It all started with a grant. Emmanuel UMC and Casa Del Ray in Allentown, PA received a grant for urban ministries. They formed a community outreach mission team and made plans for how they would connect with their community in meaningful ways. They connected with adult liaisons at South Mountain Middle School and Hiram Dodd Elementary School down the street so that they could keep their finger on the pulse of the needs presented in the community.
In 2023, they heard that winter coats were a concern, so they worked together and donated 16 coats to Hiram Dodd and South Mountain Middle School.
In 2024, they took it up a notch. They heard that there was a lot of need at the elementary school down the street, so they decided to make gift bags for every single student.
It was truly a community outreach that connected current and former members of the church with the community. One former member got connected to the ministry when he happened to bump into a volunteer at Costco. He had a connection to the elementary school, so he volunteered to help deliver the bags when the time came.
The church partnered with middle school students from the Leadership Team. Students from the Leadership Team walked to the church with their assistant principal to assemble bags for every single elementary student.
“All different kinds of people helped,” shared ministry leader Janet Avery, “If they stopped by my office, they got to help.” Michelle Cygan, volunteer, is grateful that they were able to bring the project together “This is the biggest project we’ve done so far as partners in this urban ministry and to be honest, I didn’t think we were going to be able to do it. When I heard that there were almost 700 students at Dodd Elementary, I thought we were going to go with a Plan B. But others on this team were determined to do something special for the children directly in our community, and we pulled it off! It was a lot of work but it has inspired us to think bigger and to realize we are a strong team!”
On December 16, 2024, volunteers took the bags to the school. In total, they donated 669 bags filled with notebooks, pens, pencils, a ducky, stuffed animals, a coloring book, crayons, markers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, erasers, and small toys. Local news station WFMZ was on hand to document the joyful occasion.
The initiative was a beautiful example of how a small act of kindness can create a ripple effect within a community. Through their dedication and collaboration, Emmanuel UMC, Casa Del Ray, and the volunteers made a tangible difference in the lives of many families. As they continue to reach out, they are a living testament to the power of unity and the joy of service. Together United Methodists can create lasting change and spread hope to those in need.