental care. If you have questions about IMPACT, contact Gene Rader at 434-973-3831 or raders1@embarqmail.com.
   

• Buckingham Project - An annual Christmas project to help local families during the holiday season.
  
  Thanks from the Buckingham County Department of Social Services
  (posted February 2008)
  
  The following note was addressed to Donna Simpson at Wesley Mem:

  “Our agency would like to thank you for your generous donations towards our Holiday Charity Program. With your assistance, we were able to provide for many needy families within our community. We are extremely grateful for your charity. We sincerely hope that you will continue to assist the less fortunate members of our community through this program next year and for many years thereafter. Due to your hard work, time, donations, and overall commitment, many families have had a brighter holiday season. Please extend this gesture of gratitude to all of those within your organization who contributed to the Holiday Charity Program. Also, please do not hesitate to contact our agency with comments, questions, and/or concerns. We hope to hear from you during the holiday season in 2008. You will receive a letter near the end of October and/or the beginning of November 2008 requesting your participation. The letter will also outline the structure of the program. Please be aware that certain aspects of the program will be slightly altered. Thank you all!
  Sincerely,
  Tiffany Denby
  434-969-4246 x 23”
   

• The Emergency Food Bank -  "I do believe you set a record for the amount of  food donated last month. I delivered 50 boxes of cereal plus 4 bags of other items to the Emergency Food Bank pantry.  THANK YOU! Summer is here and your support is especially important because calls for help traditionally increase during the summer when children are home from school. Healthy snack food items for children would be very welcome. Today is Communion Sunday, and the "Food of the Month" is Healthy snack foods (juice boxes, granola bars, jelly or jam for PBJ's, graham crackers, etc.). As always, ANY donation will be gratefully accepted."—Becky Smith 823-6288 .
   

• AIM Fundraiser:  Here is another great opportunity for you to support AIM (Alliance for Interfaith Ministries)!  AIM provides emergency assistance to local families who are facing homelessness or who are about to have their power cut off due to a financial crisis.  On Tuesday, July 8, Foods of All Nations on Ivy Road will donate a percentage of their store profits for that day to AIM.  Come and shop and contribute to a worthy cause at the same time!   AIM volunteers will be sitting at an information table as you enter the store.  Stop and say “Hello” to them.  Thank you again for one more way that you support AIM's outreach to those in our community who are struggling to be self-sufficient. 
   

• Meals on Wheels
   

• Piedmont CASA Needs Volunteers
  Piedmont CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) needs caring citizens to advocate for abused and neglected children in our community. Piedmont CASA trains people just like you to inform the Court about these children’s lives, and provides ongoing guidance as you help in the effort to find them safe, permanent homes.  Day-time spring training classes begin on March 20. No special experience is required, but you must be at least 21.  Phoebe Frosch, Advancement Director, will be happy to host a special information session for interested members of Wesley Mem. Please call 971-7515 to request an application and to learn how you can become a child’s voice in court. See the narthex bulletin board for further contact information.
   

• Virginia Conference
  
  School of Christian Mission: July 25-27 (weekend) or July 28-31 (week) are the dates for the Virginia Conference School of Christian Mission at the Assembly Center in Blackstone Virginia. This is for men and women who want to broaden their concept of missions and have a period of time away for reflection and expansion of their spiritual lives. For more information, log on to www.vaumw.org (click on side bar: School of Christian Mission) or Call Carolyn Newsome at 295-9094.  Studies include one on spiritual growth ("I believe in Jesus"), one on Israel/Palestine, and one on Native Americans.  There is a class for youth and an intergenerational class for children.  Join us for a very special time in your life!
   

• Wesley Community Child Care Center
   
• Ronald McDonald House
  
  Ronald McDonald House Volunteers Needed!
  
  “To the Members of Wesley Memorial Church, Thank you for the wonderful meals you provide each month for our families here at the Ronald McDonald House. A little simple thank you note cannot express how much the meals mean to our families; they are all so grateful. Thank you, The Staff of the Ronald McDonald House”

  Providing dinner for the residents of Ronald McDonald House on the second Sunday evening of each month is a mission activity of Wesley Mem. Each month one member of the Ministry to the Community and World team will coordinate the dinner. If you personally or a group would like to help, sign the sign-up sheet in the hall or contact any member of the team.
  
  A Note of Thanks from the Staff of Ronald McDonald House
   “To the Members of Wesley United Methodist, Thank you so much for your ongoing support of the Ronald McDonald House. An evening meal is such a special treat for our families. They return to us at the end of the day tired & worn out. They are so appreciative of a meal waiting for them when they return. Thank you!—The Staff of the Ronald McDonald House”  And thanks from the church office to all the Wesley Mem volunteers who have filled the 2008 sign-up sheet already. Well done!
   

• Russian Initiative
   
• Hope House
   
• Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity -

  Call for Volunteers
  HABITAT FOR HUMANITY of Greater Charlottesville seeks construction volunteers available Tues. through Fri. 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, (with skills or without), and an office support volunteer available Fri. mornings 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Interested? Please call 434-293-9066, or e-mail Robin Francis, volunteer coordinator at rfrancis@cvillehabitat.org. Please also see the Habitat Christmas card on the Missions bulletin board by Elizabeth’s office.
   

• Piedmont Housing Alliance

Volunteer Opportunities
The Outreach Committee has put together a list of local organizations that are always seeking volunteers.  Volunteer Opportunities Booklet is a list of organizations and contacts.

WMUMC is a Green Church
Wesley Memorial tries to be a faithful steward of all Creation and, therefore, tries when possible to use only recycled products or products that do the least harm to the environment. You won’t find Styrofoam or bleached paper products in our church cupboards. We hope to set an example and thus invite any and all to join us in our attempts to be caretakers of Creation.