Outreach Ministries

Thanksgiving Basket Program
Each year FUMC assembles and distributes approximately 800 Thanksgiving Baskets to needy families in the community. The baskets consist of a turkey or hen, as well as all the other items that make up a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The delivery of the items for the baskets takes place on Monday evening and the baskets are assembled and distributed to the community on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. Contact: Nancy Tully, 817/339-5063 or by email

Back to School Roundup
In 2005 First United Methodist Church collaborated with numerous social, civic and church organizations to launch the Back to School Roundup – a community wide effort to support economically disadvantaged children by providing them with socks, shoes and a backpack filled with school supplies. In addition to the much needed school supplies, approximately 50 social services organizations are at the event to provide families with information regarding services available to them in the Fort Worth community. This year’s event will be held on in July at the Fort Worth Convention Center. In addition to the day of the event, volunteers are also needed to assist with setup. 

Contact: Nancy Tully, 817/339-5063 or email

Since 1989 First Church has provided financial support to the Y.W.C.A. for superior quality child development programs for homeless children. While enrolled in these programs, the parents of these children are given opportunities to seek jobs and or job training. Each day the church offers a specified number of "slots" at the daycare center at no charge to the family. A family may qualify for this service for up to eight weeks before transferring to a sliding scale fee. Church volunteers also give Christmas gifts and clothing; they volunteer in reading to preschoolers, rocking infants and providing assistance to teachers. Contact: Nancy Tully, 817/339-5063 or by email

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Foreign and Domestic Mission Trips
First United Methodist Church is active in sending teams to assist in the building of schools, churches, and houses within the United States and in other countries. These trips focus not only on building structures, but building relationships with the local residents. Teams have traveled to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Central and South America, Mexico, Costa Rica, New Orleans, Arizona, New Mexico, and South Texas. Most trips are approximately ten days and take place during the summer months. Schedules and locations change each year and are publicized in the church newspaper, bulletin and website. People interested in participating in a Mission Trip will be put on a mailing list and notified of upcoming trips. Contact: Rev. Chuck Graff, 817/339-5065 or by email.

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Habitat for Humanity

This international program offers low-cost home ownership to low-income families by allowing the family and community volunteers to partner together in the building of the home. Our church participates in the Habitat for Humanity “Building on Faith” project each fall in partnership with other United Methodist Churches in our community.

Contact: Nancy Tully by phone 817/339-5063 or email

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In Fall of 2006, First Church launched Kids Hope USA, a mentoring program designed to develop a one on one relationship with "at risk" children. The program model has four distinctive features:

One child: an at-risk public elementary school child who needs a relationship with a caring adult;
One hour: sixty critical minutes each week spent with a trained mentor who befriends the child and helps him acquire basic academic skills;

One church: owns the program with its partner school and provides a trained mentor and a behind-the-scenes prayer partner for each child; and

One school: welcomes this proven intervention to increase the academic skills of at-risk children at no cost to the school. 

 Contact: Gay Ingram, 817/281-6486 or email

 

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Summer Camp Experiences for at risk children

 

First United Methodist Church provides financial support for summer camping experiences to children from the United Community Centers and Diamond Hill United Methodist Church. These camping experiences provide children with educational and recreational activities in a safe environment at the Summer Day Camp Program at United Community Centers and at the Glen Lake United Methodist Residential Camp. They afford opportunities to children from low income families to learn new skills, make new friends and to experience the love and grace of God. Contact: Nancy Tully, 817/339-5063 or by email

 

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Day Resource Center for the Homeless