Mission
Our congregation is pleased to reach out in helping, healing, and offering hope to many programs in our greater Akron/Cleveland area, and also supports the mission programs of the United Church of Christ. Mission work is defined as monetary contributions, time volunteered, and goods donated to benefit organizations outside our own church family.
The Mission Board of the church works through community organizations such as Hudson Community Service, OPEN-M (Akron), Western Reserve Outreach Center (Twinsburg), and Community AIDS network (Akron). It is involved in education through Adopt-A-Family, Abstinence Is A Better Choice, our theological seminaries of The United Church of Christ, Hudson CARE, and Yale Divinity School.
Food/Hunger outreach support is offered to the Akron Canton Food Bank, Gennesaret (a soup kitchen), Mobile Meals, Haven of Rest, Salvation Army and Williard UCC Church.
Health and Emergency services are accessed through Access Inc., Battered Women’s Shelter, Community Support Services, International Institute, and Job Search.
Housing Assistance is available through Appalachian Service Project, Chapel Hill Homes, and Habitat for Humanity, and Hope Homes.
Partners In Service
Partners in Service (PINS) is the coordinating team for “hands on” ministries in which families can be involved. Interfaith Hospitality Network which houses homeless families in Summit County is their current project.
To learn more about how to become more involved with a mission opportunity at the church, contact one of the pastors or Linda Blanch or Dave Petersilge.
IHN-Interfaith Hospitality Network
Our March 2008 Host Week Volunteer needs are as follows:
FRIDAY MARCH 7
Food Purchaser- Purchase snacks for our host week, shopping list and reimbursement provided
SUNDAY MARCH 9
ALL HOSTING SHIFTS ARE FILLED! J
MONDAY MARCH 10
7AM Van Driver- Pick up guests at church and transport to the Family Center and schools
5PM-7:15PM Dinner Hosts- 2 dinner hosts needed to prepare and serve dinner
7PM-9:30PM Evening Hosts- 2 Evening hosts needed to provide hospitality to our guests
9:15PM-7AM Overnight Host- 2 people needed to spend the night with our guests
TUESDAY MARCH 11
7AM Van Driver- Pick up guests at church and transport to the Family Center and schools
7PM-9:30PM Evening Hosts- 1 OR 2 Evening hosts needed to provide hospitality to our guests
9:15PM-7AM Overnight Host- 2 people needed to spend the night with our guests
WEDNESDAY MARCH 12
9:15PM-7AM Overnight Host- 2 people needed to spend the night with our guests
THURSDAY MARCH 13
7AM Van Driver- Pick up guests at church and transport to the Family Center and schools
FRIDAY MARCH 14
6AM- Breakfast Host Set up breakfast for our guests and help serve breakfast (food provided)
7AM Van Driver- Pick up guests at church and transport to the Family Center and schools
4:45 PM Van Driver – Pick up guests at the Family Center and transport to our church
7PM-9:30PM Evening Hosts- 2 Evening hosts needed to provide hospitality to our guests
9:15PM-7AM Overnight Host- 2 people needed to spend the night with our guests
SATURDAY MARCH 15
7AM- Breakfast Host Set up breakfast for our guests and help serve breakfast (food provided)
7:30AM-Van Driver Pick up guests at church and transport to the Family Center
4:45 PM Van Driver – Pick up guests at the Family Center and transport to our church
7PM-9:30PM Evening Hosts- 2 Evening hosts needed to provide hospitality to our guests
9:15PM-7AM Overnight Host- 2 people needed to spend the night with our guests
SUNDAY MARCH 16
6:30AM Breakfast Host Set up breakfast for our guests and help serve breakfast (food provided)
7:30AM-Van Driver Pick up guests at church and transport to the Family Center
7:30 AM-8:30AM Moving out helpers- 5-6 helpers needed to move cots and belongings
Laundry-Upon moving out, linens used by our guests need to be washed and returned to church
Some notes in general about IHN hosting:
If you want to sign up as a single family or as an individual, and 2 people or families are needed for that shift, don’t hesitate to sign up, I can always find someone to fill that shift with you! NEW VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! I have job descriptions for every volunteer position so you will be well informed before your first hosting experience. Also, we always have a “seasoned” volunteer on duty to assist all of our new volunteers.
Please contact me at pmmolten@roadrunner.com or 330-650-4812 for more information or to sign up for a hosting position.. Thank you for all that you do!
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm