Needs Pool (Dive in!)
For those of you who are wondering where you can help serve in our church and our community, this section called “Needs Pool” has been newly added to our publications and website for you! Each month we will be posting new service opportunities that are waiting for your help—all you have to do is dive in! The list will be continually updated so you can be assured they are fresh and require immediate aid. Contact information will be listed beside the need so you and your family can speak directly to the service agency/person who submitted the request for assistance.

The Needs Pool is designed to connect real people with real needs. It can be instrumental in challenging disciples to translate their ideas and theories into a quality of life and being for oneself, and for others. If you or your group are looking for a way to turn your talk into action, please check this section regularly for the most current listing of needs we have available.

If you have a need, or if you know about a need from others in our church or community that others might be able to assist with, please submit it to Chris Shank, Director of Adult Ministries.

Needs Pool needs YOU!—we need people to submit needs that you may have, or that you may know about! We also are seeking people to help in the organization, research, and connection that helps make the Needs Pool work!

If you, or someone you know, has a need we can help with, please contact Chris Shank, Director of Adult Ministries, at cshank@livingwordumc.org, or 636-821-2800

Needs Pool Email Updates

People love hearing about what missions are happening at Living Word! Please send us your ministry team’s needs for volunteers and update us on your ministry successes! Pictures and updates can be shared in the newsletter so people can know what’s been accomplished in our community. Send volunteer needs and ministry successes to cshank@livingwordumc.org

Current Needs...

Used Bikes Needed!—Manchester UMC's Bike Rehab ministry is a group that receives used bikes as donations, then cleans and repairs them. They are donated to local charitable organizations, who distribute the “like-new” bikes to their clients. Children and youth can experience the joy of riding, while adults have the option of using the bikes as transportation to and from their jobs. For more information, visit here. If you have a bike you would like to donate, call Jim at 314-724-8272.

Snacks for Babler students—We still need help filling a schedule to provide snacks in 2012 to students who otherwise couldn’t afford to eat with the other children during snack time at Babler Elementary. We are trying to coordinate a group of volunteers to donate 60 snacks a week to help these children. Providing snacks can be as easy as spending about $25 at Sam’s, or shopping online at Amazon and having snacks shipped directly to Babler. Please consider signing up for a week (or two, if you feel moved) to provide 60 snacks for these students. We are so close…only two more weeks to fill in May!! To help, contact Michelle Eisenhart, meisenhart@marcstrategies.com, 636.405.1152.

iServe—You are invited to attend the next iServe Mission Group on Saturday, February 11, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. We will meet at the Barnes & Noble Parking lot (near Bread Co. at Baxter and Clarkson) at 8:30 a.m. and serve at The Bridge. We will be painting, cleaning or organizing. Hope you can join us and plan to bring a friend!! To sign up, or if you have any questions please contact Kelly Vincent at kvincent@livingwordumc.org, or 314-541-2275.

Serve at The Bridge—We are looking for groups to sign up to serve in 2012 at The Bridge soup kitchen downtown on the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Chris will go down with the groups every month, so all you have to do is be willing to work! If you would like to reserve a month for your group of 5-10 to serve, please contact Chris Shank, cshank@livingwordumc.org, or 636-821-2800.

Cooking At Living Word—We have a group at Living Word that is using our kitchen facilities to cook meals for Shalom House (women’s shelter), and you are invited to help. Contact Barbara Steurer, libertysales@prodigy.net.

Missions' Item of the Month—For February, Missions is collecting spices, seasonings, coffee, sugar and creamer for The Bridge food pantry at Centenary Church. Please place your donations in the collection bins located at the bottom of the stairs by the elevators. All donated items are delivered to the agency at the end of the month by a member of the Missions Committee.

Needs Pool Email Updates in 2012—If you would like to receive email updates of the latest opportunities for you to serve in 2012, please send your email address to Chris Shank at cshank@livingwordumc.org, or call 636-821-2800.

Rummage Sale Mission—Calling all rummage ‘sailors’! If you frequent rummage sales, or even if you stop by a garage/yard sale occasionally, we can use your help! The Active Faith Sunday morning class has created a list of items needed by non-profit organizations that you might be able to find at rummage sales  including wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, sewing machines and supplies, coats, tools, Bibles, children’s books, towels, dishes, baby clothes, diapers, and blankets. If you have a good sense for bargains and would like to learn more about how help keep an eye out for these items, please contact Patty Brown at patty.brown@atexinc.com, or 636-273-5877. You can visit www.livingwordumc.org/needspool for an item list.

Street Outreach— Street Outreach Ministries, associated with Epworth children’s home and serving the youth homeless population in St. Louis, has needs for plain white t-shirts in all sizes, and rain gear – umbrellas, rain coats, etc. If you are able to donate and transport any items in decent condition, please contact Kelly Sullivan at 314.918-3469.

Mission Trip To UMCOR Depot: June 2012— The UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) Depot is located in Baldwin Louisiana, and is a centralized location for collecting, assembling and shipping care and supply kits around the US and worldwide. On June 10, 2012 Priscilla Steele will be leading a group of 12 women for 6 days to work at this UMCOR depot. Cost is $230, which includes housing, food while at UMCOR, and registration fee. There will be some additional charges for travel and meals not covered while staying at UMCOR. In addition, UMCOR asks for a donation ($50.00 person suggested) or materials for kits. Only 5 spots are left for this group, so if you’d like to go, please contact Priscilla Steele, steele458@charter.net. 

Meals on Wheels—needs volunteers in St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin & Jefferson counties. Because of the volunteer shortage, some seniors are not only missing hot, nutritious meals, but also the daily contact they need for companionship and assurance that their other needs are being met. Meals on Wheels volunteers not only deliver meals - they are often a lifeline for the needs of our community’s seniors. Members of local businesses or organizations are delivering a route one day a week. For example, if a business has 15 people who are interested in delivering meals to homebound seniors, they can take turns delivering their route so only one member will spend about 1 to 1 1/2 hours a week. Thus, each person will only deliver once every 5 months. Smaller groups are also welcome - such as groups of four where each person volunteers once a month during lunchtime. Contact Carolyn Amacher, 636-207-0847, ext. 118; chamacher@mid-eastaaa.org

Please send pictures!— People love hearing about what missions are happening at Living Word! Please send us your ministry team’s needs for volunteers and update us on your ministry successes! Pictures and updates can be shared in the newsletter so people can know what’s been accomplished in our community. Send volunteer needs and ministry successes to cshank@livingwordumc.org

St. Patrick’s Center (agency for the homeless)—seeking individuals to help tutor adults and students who are in the GED/ABE educational program. 5-10 volunteers needed. Contact: kzamastil@stpatrickcenter.org.

St. Louis Cares—St. Louis Cares, a United Way organized team, is looking for monthly assistance for various service projects in St. Louis. Volunteers must be 21 years or older and must complete an online (or in-person) orientation and certification with United Way. Contact: Rebecca, 314-539-4299

“The Bridge” soup kitchen—breakfast and lunch servers needed! Breakfast help needed every weekday: two people on Monday, and one each of the other days.  Time frame is 6:30 am - 9:00 am.  Help also needed on a couple of 5th days of the month:  lunch on the fifth Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  May also have need for help with dinner on the 1st Wednesday of each month. Contact: Deb Crowe, dcrowe@centenarystl.org, 314-421-3136, ext 107.

New City Fellowship—Every second Saturday there is a free clinic from 9:30 to 12 pm at the South City worship site. They rely on volunteer doctors, nurses, and non-health professionals to staff and connect with the community at the clinic. Contact: Emily Church, Emily@ncfstl.org, 314.726.2302 x237