Bills Backpack Blessings is an ongoing ministry to help fed students at Newell Elementary School. Each week bags of nonperishable food are packed and distributed to 40 students identified by the school as having little or nothing to eat on the weekends. Your help is needed to ensure these children are fed! Below is a list of all the items that are needed. Monetary donations are also accepted.This ministry is named in memory of Bill Waddington who helped start our backpack program with Newell Elementary.Serve in Our CommunityMinister of Missions and Membership:  Rev. Alexis Coleman Ada Jenkins After School Snacks      Sign up to donate snacks for children in the after-school program at the Ada Jenkins Center.  Backpack Ministry       Provide backpacks full of food every Friday during the school year for elementary children in the Lake Norman area.  Bereavement Meals                            Provide the bereaved family of a church member with a meal on the day of the funeral;

help set up tables and chairs in Fellowship Hall; serve, clean, or furnish flowers for the tables.  Contact Carolyn Johnson or Mary Barker (704-655-9034). Blood Drive                                         Give blood and/or staff sign in and refreshment tables during scheduled blood drives at DUMC. Community Food Rescue                   Be part of a team that picks up food from local supermarkets and restaurants and delivers it to agencies feeding those in need.  aota backpack strategiesYour health should allow you to climb into and out of a truck and lift 30 pounds.  puma mmq backpack reviewCommunity Garden                 Serve on a crew to maintain the Davidson Community Garden.  tylt energi backpack price

Cuddle Quilts                                     Sew small quilts from kits of pre-cut fabric squares at home on your sewing machine. Quilts are donated to Barium Springs Home for Children, seriously ill babies and children at Presbyterian Hospitals, and My Sister’s House for abused women and children. Contact Vicki Heitman or Judy Schuh. Habitat for Humanity House               Enthusiastic workers 18 and older (16 if accompanied by a parent) are needed to work on the construction  of Habitat for Humanity houses.   Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry        Work at the Ada Jenkins food pantry dispensing food to families in need. Men’s Shelter of Charlotte      Prepare, purchase, and/or serve food the first Sunday of each month. Mooresville Soup Kitchen      Prepare food and/or serve the third Tuesday of each month.  Outreach Singers Help bring joy to area assisted living facilities, singing show tunes, music from the 40s—50s, and other uplifting favorites. 

Prayer Shawl Ministry                       Knit shawls for people who are seriously ill or in crisis.  A morning group meets regularly - or you can knit at home.  Room In The Inn (RITI)                      DUMC provides shelter, fellowship, dinner, and breakfast for homeless neighbors three nights a week, December—March.  Needed: hosts to stay overnight, cooks and servers for dinner.  Drivers are also needed to provide transportation using the church bus to and from uptown Charlotte.  Click here to sign up.  Contact Doug and Judy Martin.   Senior Adult Visitation                        Maintain contact with a senior member of DUMC, primarily for socialization. HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? Sponsor a child for a week ($7), a month ($30), or the entire school year ($300). (Please make checks payable to Transformation Church and write "Backpack meals" on the check.) Join one of our serve teams: Backpack Filling, Food Collection or Transportation.

Donate Backpack Meals food: Milk – Individual carton/non-refrigerated 100% Juice – Individual carton/pouch size Fruit Cups/Applesauce – Lunchbox size Cereal Boxes – Lunchbox size Chips/Pretzel – Lunchbox size Soup – Easy open/pop top Small canned lunch items (Chef-Boy-ar-Dee, Beanie Weenies, Vienna Sausages) – Easy open/pop top Individually wrapped cookies/treats – No peanut butter/nuts Granola/Cereal Bars – No peanut butter/nuts Fruit Snacks/Fruit Rollups – Lunchbox size If you have any questions email the TC Outreach team There's a group of kids in my neighborhood that show up at my place almost every day. all elementary through middle school aged. One day‚ one of the little girls started talking about her softball practice and where they were going to go eat afterwards. The other little girl looked up and said, "We never get to eat dinner because there's no food at home." As soon as that sentence was out of her mouth,

"At least you have the food in the backpacks now." As soon as they were gone, I had to come in and cry a little bit. Of course everyone knows that the backpack meals is a great program, but it really hits home when you know one of the kids that benefits from it!!!How awesome to know that TC is the reason that sweet little girl gets to have food while she is at home!! Get in touch with usOur Programs and Services Matthews HELP Center is a thriving and growing organization, serving an average of over 490 families per month. We offer an array of programs and services, and are always reassessing and considering additional services to assist our neighbors in need. Financial Crisis Assistance - Meeting life’s basic needs (rent, utilities, etc.). Food Pantry - Non-perishable and perishable food and hygiene items - Clients are provided with a one (1) week supply of food for their household. Backporch Treasures Thrift Boutique - Donated clothing and household items are provided at no cost to qualifying clients, and at a minimal cost to the public.

Community Referrals - links to additional resources for assistance. The following items are required in order to make an assessment of need and must be brought to your appointment. Picture ID for all adults:  Driver’s license, state picture ID, or passport. Social Security Card for all household members. Proof of Income for everyone in the household: check stubs, a letter from employer verifying pay or proof of any income household has (all room mates, etc.). Receipts to show how household has recently spent money they have had: insurance, bills paid, etc. Proof of emergency:  Doctor’s disability statement, medical bills, eviction notice, cut-off notices. Rental/Homeowners information:  Rent receipts, lease, landlord’s name and phone number, mortgage papers. Coordination between community resources, contributors and residents in need. Back 2 School Program - Students receive a new backpack with grade appropriate school list and supplies.

Last August, 517 students received backpacks! Back 2 School 2015: Current Needs List BounceBack Backpack Program - Many local children receive free or reduced breakfasts and lunches at school, but may have no food on the weekends. The BounceBack Backpack program provides healthy, kid-friendly, non-perishable food every weekend throughout the school year. This food will not only supplement a hungry child's diet, but may also ease anxieties, improve attention span, and increase academic performance. A "menu" has been developed to provide a variety of meal and snack items throughout the month. These backpacks go home with students every weekend throughout the entire school year. The BounceBack Backpack program served 70 local elementary students in 2014-2015 school year. Thanksgiving Feast Program — Provides Thanksgiving Feast for an entire household. Holiday Support Program - Matthews HELP Center provides needy families in the area with stocking stuffers, toys, clothing, gift wrapping, etc. for each child in the home.

Eligible clients are able to shop in our Holiday House "store" with a MHC voucher. This provides them the opportunity to budget and choose holiday gifts for their children. "Get it Together" Financial Planner meets one-on-one with clients to avoid cyclical financial crises. The mission of Matthews HELP Center is to help our neighbors and those in surrounding communities survive financial crisis by providing short-term assistance. Today, I visited Matthews HELP Center. I was presented with one of your best representatives, Mrs. Kelly. She greeted me with the most beautiful smile. We gathered in her office where she asked me the most concerning questions. She was very attentive to my needs. She expressed great care and concern for me continuing my education. She was willing to exhaust every avenue to help me. In this day and age, you don't meet people like her often. Kelly, you are truly a Godsend. God will bless you for your concern and genuine love for people. You have truly made a difference in my life.