Adults > Outreach

Outreach Opportunities for Adults

Alliance Medical Ministry
Founded by members of First United Methodist Church-Cary, the Alliance Medical Ministry has been established to honor God’s call for compassionate care for the sick and needy. It is an interdenominational, Judeo-Christian tax-exempt, charitable organization working to open a medical and dental clinic in east Raleigh that will serve the uninsured working poor. For more information, visit www.alliancemedicalministry.org Contact David Wilson.

April’s Angels
April’s Angels is a non-profit organization established to provide fantasy bedrooms for chronically ill children in Wake and surrounding counties in North Carolina. Their mission is to bring new life into the homes of families with children whose activities outside the home. A child can be nominated by a parent or guardian, or by a medical professional treating the child. After receiving a nomination, April's Angels then contacts the parent or guardian to determine interest in having their child considered for a fantasy bedroom. Once interest is confirmed, the family will receive an application package, and when returned to April's Angels, the selection process begins. After a child and family are selected, April’s Angels staff works with the children to find out what excites them, helping their dreams and imagination to grow. April’s Angels takes these ideas and provide new furniture, bedding, murals and other items that will turn these rooms into a fantasy for that child! Contact: Victoria Bloise 637 -3670 victoriabloise@yahoo.com; www.aprilsangels.org

Appalachia Service Project (ASP)
ASP is a home repair ministry through which youth and adult volunteers repair homes for low income families in the poorer regions of Appalachia in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The goal of ASP is to make existing homes warmer, safer and dryer for the families who live in them. Other important aspects of ASP are the human bonding that takes place and the opportunities there are for Christian witness through word and deed. Many volunteers have life-changing experiences and return to their homes with renewed hope and a willingness to serve in other ways. Contact Dennis Hilton.

Bosnian Mission Team
FUMCC has sent a team to Bosnia each summer for the past several years, sharing the love of Christ and bringing supplies to school children in this country which is mending from the ravages of war. Contact Melinda Smith.

Carying Place
The Carying Place, Inc. (pronounced “caring place”) provides a transitional housing program that gives families an opportunity to stabilize their financial situation, leading to permanent self-sustaining housing. Each family accepted into the program is paired with a volunteer team, which works with the family to develop a personalized plan for self-sufficiency. Through financial assistance and broad-based counseling in life skills, The Carying Place seeks to help people work toward self-reliance and growth. Up to eight families are served at a time. Families stay in the programs up to four months. Last year FUMCC contributed $4,000 to The Carying Place. Current needs are for volunteers to help with moving furniture on Saturdays and for Caring Sponsors, who serve as friends to their assigned families and make an informal contact each week. Contact Chip Cothran.

Center for Volunteer Caregiving
The Center for Volunteer Caregiving is a faith-based effort to help people live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Their mission is to provide volunteer services to help Wake County seniors and adults with disabilities maintain independence, dignity and quality of life.FUMCC has been a part of this community effort since its inception in 1992 and at present has 20 volunteers who give of their time and caring spirits, offering door-to-door transportation, assistance with errands, light housekeeping and yard work, friendly visits, telephone assurance, occasional meals and Alzheimer’s respite care. The Center provides training for volunteers, who come from 12 Wake County faith partners and 2 community partners. At present, there are approximately 400 volunteers from the various member churches who have gone through the training. These volunteers serve 450 care receivers in Wake County and there is a wait list of 135 people, waiting for a volunteer. Last year 1200 trips were provided to these care receivers, mainly for doctor’s appointments. The Center is most fortunate to have three FUMCC members on its Board of Directors – Doug Richmond, Ellen Schneider and Helen Papageorgiou. Contact Shirley Bartlett.

Community Volunteers at Raleigh Correctional Center for Women
Community Volunteers at Raleigh Correctional Center for Women is a new prison ministry of our church. Persons are trained to become community volunteers at Raleigh Correctional Center for Women in Raleigh, N.C. (a minimum security prison). Community Volunteers are certified to escort qualified inmates to attend our church on the weekends. We currently have two community volunteers from our church who escort women to attend worship at FUMC. Contact William Green.

CROP Walk
October 7, 2007 (World Communion Sunday), starting at Cary High. Hunger-fighting walk for children, youth and adults (great for families). The money collected is sent by Church World Service to local food pantries and hunger programs, such as the Christian Community in Action Social Concerns Office (The Dorcas Shop folks), Western Wake Crisis Ministries, Meals on Wheels and the Food Bank of NC. Money also goes overseas with a focus on providing better ways to raise crops and livestock in order to sustain life. The 10K walk starts from Cary High’s stadium at 2:00p.m.
In the weeks before participants gather pledges and contributions based on the distance they actually walk ($10 per mile, for example). Volunteers needed: Publicity coordinator & recruiters, team members (walkers). Training provided in August for leadership team members by the Cary CROP Walk. Contact Rick Wilkerson.

Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries
DBOM was established in 1999. Since then, Disciple Bible Study has been taught in 70 prisons throughout the state of North Carolina. More than 300 lay and clergy have been trained to lead Disciple Bible Study in prison. This ministry touches the lives of over 800 inmates each year. This is the eighth year that FUMCC has sponsored Disciple Bible Study at the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women in Raleigh N.C. (the only maximum security prison for women in the state of N.C.). We currently sponsor two Disciple Bible Study Classes at NCCIW. There are approximately 30 inmates enrolled in these two classes. We have five persons from our church (Linda Hodges, Randall Reynolds, Charles Crutchfield, Laurie Jackson, and William Green) and one person from another church (Pat Ford) who lead these two classes. FUMCC has budgeted $5,000 for the mission of DBOM.  To learn more about Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries of N.C. (DBOM), go to www.disciplebibleoutreach.org. Contact William Green.

DivorceCare
A 14-week program (2 hours/week) that helps participants face the challenges of divorce and separation and move toward rebuilding their lives. The group watches a video seminar featuring top experts on divorce and recover and then spends time as a support group discussing the video presentation. Beginning August 28, 6:30-8:30p.m.  Contact Alice Kunka or Brent Hubbell.

Dorcas Shop/Christian Community in Action (CCA)
A community-wide ministry supported by many churches in Cary. The Dorcas Shop is a thrift store that sells donated clothing and household items and distributes food to people in need or crisis. FUMCC was instrumental in the establishment of the Dorcas Shop and continues to support this ministry financially and with volunteers. Number of volunteers needed is unlimited.  Hours per week varies. Contact Jill Wissing

Feed the 5000
To ensure that not one of God’s children in our community is hungry…when you come to First United Methodist Church Cary, you are invited to bring a gift of non-perishable food each and every Sunday. Under the direction of Sunday School Teachers or parents, the Ministry will engage all who participate to learn more about God’s Word and to share it with others.  Volunteers (around 6 to 8 one hour per week) to donate and place labels with verses printed on them on cans; deliver food to individuals and distribution points; and help maintain food supplies. Training offered as needed.
Contact Jeanette Bell or Nancy and Jon Kenney.

Football Fellowship for Christ
Football Fellowship for Christ at our church is an affinity group made up of former college football players who desire to use sports as a way to do evangelistic outreach to the community.  Contact William Green.

Glenaire Sunday School Teachers
Rotate with a team of teachers to teach Adult Bible Studies lessons to residents of Glenaire Retirement Community who are unable to come to church. Sundays from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Contact Alice Kunka.

Health Ministries
Meets the second Sunday of each month at 5:00pm in room 212
The Health Ministries Team at FUMC is a group of people acting on faith, inspired by Christ’s witness to the healing activity of God. The team reaches out to strengthen, empower and improve the spiritual, physical, mental health of this congregation and the community we serve through increasing self-knowledge, personal responsibility and interdependence among God’s people. This ministry crosses the entire life span as well as the entire spectrum of health need. It does not replace your healthcare professional. The team strives to foster a spiritual healing presence in the local and global community and to serve as a reminder that Christ came to give us abundant life. Contact Carolyn Corn, carolyncorn@nc.rr.com. more>>

Katrina Relief
Volunteer work teams from the Raleigh District are helping families in the Biloxi-D’Iberville area of the Mississippi Gulf Coast rebuild homes and lives affected by Hurricane Katrina. You do not have to have building skills to volunteer. Each team member also contributes money for food and for lodging.  Many times volunteers contribute money to pay for needed items that are not available. Transportation costs have been paid by our mission fund, by the UMMen or by contributions from other church members.  Contact John Sutherland.

Habitat for Humanity
A nationwide organization that provides materials and volunteer labor to build low income housing in the local area. Contact John Sutherland.

The Healing Place
The Healing Place is a non-profit rescue, recovery and rehabilitation facility for homeless people in Wake County with alcohol and drug addictions. As a public/private partnership, it works as a concrete alternative for the homeless addict. The organization has a commitment to addressing the needs of homeless users of alcohol and drugs.   Contact Alice Kunka.

Meals for Moms Team Member
Join us every 2-3 months as we meet to cook meals for families following the birth or adoption of a new baby or child. You will also help with delivering meals to families 4 or 5 times per year. We also meet quarterly for committee updates and to see how everyone’s meal deliveries are going. We need volunteers 1-2 hours per month with a desire to offer support and Christian love to families with new babies. We will train you on how to cook the meals and we have suggestions for how to offer support as well. Contact Missy Maiorano.

Meals on Wheels
Volunteers for Meals on Wheels deliver pre-packaged meals to the elderly and shut-ins. Second Friday of each month. Contact Debbie Lucas.

MERCI - Marion Edwards Recovery Center Initiatives
MERCI coordinates volunteer work teams to alleviate the suffering of those impacted by disaster, poverty or adversity. Since its inception, MERCI has coordinated 4,469 work teams, provided 71,075 volunteer days and 978,610 hours and donated materials in excess of $16,783,589. FUMCC contributed $5,000 in 2007 and through United Methodist Men has contributed flood buckets and work teams for eastern NC disaster relief efforts.  For more information, go to www.merciumc.org. Contact Alice Kunka.

Mighty Mondays
Mighty Mondays is a weekly after-school program at FUMCC for children ages 6-8 who live in the nearby community. The children receive a nutritious snack, participate in fun activities, briefly discuss a “character building” theme and hear a Bible story which enforces the day’s theme. They do assigned homework under the guidance of an adult or older youth.
Volunteer opportunities (30 needed) include canvassers (distribute flyers and visit nearby homes), back-up van drivers, van chaperone, homework helper and music leader. 3:30 – 6:30p.m. Mondays during the traditional school year in room 227. Contact Janet Harrison.

Ministree
A new mission/ministry at FUMCC is the Mission MinisTree located in the church office lobby. The purpose of the tree is to provide a visible and constant source of opportunities for mission and service in our community as well as opportntities for ministry and service among our church family. This project grew from a small group meeting during the Forty Days of Community Lenten Study in 2006 and the beautiful apple tree was hand painted in February 2007 by Amanda McLain, one of our church members.  Contact Phyllis Marlette.

One Way to Play
For people who are either athletes or who enjoy sports and desire to live a drug-free lifestyle using the disciplines of faith, commitment and accountability. Contact William Green.

Operation Christmas Child
Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love.  Contact April DeCatsye .

Prison MATCH
Prison MATCH (Mothers And Their Children) provides incarcerated mothers and their children with the support and resources necessary to maintain and strengthen their family relationships. MATCH intervenes to break the cycle of children following their mother’s path to prison, through training of the mothers and ongoing visits with their children. FUMCC has been a part of this effort at North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh since the program’s inception more than a decade ago. At present there are seven volunteers from FUMCC who give of their time to supervise mother-child visits in prison. In addition, numerous hosts are called on throughout the year, offering transportation, airline miles, assistance with food and other special needs. Donations to MATCH from the Fair Booth proceeds, from VBS, and from UMW totaled more than $3,000 this past year. Contact Mary Jac Lineberger at 851-3398 or Becky Swanson, 467-8128 and visit www.prisonmatch.org.

Prison Ministries: DISCIPLE Bible Study in Prison
FUMCC leads Disciple Bible Study classes for inmates in prison. Requirements for leading a class are: 1) at least 18 years of age; 2) Disciple Bible Study training or prior experience in Disciple; 3) certification through Disciple Bible Study Outreach Ministries of NC (attending a certification workshop in the summer); 4) a willingness to serve persons in prison with the compassion of Christ so that all persons will experience God’s grace in a way that is personal, convincing, and life transforming. Currently, our church leads two classes at the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women in Raleigh, NC. The 34 week classes begin in September and conclude in late May or early June.  Contact William Green.

Shoe Box Coordinator
A volunteer or group is needed to copy and distribute promotional materials church wide. This includes bulletin board, bulletin inserts, and display table.  Coordinate collection of boxes and get them to the local drop off site. Volunteers work approximately 1 to 2 hours per week during the months from late September mid November. The program needs 2 to 4 volunteers or a group to rotate responsibilities. A couple of vans and SUV’s are needed to take boxes to drop off site. Contact April DeCatsye .

Triangle Pastoral Counseling
Triangle Pastoral Counseling (TPC) is a pastoral counseling center that is in its 32nd year or providing services in the Triangle Area. TPC currently has a staff of 16 people who provide therapy to individuals, couples, children, and families. TCP also works with local churches to provide enrichment programs and consultation. The mission of TPC is to be a professional extension of the counseling ministries of the faith communities of the Triangle Area.  The Faith and Freedom Class as well as several individuals have made contributions to these funds which make counseling possible for persons who otherwise would not be able to seek counseling.  Contact Barbara Mann or Martha Glass.

SafeChild: Crianza con Carino
Crianza con Carino is a program offered to Spanish-speaking parents which focuses on parenting skills. The program is offered by SafeChild, Inc. and is sponsored by the Amigas Unidas Circle. Volunteers are needed to help with childcare on Thursday evenings at FUMCC beginning August 30.Contact Alice Kunka.

Shoes for Orphan Souls
The Shoes for Orphan Souls ministry collects new shoes, socks and shoelaces, which are delivered to orphans throughout the world. We need 8 to 10 volunteers two to three hours each week during the campaign in August and September. Financial contributions for delivery costs are also needed. Volunteers are needed to help with collection, storing, sorting, packing, and shipping as well as publicity, communications, media and outreach. General program information at www.shoesfororphansouls.org. Contact Bill Black or Kelley Stephens.

Society of St. Andrew
The Society of Saint Andrew is a Christian ministry dedicated to gleaning America’s fields and feeding America’s hungry. SOSA provides healthy, nutritious produce to society’s most vulnerable through innovative, cost effective programs. SOSA accomplishes their mission through three operating programs: the Potato Project, the Gleaning Network, and Harvest of Hope.  FUMCC volunteers glean produce in local fields usually on the third Saturday of each month. The gleaning location and type of produce varies, but we leave from the gravel parking lot at 8 a.m. and usually return by noon. See the website for future gleaning dates. Food is then distributed to local food banks. Contact Tim Woody.

Tape Ministry
The Tape Ministry provides copies of audio tapes and CDs of FUMCC worship services to shut-ins and to congregation members who request them. Over 700 tapes were distributed in 2006.Tapes are provided to shut-ins at no cost to them. Tapes are provided to congregation members at a nominal fee of $1. We need volunteers for one hour per week to duplicate and deliver audio tapes.  
Contact Doug Richmond.

Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network (WIHN)
A program that houses persons in transition at area churches in 12-week rotations four times per year for one week. Contact Sandy Black. Specific needs include:

Youth Foreign Mission Trip
The Youth Foreign Mission Trip will focus on a variety of social projects in a developing country. In the summer of 2007, adults and youth worked on a construction/expansion project for a maternal health clinic in Montero, Bolivia. This is an opportunity for adults and youth to work together to improve the lives of others in another part of the world.
Contact Dawn Woody.

ZOE- Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor
ZOE is an initiative developed to meet the needs of children orphaned in the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Last year, FUMCC raised more than $40,000 to send a team of 11 to Zimbabwe. With these funds, the team was able to help feed approximately 2000 children, provide 450 pounds of medical supplies, support water projects at 2 schools, roof a church, provide sewing machines to make school uniforms, provide fabric for uniforms for 300 children and provide blankets and bowls for some of the orphans. In addition, FUMCC contributed $2,500 to the ZOE advance special in 2006. This year, FUMCC is covenanting with the Mavhiza school in Zimbabwe and will contribute $10,000 annually as an ongoing commitment. This will not only support a feeding program of the children there and assist them in their education, but will help the entire community, especially providing spiritual encouragement. More than creating a partnership with a sister church on the other side of the world, FUMCC is adopting a starving African village! Our focus this year is the establishment of a water harvesting / gardening project, providing the school with supplies and hopefully some library books and perhaps a feeding station. In addition, $15,000 has been earmarked to send another team to Zimbabwe later this fall. Contact Sandy Black.