Make an Impact
Messiah Church is a church of compassion and community outreach. Members and friends of Messiah devote their time and talents to support local, national and global missions. From serving at the local food shelf to traveling to developing countries we serve through mission, there is a place for you to get involved! For more information, contact Linda Seaton, Missions Committee Chair.
Messiah Church is committed to supporting several organizations consistently and long-term. Each month, we collect a “Second Mile Offering” to support a specific organization, and when you visit for the first time, you can elect to have Messiah make a donation to one of several organizations on your behalf.
Current Needs & Volunteer Opportunities
August Second Mile Offering: Meals on Wheels
Our August Second Mile Offering supports Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels is a community-based service that delivers fresh, nutritious meals directly to the homes of individuals with disabilities and homebound seniors throughout the Twin Cities. In addition to regularly providing healthy foods, caring volunteers provide a social connection that helps meal recipients continue to live independently in their own homes. Your donation helps ensure that seniors across the Twin Cities receive the nutrition and social interaction they need! For more information on Meals on Wheels, visit meals-on-wheels.com.
Give throughout the month of August, online by selecting “Meals on Wheels,” by texting a dollar amount to (763) 333-2673 and following the prompts, or by mailing a check (indicate “Meals on Wheels” in the memo) to: Messiah Church, 17805 County Road 6, Plymouth, MN 55447.
Many Messiah members are involved with delivering meals as part of the Meals on Wheels program. They are always looking for new volunteers to fill delivery slots, once a week every quarter. Each route takes about one hour starting at 10:30 am. Most Meals on Wheels clients live alone and are of limited means, and receiving a hot meal is the highlight of their day. If you are interested in this service opportunity, email Messiah member Roger D. As a long-time volunteer, Roger can share his experience and help you get signed up. In light of COVID, they have established procedures that will help protect both their clients and volunteers.
Iglesia Piedra Viva (IPV) Paper Goods and Personal Care Products Collection & Distribution
Messiah Church is continuing our relationship with Iglesia Piedra Viva (IPV), Church of the Living Stone, with donations and volunteers for their next item distribution event. Messiah has partnered with this United Methodist Church, now serving 51 low-income families living in South Minneapolis, since its beginning.
Please consider volunteering for their next distribution event on Friday, August 19 at Park Avenue United Methodist Church (3400 Park Avenue, Minneapolis). Volunteer spots start at 1:45 pm. We’ll be packing and distributing bags of groceries. (Some roles are outside; please dress for the weather.) Click here to sign up to volunteer today!
Iglesia Piedra Viva is also looking for donations of paper goods and personal care products. (Please no food donations at this time, as this is currently being provided from a different source):
- Diapers
- Detergent
- Soap
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Toilet paper
- Kleenex
Donations will be collected through Wednesday, August 17 and can be dropped off at Messiah in the shopping cart by the church library on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm and Friday 9 am-12 pm). A volunteer will deliver them to the distribution event at Park Avenue UMC.
Tee Off for Imara’s Moms & Kids
Imara International’s Annual Global Charity Golf Tournament is in full swing! Golf at any course, any day, all summer long, or join them at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove (7801 County Rd 101) on Monday, August 22. Visit www.imarainternational.org/2022-golf for all the tournament options, details, and to register.
You don’t even need a cart or a caddie to make a difference for the Imara moms. Donations are always welcome through their website at www.imarainternational.org/donate.
Golfers like you make this tournament successful and keep Imara’s mission of empowering Kenya’s future through the education and nurturing of young moms and their children a reality! For more information on Imara International, visit www.imarainternational.org.
Serve at Feed My Starving Children
In July, long-time Messiah member and friend Liz Larson passed away. In her memory, a group from her faith group, the Spirited Sisters, will be serving at Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen (18732 Lake Dr E) on Wednesday, August 24 from 4:30-6:15 pm. All are welcome to honor Liz, serve in her memory, then celebrate with Culver’s ice cream afterwards (Liz’s favorite). Click here to sign up today (type in “Liz Larson” in the “Looking for a Specific Group” section near the bottom of the page, locate the correct group and click “Join,” then log-in or create an account to register as a volunteer). Contact Alice Y with questions or for help in signing up. For more information on Feed My Starving Children, visit their website at www.fmsc.org.
A Vision for Home: A Conversation on Housing
Minnesota is in a housing crisis that needs immediate and impactful action. On Tuesday, September 13, 7-8:30 pm, at Wayzata Community Church (125 Wayzata Blvd E, Wayzata), Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative is co-sponsoring a conversation on housing with Minnesota gubernatorial candidates. Issues around housing will be discussed – homelessness, housing instability, home ownership, etc. The Governor has a crucial leadership role in setting a vision forward and the candidates will discuss their vision for home. You are invited to attend and demonstrate your support for bold solutions. Click here to RSVP.
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Make a difference in the lives of others by giving blood. Please consider donating blood at the American Red Cross blood drive on Monday, October 10, 12-6 pm in Heritage Hall. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “MessiahPlym” to schedule an appointment or click here. (Save the date for other upcoming blood drives at Messiah: Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 1-6 pm; Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 12-6 pm; and Monday, May 22, 2023, 12-6 pm.)
Did you know that you can give one super-powered blood donation that may have the same impact as two regular donations? This is called a Power Red donation. Click here for more information on being a Power Red donor.
If you have recently received a COVID-19 vaccine, knowing the name of the manufacturer is critical in determining your blood donation eligibility. Click here to read about the American Red Cross’s COVID-19 procedures
Food Shelf Urgent Needs
Interfaith Outreach and ICA Food Shelf are valuable resources to local families who access food and goods to support their families. Food is in high demand at these food shelves. In July, Interfaith Outreach saw over 1,200 individuals in the food shelf and distributed over 57,000 pounds of food – the most distributed since March! The most needed items at this time include:
- Fruit squeeze pouches
- Fruit cups
- Nuts: cashews & almonds
- Rice cakes
- Pretzels
- Popcorn
- Granola bars
- Turkey jerky
- Cheese sticks
- Goldfish crackers
- Juice boxes
- Cooking Oil
- Cereal
- Pet food
Non-perishable item donations can be dropped off in the entryway at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm and Friday 9 am-12 pm). OR drop off your donation directly at Interfaith Outreach (1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth) during their donation hours: Mondays and Fridays 10 am-5 pm, and Wednesdays 10 am-7 pm; or ICA Food Shelf (11588 K-Tel Dr, Minnetonka) during their donation hours: Mondays 10 am-6:30 pm, Tuesdays 10 am-3:30 pm, Wednesdays 9 am-3:30 pm, Thursdays 10 am-3:30 pm, Fridays 10 am-12 pm, and Saturdays 10 am-12 pm (1st & 3rd Saturdays only).
Habitat for Humanity Work Days
Among the many ways to serve our local communities, Messiah Church supports Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCH4H). Opportunities exist in several ways but primarily in the construction of housing for eligible applicants. No special skills are required to participate on a build, just a willingness to serve! Messiah volunteers have been participating in a multiple structure project on Niskanen Circle in Chaska. If you would like to help with this build project, visit tchabitat.volunteerhub.com/lp/chaska. At this link, you can register as a new volunteer and sign up for upcoming serve dates that fit your schedule. (Volunteers must be 16 and up to serve on a build team.) If you have questions regarding TCH4H volunteering, contact Marv K. For more information about Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, visit www.tchabitat.org.
Remodeling? Cleaning? Donate to the ReStore!
Have any home projects or serious cleaning going on this summer? When you’re done, donate the leftovers to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore Home Improvement Outlet. They accept appliances, building materials, cabinets, lighting, doors, and more! Visit restore.tchabitat.org/donate for all the donation guidelines and visit restore.tchabitat.org/hours-locations for ReStore locations and hours. Please make all donations directly to a ReStore location.
Simpson Shelter is in Need
There are new urgent needs at Simpson Shelter. Can you help?
- Towels and washcloths
- Men’s boxers (all sizes)
- Women’s briefs (sizes 5-7)
- Bras (all sizes)
- Women’s socks (white crew and ankle)
- Personal size tissue packets
- Hair care products for natural, textured, or curly hair
- Nail care kits
- Sunscreen
- Shower shoes
- Travel-sized personal care products
All items must be new and unopened. Item donations can be dropped off in the marked bin in the atrium at Messiah on Sundays or during church office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm and Friday 9 am-12 pm), or email Lavinia P to schedule a contactless pick-up.
To see a current list of other ways to help Simpson Shelter, visit www.simpsonhousing.org/ways-to-help/give-supplies. Instructions for monetary donations, links for shopping their Amazon Wish List, and a complete list of current needs can all be found here. For more information on Simpson Housing Services, visit www.simpsonhousing.org.
Serving Opportunities
Looking for other opportunities to serve our neighbors? Check out the following organizations that are accepting volunteers:
- Interfaith Outreach food shelf and Resale Select store: www.iocp.org
- Second Harvest Heartland: www.2harvest.org
- Feed My Starving Children: www.fmsc.org
- Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity work sites and ReStore locations: www.tchabitat.org
- Bundles of Love: Meets at Messiah at 6 pm on the first Thursday of each month
All organizations have their own COVID safety protocols in place. Please contact each organization directly for details.
Local Missions
Bloom Early Learning & Child Care
Bloom is an accredited, award-winning, nonprofit early learning center housed in Messiah Church. Because poverty early in life is a proven barrier to success later on, Bloom passionately strives to break the cycle at the start through nurturing care and exceptional early learning programs.
By providing scholarship assistance to half the children in our center, Bloom enables low-income single mothers and families to work or pursue education to improve their futures while giving their children the best possible start in their lives.
- Serving children 6 weeks through Pre-K
- Providing a nurturing, safe and intimate environment
- Using values-based programs and excellent curriculum with stellar outcomes
- Dedicating 50% of enrollment spots to children from families living under the poverty level in the Plymouth/Wayzata area
Our Shirley Robinson Scholarship Fund is a memorial to the wife of former Messiah Church pastor, Rollie Robinson, who originally challenged his congregation to help break the cycle of poverty through the provision of high quality, affordable early learning and child care. Gifts from individual donors, grants and fundraising events, as well as those from corporations, public organizations and faith communities, help Bloom assist children of low-income families. Contact Mary Olsen at (763) 449-0600 or visit www.bloomearlylearning.org.
Interfaith Outreach
Messiah Church has been an important partner in Interfaith Outreach’s efforts on behalf of the community to serve at-risk families in Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth and Wayzata. For opportunities to get involved, contact Linda Seaton.
Interfaith Outreach was launched in 1979 by a small group of believers who envisioned a way for our community to respond to the unmet needs of struggling families and individuals in our midst, and to help them move toward self-sufficiency. From its modest beginnings in a church basement with no budget and a volunteer staff, Interfaith Outreach has grown to a sophisticated direct service provider and respected community catalyst. To learn more about Interfaith Outreach, visit www.IOCP.org.
Habitat for Humanity
A Christian nonprofit organization, supported in the Twin Cities by Messiah UMC for more than 20 years. Habitat provides guidance, materials and volunteers to help owners restore their houses, protecting their investment in the home and restoring pride of ownership. Additionally, Messiah supports, “Brush with Kindness,” a ministry of Habitat to help 125 families each year to rehab their homes. Habitat is supported at Messiah through volunteer workdays periodically throughout the year.
For more information, please call the church office at (763) 473-6968. To learn more about Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, visit www.tchabitat.org.
Simpson Housing Services
Messiah partners with Simpson Housing Services by providing many service opportunities including serving meals at the Emergency Shelter, working as an overnight volunteer at the Emergency Shelter and tutoring children. They are also in continuous need of donations such as socks, T-shirts, underwear, toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant.
For more information on Simpson housing services contact our office at (763) 473-6968, or visit www.simpsonhousing.org.
The mission of Simpson Housing Services is to provide free shelter and affordable housing with support services to homeless men, women and children. They assist individuals and families in their effort to improve their life situations and advocate for their human and civil rights.
The Simpson Center for Servant Ministries (Simpson CSM)
Simpson CSM is a ministry that seeks to cultivate holistic vitality in the urban community by building relationships with neighbors and partnerships across urban/suburban/rural communities. Messiah Church partners with Simpson CSM by volunteering their time and talents through community meals, food pantry, clothing store donations and produce fairs.
The CSM carries out its work through Health and Wellness activities, service opportunities and through the Poverty and Justice Institute. For more information on Simpson CSM, call the church office at (763) 473-6968 or visit www.simpsoncsm.org.
Imara International
Messiah Church is proud to be in partnership with Imara International and to support its Executive Director, and Messiah member, Carol Erickson, through its prayers, and donations of time, talent, gifts and service. To find out about the next mission trip opportunity, and ways you can help, contact the church office at (763) 473-6968 or visit www.imarainternational.org.
Imara International is a U.S. based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working in Kenya. Imara’s purpose is to provide an opportunity for teenage mothers to earn a high school degree and learn marketable skills to support themselves and their children. Imara fosters a safe, healthy environment where respect, faith, and teamwork are a central focus. Infants and children who are part of the Imara family are provided healthcare and early childhood education. Imara’s program is structured to teach life-sustaining skills that build strong families and communities while breaking the cycle of poverty. To learn more about Imara International, visit www.imarainternational.org.
Light of Hope
Light of Hope provides care, shelter and education to Kenyan girls in need. They develop leadership skills and help girls realize and reach their potential. For information about Light of Hope, visit www.LightOfHopeKenya.org or contact John Harmon at (612) 298-2069 or at jpharmoncpa@msn.com.
Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children is a nonprofit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit. Messiah Church partners with FMSC by providing financial resources and countless volunteer hours packaging healthy meal-packs. To learn more about Feed My Starving Children, visit www.FMSC.org.
The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and we ship these meals to nearly 70 countries around the world.
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
UMCOR is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR’s work includes programs and projects in disaster response, health, sustainable agriculture, food security, relief supplies, and more. UMCOR is a ministry of The United Methodist Church through the General Board of Global Ministries.
Messiah Church supports UMCOR through various project (health kits, flood buckets) as needed by the organization. To learn more about UMCOR, visit www.umcor.org.
