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! Sign up for any of these service opportunities and community outreach programs at the Missions Table in our lobby. For more information, contact Linda Seaton, Missions Committee Co-Chair.
Messiah Church is committed to supporting several organizations consistently and long-term. Each month, we do 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
Second Mile Offering
Our August Second Mile Offering supports Totes for Hope – a ministry of Messiah Church to help minimize food insecurity for Bloom Early Learning & Child Care families. What started in the summer of 2018 as summer take-home bags has adapted to better meet the needs of Bloom families by becoming a self-select food shelf. Available throughout the week, all year long, this program allows families to take only what food they need, when they need it.
Your donations to the Second Mile Offering during the month of August will provide funds to purchase food for this program from Second Harvest Heartland through a partnership with the Interfaith Outreach food shelf, as well as funding additional food and snacks purchased throughout the year from various grocery stores. For more information on Bloom, visit www.bloomearlylearning.org.
Give throughout the month of August, online by selecting “Second Mile Offering,” in worship with cash or checks designated for Totes for Hope, or text the word “Funds” to (763) 333-2673, and follow the prompts.
The Great SNACK Challenge
Our partnerships with Bloom Early Learning & Child Care AND Oakwood Elementary School continue this fall – and we want to bless them with 5,000 SNACKS. Here’s the GREAT SNACK CHALLENGE: Throughout August, we’ll be collecting snacks – 5,000 individual serving size packages of goldfish crackers, teddy grahams, cheez-its, popcorn or chocolate chip granola bars to bless the school and child care center with this fall (please no snacks with peanuts or peanut butter). Look for the snack table in the lobby to place your donations. These snacks will be used for all students, as we help to minimize food insecurity for children. Thank you for the 1,358 snacks you have already donated!
School Supplies for Sierra Leone
School supplies are needed for teachers and students at the Baiwalla secondary school in Sierra Leone. Throughout August, we are collecting much-needed supplies like spiral and composition notebooks, 3-ring binders, staplers, staples, scissors, calendars, pencils, post-it notes, flash drives, and folders. Office supplies with logos and gently used teacher supplies are accepted. Please leave donations in the basket in the lobby by Friday, August 30. Messiah’s donated funds from 2018 made an impact – we helped finish construction of the school!
It’s Back-to-School Time! Donate School Supplies to Help Local Kids
With your help, we can give local kids the tools they need to succeed. Interfaith Outreach’s Back to School supply drive has a role for everyone:
- Volunteer – Shifts available through Friday, September 6 at iocp.org/backtoschool. Help sort incoming school supplies and pack bags, assist with registration or distribution, or be on the clean-up crew.
- Donate Dollars – Don’t have time to shop? Donate online at iocp.org/givetokids and the most-needed items can be purchased (choose “Back to School” in the drop-down menu).
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of local kids! Contact Najmo, Interfaith Outreach’s Community Engagement Coordinator, at (763) 489-7500 for more information.
Fresh Produce Needed for the Food Shelf
The Interfaith Outreach Food Shelf loves fresh produce from the garden! Their clients truly appreciate the extra flavor and nutrition provided by homegrown food. If you have grown more than you can handle, produce donations are accepted Monday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm, at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth.
Simpson Shelter is in Need
Thank you for your commitment to Simpson Shelter – you ARE making an impact! In 2018, homelessness in Minnesota rose to 10,233 individuals. This is the most since 1991, when statistics first were tracked – a 10% increase since 2015. Continued donations of personal sized care items are always welcomed, and (new) undergarments and socks for men and women are appreciated. As always, feel free to use the Amazon Wish List link and needed items for the shelter can be sent directly to them. Contact Lavinia with questions. Messiah Church, collectively your efforts are being felt. Thank you for all you contribute! For more information on Simpson Housing Services visit www.simpsonhousing.org.
Volunteer to Support Our Youth
Make a difference in the lives of local youth! Interfaith Outreach and the Orono and Wayzata school districts need help from community members like you!
- After-school Mentor (working with elementary students)
- Literacy Program (working with elementary students)
- High School Mentor (during the lunch hour, monthly)
- Meal Provider or Host (for parent education programs, evenings)
- Child Care Volunteer (variety of locations)
Contact Najmo, Interfaith Outreach’s Community Engagement Coordinator, at (763) 489-7505 to find what best suits your passion and availability!
Pay it Forward in Your Community
Interfaith Outreach is looking for volunteers – can you help? Find fulfilling and fun opportunities to give back. Our most pressing needs include
- Children’s Play Area Volunteer – Supervise and play with children (ages 0-8) in their lobby play area while parents access their resources. Volunteers 13+ welcome (ages 13-15 must volunteer with an adult). Shifts available Monday/Tuesday 3-5 pm, Wednesday/Friday 9 am-12 pm, Wednesday 4-6 pm or 6-8 pm.
- Resale Store – Sort incoming donations of clothing, shoes, accessories and household items. Hang and size clothing in preparation for sale in the store. Assist customers or ring up purchases on the register. Shifts available Tuesday-Saturday, morning/afternoon/evening. Flexible schedule! Middle school students welcome with an adult.
Interested in volunteering or learning more? Contact Najmo, Interfaith Outreach’s Community Engagement Coordinator, at (763) 489-7505. For more information on these and other Interfaith Outreach volunteer opportunities, visit iocp.org/volunteer. Interfaith Outreach is located at 1605 County Road 101 N., Plymouth.
Imara International Gala
Join us for the 7th Annual Imara International Gala and annual fundraiser on Sunday, November 3, 5:30-8:30 pm, Sheraton Minneapolis West, 12201 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka. Guest speaker and Imara’s Executive Director, Carol Erickson, will share the many celebrations that have taken place at Imara. Imara empowers Kenyan women through education to build a self-sufficient future for themselves, their children, and their community. Help give these girls hope and healing with your attendance. Registration details coming soon. For more information on Imara, visit www.imarainternational.org.
Puerto Rico Mission Trip with UMCOR
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is still looking for volunteer groups to serve in Puerto Rico to help with recovery efforts after 2017 Hurricane Maria. Messiah will be sending a work team this fall (November 8-16) to help rebuild homes. If you are interested in being a part of this team or financially supporting this team, contact Linda. Click here to see how your service will make an impact.
UMCOR Sager Brown Depot Mission Trip
A Minnesota Conference Mission Trip to the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana, is planned for January 12-24, 2020. You can select one week (January 12-17 or January 19-24) or both.
In the depot, pack and verify cleaning buckets and hygiene kits, work in the campus garden, serve in the community at a thrift store or a senior housing complex, or do minor home repair. Evening activities include a campfire, worship, and general relaxation. Nearby attractions are Avery Island, Cajun and Creole museums, the Whitney Plantation, and the WWII Museum (in New Orleans).
Click here to register before Tuesday, December 31. Cost is $250/week for housing and food (a $50 deposit is due when you register). The trip is open to adults 18 and over. You’ll need your own transportation to and from Baldwin. Contact Lyndy with questions.
Local Missions
Bloom Early Learning & Child Care
Bloom is an accredited, award-winning, non-profit 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 non-profit 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 non-profit 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 non-profit 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 non-profit 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.
