ADVENT UMC SERVES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 4th ANNUAL ADVENT CARES DAY

Rain didn’t stop Advent United Methodist Church’s more than 100 volunteers from working at a dozen different locations across Eagan and the surrounding communities as part of its fourth annual Advent Cares Day of service. On Sat., Aug. 20, volunteers gathered at Advent UMC in Eagan before spreading out across the community and beyond to help with projects at area organizations.

While teams scheduled to work on various landscaping and weeding projects had to be redirected inside due to the weather, volunteers at Pinewood Elementary worked indoors assembling binders that will benefit students and teachers at elementary schools throughout District 196. At Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, a group helped to pack 146 boxes with $6,938 worth of ingredients which will provide 31,536 meals (feeding 87 kids for a year) for people in Haiti and Nicaragua.

Projects at senior living complexes in Eagan included conducting worship services at Brookdale of Eagan and The Commons on Marice, a variety show at Eagan Pointe and cleaning chairs and wheelchairs at Keystone Communities. Volunteers washed windows at Good Samaritan Society in Inver Grove Heights and Living Well Disabilities Services in Mendota Heights. Volunteers painted at Dakota Child and Family Clinic and Eagan Art House while others cleaned at Dakota Woodlands and at 360 Communities Lewis House in Eagan.

At the church building, 3945 Lexington Ave. S, the church provided free document-shredding services for community members through Veteran Shredding of New Prague. Over 50 people participated with an estimated 3,300 pounds of shredding. In addition, volunteers helped bag 360 pounds of donated dry dog and cat food at Advent UMC that was then delivered to the Open Door.

Advent UMC first organized Advent Cares in 2013 in celebration of the church’s 30 year anniversary. Advent Cares Day continued for their 4th year with over 100 volunteers helping on Saturday. Financial assistance to help with expenses during Advent Cares was provided by Thrivent Financial and Advent UMC’s Outreach Committee. Lunch and water were provided for the volunteers through donations from Byerlys/Lunds, Cub Foods, Kowalski’s and Sam’s Club.

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.