Volunteers

Ola Williams sorts through donated produce at the Willow Community Food Pantry in Willow, Alaska. Williams serves as director of the pantry, a ministry of Willow United Methodist Church. 2023 file photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Mission agency, churches work to fill gaps

The United Methodist Church’s mission agency is stepping up with grants to help fill food pantry shelves. Churches also are striving to support those going without pay during the shutdown.

Social Concerns

Volunteers bag apples at Neighbors Pantry at Anaheim United Methodist Church, about two miles from Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. Like food pantries across the U.S., the United Methodist ministry has seen demand rise this year and is bracing for more with the suspension of SNAP benefits. Screengrab courtesy of the California-Pacific Conference via Vimeo by UM News.

Food ministries sound alarm on rising needs

Even before the federal shutdown, United Methodist ministries across the U.S. faced surging demands. With the suspension of federal food assistance, church pantries plan to step up. But they will need help.

Disaster Relief

Members of Floris United Methodist Church help Barbara Douglas remove debris from her home in Spruce Pine, N.C., following Hurricane Helene. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene

Natural disasters fade quickly from the headlines, but recovery often takes years.

Mission and Ministry

Bishop David Bard, who leads the Michigan and Illinois Great Rivers conferences, talks to Volunteers in Mission leaders about the theology behind regionalization, a package of amendments to the denomination’s constitution up for possible ratification this year. Joining Bard in discussing regionalization were Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Kristin Stoneking (left) and Bishop Robin Dease, who leads the North Georgia and South Georgia conferences. Photo by Heather Hahn, UM News.

What regionalization means for mission

Three United Methodist bishops discussed what regionalization would mean for the denomination’s global mission work if ratified.

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