Opportunity to Serve

Hands-On Opportunities:

MEDSHARE (SAN LEANDRO) sources and delivers surplus medical supplies for medically underserved areas in the United States and around the world. According the organization’s website, MedShare has diverted over 13.5 million pounds of unused, unexpired medical supplies from landfills. The supplies and equipment the organization has received from hospitals and corporations has been delivered to over 100 countries worldwide. To accomplish its mission, MedShare relies on some 20,000 volunteers to sort and package 6000 tons of medical products. According to MedShare’s website, as of March 2020, the organization has donated more than $1.3 million in aid, including 2.8 million masks and nearly 200,000 isolation gowns to California hospitals and clinics in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. SRVUMC members join in the effort by sorting supplies at MedShare’s warehouse in San Leandro a few times annually. If you are interested in volunteering during one of our future dates, , please contact HollyAnn Melton. Volunteer spots are limited.

·         Sat, April 17, 9am – 12pm, for 10 spots

·         Sat, July 17, 9am – 12pm, for 10 spots

·         Sat, October 16, 9am – 12pm, for 10 spots

RISE AGAINST HUNGER began in 1998 by Ray Buchanan, a United Methodist minister, as Stop Hunger Now! and is based in Raleigh, NC. Since its original initiatives in distributing nutritious meals to the starving, this organization has broadened its efforts to improve food security for people worldwide. Rise Against Hunger trains farmers and families in agricultural methods and business skills. Many of these small scale, local farmers provide the vegetables that are dehydrated for the Rise Against Hunger meals. Most people who suffer from hunger, results from regional conflict and climate change. Rise Against Hunger takes the view that ending world hunger can be achieved by 2030. This organization and its volunteers have provided over 537 million meals in 78 countries around the world. At San Ramon Valley UMC, we have sponsored meal-packing events, a outreach opportunity great for entire families to do together. Your donations help fund these events. At $0.34 per meal, dehydrated rice or soy meal, dehydrated vegetables, and spices along with 23 essential vitamins and minerals are packed in individual serving packets. As our volunteers know, a group of fifty volunteers can pack 15,000 meals in about two hours! Our next packing event is Nov. 14^th. We hope to package 20,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger.  We’ll need 40-50 volunteers. 

Previous Missions:

FOOD BANK of CONTRA COSTA/SOLANO COUNTIES (CONCORD)
started in 1975. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties stores and distributes donated and purchased perishable and nonperishable food items. They distribute food directly to low-income people at community sites and make food available for other nonprofit organizations serving ill or needy people and children.

Food donation bins are located in the church narthex and in the entrance to Wesley Center. SRVUMC members join in the effort with food sorting in Concord several times annually. If you are interested in volunteering for any or all of the dates, please contact Anne Kuelz. For more information on the food bank, please visit their website.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT (WALNUT CREEK) has received support from SRVUMC for the last seven years. The Food For Thought program and the recipients at Trinity Center in Walnut Creek, are blessed to have had both the financial and spiritual support of the SRVUMC community. Since this program was initially implemented, we have provided nutritious and creative lunches on Friday to about 50 clients experiencing homelessness.

Over the years, the many volunteers from SRVUMC who cook and serve the meals have found the experience rewarding. The expressions of appreciation and the smiles we get say it all. If you have time to contribute three to four hours per month on either a regular or “as needed” basis, contact Dick Lam.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY (ReStores) are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are proudly owned and operated by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates, and proceeds are used to build homes, community, and hope locally and around the world. Located in Concord, The ReStore needs volunteers to help support the everyday operations. Restocking, cashiering, and taking inventory are just some of their needs. SRVUMC has been involved with Habitat for Humanity for many years, often assisting with workdays to build new affordable housing. Please visit their website for more information.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PLAYHOUSE BUILD PROJECT is an aspect of Habitat for Humanity that invites groups to build and donate playhouses to charities or individual families. The money raised goes towards the building of homes by Habitat For Humanity. To sponsor a playhouse, a group raises $2000 per playhouse, and then builds the playhouse themselves. The playhouses to be constructed are prefabricated, meaning most of the measuring and cutting has already been done. SRVUMC’s effort will focus on painting the playhouse and final assembly. Creative and artistic volunteers love this project! The theme of the playhouse is selected by the child or children who will be receiving the playhouse. Once a playhouse is designed, decorated, and assembled, it’s donated to the local children who requested the house’s theme. That moment—seeing children run in and out of their new, custom-designed playhouse—is the most memorable part of volunteering with the Playhouse program. Next build is Saturday, October 9. Learn more and register on the event page. Keep your eye our for future announcements in The Valley Messenger, or contact Kate Steffy to be placed on the notification list.

Our Meals with Grace has morphed into  Putnam Clubhouse Meal Deliveries. While we are still delivering these meals with grace, we are only delivering meals to Putnam Clubhouse at this time.

We are still in need of volunteers and we invite you to get involved by sharing your time in delivering meals and writing notes/making cards.

MONUMENT CRISIS CENTER (CONCORD) hosts a Senior Moments Breakfast. Volunteer to help the seniors at the Monument Crisis Center celebrate the seasons by volunteering at their semi-monthly Senior Moments breakfast. The Senior Moments breakfast is a time when the seniors who are clients (low-income) at the Monument Crisis Center can come for a free breakfast, health talk and screenings, and socializing with bingo and other activities. The SRVUMC Mission Council would like to have twelve (12) volunteers to help at the Senior Moments breakfast as a mission to help our community. We will help the staff at the center decorate, sign in clients, serve the breakfast, and socialize (e.g., playing bingo, and clean up). If interested in volunteering, please contact Debbie Koos.

Monument Crisis Center is located at 1990 Market St., Concord, CA 94520.
Please visit their website for more information or to find other volunteer opportunities at the Crisis Center.

WINTER NIGHTS shelter is hosted by SRVUMC for two weeks every year. However, this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions and regulations, we are unable to host. We are working on organizing additional opportunities to serve, such as meal delivery and fundraising. Stay tuned and look for announcements regarding our revised role in the September or October issue of The Valley Messenger.