There are many opportunities to serve others. Here are some places to get started.
Reach Out food pantry
Reach Out is an ecumenically-supported food pantry located behind St. Catherine Parish in Morgan Hill, at 17400 Peak Ave. They are open M-Sat 1pm-2:30pm for clients to pick up food. During the open hours, volunteers are needed to greet clients, to bag groceries, and update the paperwork for each client. In addition, volunteers are needed to prepare some of the produce in the mornings. And donations of nonperishable foods and garden produce are welcome. (The nonperishable food we collect during the Sunday worship service goes here.) If you’re interested in helping, contact Wanda to be connected to the Reach Out volunteer coordinator.
Coffee on Main
Each Monday morning, we provide snacks and coffee to the day workers who gather on Main Street. Meet at the corner of Main St. and Depot St. at 7:45am. Contact Greg Huffman for more information.
Prayer Shawls
A prayer shawl can provide comfort, solace, hugs, and covering during difficult times and during joyful and contemplative times. Our Mission & Outreach Team is sponsoring a prayer shawl ministry, with knitters in our congregation creating prayer shawls. A prayer shawl is special by being handmade, and made with the intention of giving it to someone as a blessing and virtual hug. Even the creation of the prayer shawls is part of the ministry, as many crafters will pray over the shawl and receive a soothing energy as they work. When prayer shawls are finished, they are blessed by the congregation, and then given to individuals.
If you wish to make prayer shawls, please first contact Pastor Linda or Denise Melroy. Then if needed, get ideas at Shawl Ministry, Love Life Yarn, Make & Do Crew, or do Google or YouTube searches for ideas.
Good Samaritan fund
MHUMC’s Good Samaritan fund responds to community and congregation relief needs in our compassionate effort to help others. While small in scope, the relief provides assistance through gift cards for specific areas of need. Gift cards targeting groceries, meals, transportation, pharmacy, and fuel can be approved via a request by a congregation member following the Good Samaritan Fund Guidelines. We hope to assist our community and congregation members as best we can when challenges arise and our help can make a difference.
You can support MHUMC’s Good Samaritan fund through online giving, or by providing a check made payable to “Morgan Hill United Methodist Church” with “Good Samaritan Fund” on the memo line.
Buy thoughtfully with fair trade
Support small-scale farmers around the world by buying fairly-traded coffee, tea, chocolate, and other items. In Morgan Hill, some grocery and other stores sell fair-trade items; look for specific labeling. Online, you can purchase from Equal Exchange, Fair Trade America, and other fair trade stores.