And the King will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these
who are members of my family, you did it to me." - Matthew 25:40

WUMC is passionate in reaching out to others to offer help and the light of Christ! We offer a variety of mission opportunities that take place locally, as well as in Mexico, Cuba and Africa. For more information on any of the following mission opportunities, please contact Rev. Michael Whaley, Associate Pastor. 

Downloads

WUMC Missions Brochure

Missions / Fundraiser Policy

Mission Outreach Calendar

Mission Policy for Small Groups

Dropping off Donations for Mission Projects
We strive to make it very easy for you to make donations for any mission opportunity. In the Narthex (front hallway) of our church, you'll find red bins located under the stairway. Each bin is labeled with a mission name. Items are picked up from the bins on a weekly basis. Feel free to drop off your donations to the appropriately marked bins at any time.

LOCAL MISSIONS

CCHASM THANKSGIVING MEALS
Download Shopping List and Serving Opportunities

BACK PACK MINISTRIES
Sign up today for the 2011-12 school year!

STOP HUNGER NOW!
Held once a year...stay tuned for upcoming dates

All Are Invited! Stop Hunger Now is a meal packaging program that provides volunteers the opportunity to package dehydrated, high protein, and highly nutritious meals that are used in crisis situations and in school feeding programs for schools and orphanages in developing countries around the world. Our goal is to package 20,000 meals in one afternoon! With 100 volunteers, we can accomplish this goal. This will be a fun event open to volunteers of all ages. Children age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. 

SHALOM FARMS FAMILY MISSION EVENT
Held once a year...stay tuned for upcoming dates

Please join us for a family mission opportunity at Shalom Farms in Goochland County. The farm is managed by United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond. They are a nonprofit community farm project designed to provide fresh produce and education to under-served communities in low-income urban neighborhoods. All those interested in attending are asked to meet at the farm at 9:00 am on March 19th. Wear comfortable clothing and expect to spend the morning spreading compost and fertilizer. If the schedule permits, we will also be planting spring potatoes. For more information on the farm and for directions, please visit Shalomfarms.org. If you plan on attending this family mission volunteer event, please RSVP to Heide Peterson.

CARITAS FURNITURE DRIVE
Held once a year...stay tuned for upcoming dates

Consider donating your gently used furniture and household items to the CARITAS Furniture Bank. The CARITAS Furniture Bank operates Virginia’s only furniture bank and provides home starter packages to 500 households per year through partnerships with over 40 non-profit agencies. CARITAS has teamed up with Woodlake UMC for a furniture drive, on Saturday, April 30th, between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. The event will be located at the Woodlake Campus parking lot. Donations are tax deductible (receipts available at time of donation).

MONTHLY CANNED FOOD DONATIONS

MT. MORIAH SOUP KITCHEN
2nd Thursday & 4th Friday each month

Greater Mt. Moriah Church on First Street in Richmond opens its doors to the homeless offering home cooked lunches to those in need. Our church provides the food and the volunteers to serve over 120 meals twice a month. We need volunteers to make an inexpensive casserole, help serve or purchase institutional sized cans of green beans and mixed fruit. Email “T” Butz for the 2nd Thursday feeding or Ronnie & Sue Vaughan for the 4th Friday feeding. Click here for directions.

WUMC FOOD PANTRY
Ongoing

WUMC maintains a food pantry that benefits people in need in our community. Volunteers may make donations as frequently as they wish by donating complete boxed meals, canned green beans, corn and canned fruit. All items are kept in our mission pantry and are given out as needs arise. You may place un-expired donations in the red bins under the stairs.

• Cereal
• Canned chicken or tuna
• Canned soup
• "Meal in a box" which includes the meat
• Individually wrapped snacks (ie. peanut butter or cheese crackers)
• Non-perishable lunch box items

FISHES AND LOAVES
Ongoing

Since 2004, WUMC members have been supplying snack foods and microwaveable nonperishable food items to a local hospital to benefit families who have children in the hospital and who have to stay for a long period of time. Food is placed in the visiting area and these families who are there for countless hours can enjoy a refreshing snack without having to leave their children. Donations are need regularly to stock this worthwhile cause. For more information contact Lizanne Berg or 739-2408.

TRACY TURKEY FUNDRAISER
October-November

Each year "Tracy Turkey" visits to encourage us to raise money to provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need through CCHASM. With the help of generous people like you, we are able to raise over $2000 which in turn provides for over 1900 residents packaged meals and turkeys. So, be sure to keep an eye out for Tracy Turkey each October so you too can make a donation to help those less fortunate!

CHRISTMAS GIVING PROGRAM
November-December

Every year in conjunction with CCHASM and Richmond Friends of the Homeless, WUMC adopts several families to provide Christmas gifts so that no child is without new clothes and toys on Christmas morning as well as the “Gift of Warmth” through “Power Ball” heating assistance donations. Members of the church generously give items on a wish list provided by the needy families and the agencies. Please check your weekly bulletin in November and December for more information.

C.A.R.I.T.A.S.
One Week each Fall

Working in conjunction with CARITAS, (Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter), our church opens its doors for one week, twice a year providing shelter and food for 25 or more individuals who are homeless. This project involves a tremendous amount of support from the congregation, including preparing meals, supervising people at night, escorting people to/from showers, laundry, homework help and being there to lend an ear. If you would like to participate in CARITAS, please contact Tracy Garner at 739-4535.

HELPING HANDS
Held every July

Each July, WUMC sponsors Helping Hands, a conference wide mission event for rising 4th-6th graders (ages 9-12). Various mission projects are set up throughout the Metro Richmond area and teams are sent out with a Mission Volunteer liaison from WUMC. This is an excellent opportunity for children to become engaged in missions. Opportunities are also available for adults to help with this project. Contact Beth Christian at 739-4535, ext. 28, to sign up your church or child.

STUDY BUDDY PROGRAM
September-May

A Community Outreach Program Volunteers are needed to be study buddies to third graders at Swift Creek Elementary School right here in our community. Each study buddy will meet with a third grader from 9:00-9:40 a.m. on Tuesday or Thursday mornings to work on homework, review multiplication facts (with flash cards), read aloud, or review study guides for science or social studies. Volunteers will simply mentor the child as they prepare for their upcoming spring SOL tests. If you want to make an immediate difference in a child’s life, volunteer to give about 45 minutes on either Tuesday or Thursday mornings and be a study buddy for one of these wonderful children. Please contact Pastor Michael Whaley at 739-4535, ext. 38 to volunteer.

"BACK TO SCHOOL" BACKPACK PROJECT
July & August

Help us help needy children by volunteering to fill a back pack with much needed school supplies or provide new clothing for the children we serve in our soup kitchens. Please help them begin their school year with the necessary items they need to get off on the right start! Check the weekly bulletin in the summer for more information.

HINTON FAMILY MISSION TRIP
One Week every August

WUMC hosts a week long family mission trip to Hayesville, NC to support the “Hinton Project”. You will assist families in desperate need of home repairs. Children ages 10 and over may attend with their parent. All skill levels are welcome. Contact Marie Misiaszek at 739-4535, ext. 30 for more information.

GLOBAL MISSIONS

2012 MISSION TRIPS TO SIERRA LEONE, AFRICA

Applications are now being accepted for mission trips to the Child Rescue Centre and Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone for a Summer School team in July 2012 and another team in September 2012. The summer team will deliver an enrichment program with strong concentration in math and English to the CRC students. Teachers are highly encouraged to apply, but all with a heart for Christ and service are welcomed. The September 2012 team will focus on medical, IT, finance, computers, and light construction. To apply, go to http://tiny.cc/CRCMercyApplication or email an AP Administrator for more information.

Application deadline for both teams is Saturday, February 25, 2012. Note: There will NOT be a mission team to Sierra Leone in November 2012 due to the country’s elections in the fall. 

SPONSOR A CHILD
Child Rescue Center | Bo, Sierra Leone, Africa

You are invited to join us in this exciting ministry that is helping the children of Sierra Leone. WUMC is in a partnership of eight United Methodist Churches that provides support for children in Bo, Sierra Leone. Sponsorship of a child for an entire year is just $300. These children have endured a brutal war-raged environment for most of their lives. They lived on the streets, hungry, traumatized and in desperate need of love. The CRC has changed their lives. We invite you to help make a difference. Contact Pastor Michael Whaley at 739-4535. Click here to read more about the CRC. Scroll below to become a donor by making an online pledge!

SPONSOR A CHILD TODAY!

WUMC is in partnership with several of sister churches in Northern Virginia to support the Child Rescue Centre in Sierre Leone, Africa . The Child Rescue Center provides food, clothing, shelter, education, health care and a loving, nurturing environment to 46 (soon to be 70) children in Bo, Sierra Leone. The C.R.C. also supports 100 additional children living in family settings by paying their school tuition, providing school uniforms, purchasing school supplies and providing health care. In addition to financial donations, volunteers can participate as pen pals with C.R.C. students and staff, participate in the sponsor-a-child program, and have the opportunity to join one of the periodic groups who travel to Sierra Leone to provide various types of direct support. 

Through this new partnership, you have the opportunity to sponsor a child that currently lives at the CRC. A donation of $300 can help provide food, clothing, education and a safe place to live for a child. When sponsoring a child, you will receive a picture of the child you are helping and have the opportunity to communicate through written letters. This is an excellent way to start a new year or honor a loved one by sponsoring a child in their name. For more information, contact Pastor Michael Whaley. To sponsor a child, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page!

This form is for informational purposes only.  The Pastor of Missions will contact you for payment information upon receiving your request to sponsor a child.  Thank you for your support!

I'd like to sponsor a:    Boy      Girl      Either

I'd like to give:    $25 Monthly       $75 Quarterly      $300 Annually (one time)

First & Last Name: 

Address: 

City / State / Zip: 

Home Phone:          Alt. Phone: 

Email: 

Enter the numbers as they
are shown in the image above