July Mission Opportunities
This month, we invite you to join us as we share hope, meet practical needs, and show Christ’s love through missions in our church and community.
Thursdays in the Falls
Thursdays, 5pm, at First UMC, 8210 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls
Contact: DJ Mahar
Isn’t summer great?! As we enjoy the warm temperatures, sunny skies and great food, it can be easy to overlook folks who may be struggling with obtaining some of the basics that most of us take for granted. This is why ministries like the Thursday Night Dinner are so important. They give that helping hand that can make all the difference for someone in need.
We prepare a home cooked dinner and hand it out to people who come to us, who God sends our way. We talk, we pray, we connect, we share, and we let them know we care and we’re here for them. We try to meet their needs, and a lot of the time the meal is just a small part of a greater purpose, a greater need. They need hope. They need encouragement. They need comfort. They need direction. They need Jesus.
Thank you to everyone who supports the Thursday Night Dinner that allows us to reach our neighbors in Niagara Falls with a meal and a message. We know it’s making a difference.
Feeding Hope
Next Meal: Wednesday, July 8
Contact: Sandy Houck
Feeding Hope serves a meal to our unhoused and hungry friends in downtown Buffalo every month. The need has increased. We are now serving 150 dinners. Last month, our warm and hearty chicken noodle casserole was enjoyed, along with our famous brownies and a PB&J sandwich for later. This month, we will be making the same but using tuna.
We are currently looking for donations of: cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, brownie mix, vegetable oil, and sandwich size ziploc bags.
A great big thank you to the dedicated volunteers and those who stepped up when extra hands were needed. It's a busy time of year, but hunger has no season. If you would like to help out in our church kitchen, we start at 2pm. If you would like to go downtown Buffalo to hand out meals, we leave the church at 6:30pm.
Intergenerational Angel Wings
Contact: Ms. Becky H.
Welcome to summer and fun! Intergenerational Angel Wings wishes each of you a safe, joy-filled, and Spirit-filled summer.
As you enjoy your summer adventures, please keep us in mind. We are collecting the following items for OCC and other missions we support:
Adult shoeboxes
Lined school paper
Socks
T-shirts in very good condition
Toothbrushes
Washcloths
Other similar items
Donations may be placed in the designated collection area in Mission Central.
We also have yarn available for anyone who would like to knit hats for our ongoing ministry projects.
In Christ's love,
Ms. Becky H. and Ms. Becky S.
Family Promise of WNY
A homeless shelter for families
A reminder: Family Promise is a homeless shelter that keeps families together during a critical time in their lives. Through the support and services they receive, families are able to transition into permanent housing.
We provide two $35 bags of healthy groceries every month to help supplement the daily needs of the families staying at the shelter. These donations make a meaningful difference, and the families truly appreciate the support of our community.
If you’d like to contribute, please donate financially to Feeding Hope, and funds will be put toward these two monthly bags.
Luggage of Love
The Luggage of Love campaign was a tremendous success and greatly appreciated. To hear the many testimonies of adults who have lived as a foster child is heartbreaking. Many times as they were taken for the first time or moved from home to home, their clothes and all they had were put into trash bags. They too felt like trash.
Thank you to everyone who donated. Your generosity is making a real difference in the life of a child by providing not only luggage, but also dignity, hope, and a sense of worth. The final donations from our collection have now been delivered.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who supported this important ministry.
Spring Has Sprung T-Shirt Drive
The Spring Has Sprung Adult T-Shirt Collection is still in full swing!
Each month, Feeding Hope hands out T-shirts to those in need. Every time shirts are handed out, they are greatly needed and appreciated.
Please consider donating new or gently used adult T-shirts to help support this ongoing ministry. A collection tote is located in Mission Central to drop off donations.
PB&J Drive - Help Fill the Pantry
Our church family continues to make a difference in our community! We are still collecting peanut butter and jelly to help keep local food pantries stocked for families in need. You’ll find the blue collection bin in the Fellowship Hall. Every jar makes an impact, and together we can ensure no neighbor goes without.