Manchester Church Cancels Worship to Send 1000 Volunteers to Work

NEWS RELEASE
Manchester UMC
CONTACT: Cartiay McCoy, Director of Communications
Phone: 314.599.2731
e-mail: cartiay.mccoy@manchesterumc.org 

For Immediate Release

Faith Community Sends 1000 Volunteers to Four St. Louis Neighborhoods

Manchester UMC Cancels Weekend Worship to Work Downtown, Near South Side, The Grove & University City 

St. Louis, MO—April 25, 2013—This weekend, Manchester United Methodist Church will cancel all of its worship services and work in the community. With a unique emphasis to be the church, rather than go to church, area participants will serve four primary agencies (The Bridge, Kindgom House, Shalom House, Epworth Children & Family Services) with projects to assist the community and to make St. Louis a better place to live.

For the fourth year in a row, hundreds volunteers will complete projects ranging from community landscaping projects, making lunches for the homeless, completing home repairs for neighbors in need in the area, and many others. 

The Bridge (1610 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO  63103) Project: The Bridge provides sanctuary, meals, and support services for homeless and at-risk persons in St. Louis. Faith in Action volunteers will be painting and cleaning this facility. Site Primary Contact:  Matt Doyle, Mfd1948@aol.com, phone: 636.394.6936.

Kingdom House (1321 South 11th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104) Project: This agency provides social services to children, youth, and adults in the near Southside of St. Louis.  Volunteers will provide carpentry services, painting, landscaping and cleaning. Site Primary Contact: Scott Walker, Executive Director, swalker@kingdomhouse.org 314.627.1223.

Shalom House (1040 S. Taylor Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110) Project: Shalom House gives hope to homeless women through innovative programs and supportive services designed to stabilize and rebuild lives. Volunteers will work throughout the facility on general repair and beautification projects.  Site Primary Contact: Tammy Laws, Executive Director, tammy@metrohomelesscenter.org, phone: 314.534.1010.

Epworth Children and Family Services (110 N. Elm Avenue, St. Louis MO 63119) Project: This organization provides essential youth development services that have helped thousands of children overcome severe emotional and behavioral challenges. Volunteers will complete landscaping projects and visit with the youth.  Site Primary Contact: Margaret Mahan, Volunteer Coordinator, mmahan@epworth.org, phone: 314.917.3330.

The weekend concludes with a celebration event at 12:00 p.m. at Manchester UMC (129 Woods Mill Road, Manchester, MO 63011) where families will be served lunch and hear testimonials from our mission partners listed above. This event is free and open to the public.

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Related Links

Faith in Action Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5owUHMoZFI&feature=share&list=UU-VB22hnBtuPwB1nQrTcomA 

Manchester United Methodist Church: www.manchesterumc.org

Kingdom House: http://www.kingdomhouse.org

Epworth Children and Family Services: http://www.epworth.org/

Shalom House: http://www.shalomhousestl.org/ 

The Bridge: http://www.bridgestl.org/ 

Tags: St. Louis, philanthropy, urban missions, Faith in Action, Manchester United Methodist Church, MUMC, The Bridge, Shalom House, Epworth Children and Family Services, Kingdom House, volunteer, homeless