Missions

Mission outreach is demonstrated in many ways locally, nationally and throughout the world. We accomplish this through special monetary gifts, food, blankets, clothing, shoes, scholarships, medical supply needs and a host of other requests that we are made aware of throughout the year.

We do make a difference! We can change the world!
--- In the words of our founder, John Wesley we strive to:

Do all the good we can.
In all the ways we can.
In all the places We can.
At all the times we can.
By all the means we can.
To all the people we can.
As long as ever we can.

LOCAL MISSION OUTREACH
• Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program
Along with other members of our community, we contribute money to assist those in the Grand Ledge area who are struggling to handle rent, utilities and other needs. A member of our church volunteers time and we also provide office space for appointments with clientele. Call our church office for an appointment if needed: (517) 627-3256.

• Grand Ledge Food Bank
We provide volunteers, money and food items to this vital source of support in the Grand Ledge Community. The Food Bank serves low income families, the disabled, unemployed, and the homeless living in the Grand Ledge School District including the Eagle, Mulliken and Wacousta areas.
Pantry Hours:
Tuesdays 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursdays 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• Blessings in a Back Pack
Our Church joins with many other churches and organizations in the Grand Ledge School District to support this important program. Blessings in a Backpack provides elementary school children who are on the Federal Free and Reduced Price Meal Program with a backpack of food to take home for 38 weekends during the school year. Backpack food includes easy-to-prepare, ready-to-eat foods, like granola bars, juice boxes, mac and cheese, and oatmeal.

Why Do We Do It?
There are 20+ million children in this country who are at risk of hunger. The consequences of hunger are much more than a growling stomach. Poor nutrition can result in a weaker immune system, increased hospitalization, lower IQ, shorter attention spans, and lower academic achievement. Children are fed during the school week by federal government programs, but we want to make sure they're getting nutritional meals over the weekend too.

Blessings in a Backpack is a 501 C (3) non-profit organization currently feeding over 72,000 children in 700 schools in 44 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The program is a hybrid of private sector funding and public partnership carried out in public schools. We are feeding the future of America, one school at a time.
How Much Does it Cost?
$80 - $100 feeds one child on the weekends for one 38 week school year through the Blessings in a Backpack program.
The Results: Nourished Kids Ready to Learn
Students who participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program show marked improvement in school attendance, test scores, behavior, and health. Food is an essential building block, and in this case truly is a "blessing," especially to a hungry child!

There is also a need for volunteers to help stuff the back packs each week. Contact Bernie Johnson at (517) 627-6898 if you are interested.

If you are a family in need of support, please speak to your child's teacher.

• High School Closet
Along with other community organizations, we gather and donate toiletries for personal hygiene, as well as other items of need for students who are considered to be homeless and in need of extra support.

• Kenny Clark Closet
The Closet is an outgrowth of the yearly December - Grand Ledge Shopping Tour. Kenny Clark was a Grand Ledge School System custodian. He was a strong supporter of the Shopping Tour, which has served many Grand Ledge families with limited resources. Kenny Clark stressed the need for a year-round facility to serve area families. In 2010, the District's Special Services Office arranged for two rooms to be set aside in the Sawdon Building, in his name, for storage of donated items. The church provides mittens, scarves and hats, coats and clothing items to the Clothes Closet.

Families in the Grand Ledge School District with children in grades K-12, may use the Closet. Referrals are made by school employees (mainly teachers and counselors) who have contact with a child and see a need for support. Special education students and their advisors, sort, clean and organize all donations.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH
• UMCOR-The United Methodist Committee on Relief
As United Methodists we channel our support year round through UMCOR which acts as the arms and legs of Christ's church, moving toward the most vulnerable in their darkest days. Convinced that all people have God-given worth and dignity - without regard to race, religion or gender - together we are assisting those impacted by crisis or chronic need.

Because we give, the United Methodist Church's compassionate response to human suffering has had the ability to provide support each day in many areas including those listed below:

When tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, we responded
When children in Zimbabwe lost parents to AIDS, we responded
When a massive tsunami devastated lives in Japan, we responded
When people in Africa died in huge numbers due to Malaria and Ebola, we have responded
And when the next mass crisis occurs, we will be prepared to respond

We have eight Distribution Centers in the United States that funnel supplies and money to many areas in need of support and assistance.

• Mid-West Distribution Center
Volunteers (Adults and Youth) from First United Methodist Church, have traveled each year to the the Distribution Center to prepare shipments to areas devastated by national disasters and in need of support.

• Other Mission opportunities are always being considered and initiated for member participation both here in the US and abroad.

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Grand Ledge First UMC

411 Harrison Street, Grand Ledge, Michigan 48837
Phone: 517.627.3256
Fax: 517.627.9267

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