Group Description:

The Shelter Action Teams work in partnership with Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD) and Families Moving Forward (FMF) to provide support for unhoused and low-income or food insecure individuals and families in Durham County..

Overarching Goals:

To fulfill local shelter needs based on the following:

• ERUUFians live their faith by serving our low-income and unsheltered neighbors.
• Services provided by UMD and FMF are only possible through the work of volunteers.
• Shelters rely on thousands of volunteer hours per month.
• Each year over 250 ERUUF members and friends volunteer to support services for the housing and food insecure population.

People we work with at UMD are as diverse by ethnicity, gender, and age as the rest of our society. Twenty percent are veterans and ten percent are children. Many were employed until illness, family circumstances or the economic recession cost them their jobs and the roof over their heads. Some are working their way out of addictions. The shelter provides all of them with a safe place where they can worry less about day-to-day survival and can focus on improving their lives long term.

Meal Service at the Community Café:

• Teams of 7-9 ERUUFians prepare and serve the evening meal for shelter residents and low-income members of the community.
• An ideal service project for groups, and families with children 11 or older. Also a great opportunity to meet other ERUUFians.
• We cook the first Sunday and the second Saturday of each month starting at 4:00 PM. We generally finish up around 6:00 pm. Our duties don’t involve cleanup.
• 150 – 200 people served cafeteria style.

Casserole and Cookie Teams:

• For the First Sunday dinner described above, individual ERUUFians make casseroles or cookies at home and bring them to ERUUF for delivery to the shelter.
• Our shelter meal budget benefits from these donations and allows us to provide the Second Saturday meal which is cooked at the shelter with ingredients we shop for.
• The casseroles require use of a standard recipe whereas cookies are at the baker’s discretion.
• Follow these links for more information about casseroles, and more information about cookies. Current team members: Sign up for casseroles; Sign up for cookies.

Clothing Closet and Food Pantry:

• UMD’s Community Food Pantry and Clothing Closet address basic emergency needs for food, clothing, and hygiene supplies for unhoused and low-income Durham neighbors. The Pantry and Closet can help stretch limited resources and keep some from losing housing.
• In an average month, UMD assists over 500 households in the Food Pantry and Clothing Closet, distributing over 100,000 pounds of food and over 50,000 articles of clothing per year.
• Volunteering in the pantry or closet involves greeting clients, making them feel welcomed and respected, and assisting in filling orders and bagging food and clothing.

Holiday Wrapping Party:

• This December event involves everyone! ERUUFians are called on to donate socks, underwear, hats, gloves, toys, and wrapping paper. On the day of the party, children and youth, with help from parents and volunteers, wrap the donated items as presents for the residents at the shelter.
• The children also bake cookies for an upcoming evening meal at the shelter.

Special Projects:

• Great for team building for Covenant groups, Chalice Circles, or just a group of members to get together and spend a day working at the Shelter to improve the facilities.
• Past projects have included painting the Clothing Closet, renovating the bathrooms in the Community Building, and refurbishing a room for a family.

 Families Moving Forward (FMF)

FMF is a Durham non-profit whose goal is to help families in the crisis of homelessness find their way home. They provide temporary housing, case management, skills education, and connection to community resources to help parents and children thrive in stable homes. FMF aims to assist families into permanent housing within 90 – 120 days of entering FMF. FMF currently provides emergency shelter and supportive services to 21 families at their facility at a time.

How can ERUUFians help?

• Join a team to prepare and serve a weeknight meal once a quarter for 18 adults and children.at Families Moving Forward.
• Sign up to be a tutor (Study Buddy) once a week at FMF in their afterschool program.
• Help with occasional evening childcare.
• Participate in the yearly volunteer extravaganza called Rock-the-Block to spruce up the FMF building and grounds.
• Assist with special projects such as refurbishing a family space between clients.

Questions? Look at the Families Moving Forward website or contact Jane Hewitt.

Fellowship Donations to UMD and FMF

From time to time, a general donation appeal for non perishable food, clothing, personal hygiene, or other items may be made to the congregation.

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Contact Person: Bo Glenn - UMD; Jane Hewitt - FMF; Crystal & Rose Burroughs - IFC; Devon Golem - Casseroles; Marlys Ray - Cookies

Role: Coordinators

Email:

Staff Partner: Kaleb Graves, Justice Coordinator