Advent UMC Serves Community

Over 80 volunteers worked at a dozen different locations across Eagan and the surrounding area as part of its 7th Annual Advent Cares Day of service. Working with the Red Cross, Advent hosted a summer blood drive on Friday, Aug. 16, collecting 40 units.

On Sat., Aug. 17, volunteers gathered at Advent UMC in Eagan before spreading out across the community and beyond to help with projects at area organizations. Volunteers did landscaping projects at Eagan High School and Glacier Hills Elementary. At Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, a group helped to pack 198 boxes which will provide 42,768 meals (feeding 117 kids for a year). Teams washed windows at the Eagan Art House, painted walls at the Open Door and painted playground benches at Woodland Elementary.

Projects at senior living complexes in Eagan included performing worship music and calling bingo at The Commons on Marice in addition to providing music at Stonehaven of Eagan. Volunteers weeded and washed windows at Good Samaritan Society in Inver Grove Heights. At Living Well Disabilities Services, volunteers did freezer meal assembly at one location while other teams painted bedrooms and cleaned at two homes in Mendota Heights.

At the church building, 3945 Lexington Ave. S, the church provided free document-shredding services for community members through Veteran Shredding. Over 90 people participated with an estimated 3,300 pounds of shredding. In addition, volunteers helped bag 269 pounds of donated dry dog and cat food at Advent UMC that was then delivered to the Open Door. They also prepared crayons for Crayons for Cancer. As part of this year’s Advent Cares Day, school supplies were collected and donated to Northview Elementary.

Advent UMC first organized Advent Cares in 2013 in celebration of the church’s 30-year anniversary. Advent Cares Day continued for their 7th year with over 80 volunteers helping on Saturday. Financial assistance to help with expenses during Advent Cares was provided by grants from the Eagan Foundation, Thrivent Action Team and Advent UMC’s Outreach Committee. Lunch and water were provided for the volunteers through donations from Kowalski’s.

It was an amazing day of helping in the community while also building relationships with organizations and individuals. Advent UMC was excited to give back to the community it calls home.