Community Involvement Partners
Ways to Serve
Kids Hope USA
At Kids Hope USA, we believe that all kids matter to Jesus and that the local church is uniquely called to care for children in their community who would benefit from another caring, reliable relationship. University United Methodist Church has been in partnership with McKinley Elementary for 40 years, offering that care through loving and supportive mentoring relationships between its students and UUMC volunteers.
HOPE Ministries
HOPE Ministries is a grassroots nonprofit serving the Greater Baton Rouge community by living out its mission to prevent homelessness, promote self sufficiency, and provide dignity. UUMC assists with these efforts by providing volunteers who work in HOPE's Client Choice Food Pantry, collecting food items to help stock the pantry, and providing toys and funding for the nonprofit's annual Toy Drive.
Front Yard Bikes
University UMC is an official partner of Front Yard Bikes! The mission of Front Yard Bikes is to help youth in our community develop healthy, fulfilling, and productive lives. We are so excited to be partners with this organization and to foster a place for community youth to prosper in life and to succeed.
Habitat for Humanity
A decent home provides the strength, stability, and independence that families need, and Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Every fall, UUMC joins with other United Methodist churches in the Baton Rouge community to help build a home for a deserving recipient.
Cub & Boy Scouts
Troop 50 was formed in 1951 with 9 Boy Scouts. Today the tradition continues going strong as a leading presence in our community with a history of service to our church and the local community.
Holy Grill
Started in 1987, and sponsored by the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge, Holy Grill feeds the hungry as well as promotes healthy lifestyles and peace. Through Holy Grill, UUMC volunteers assist with serving meals to some of the city's most underserved populations. The serving site is at the BREC center in Cadillac Street Park in Zion City. For more information, contact Susan Pourciau at spourciau48@cox.net.
Rise Against Hunger
Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief non-profit organization that coordinates the packaging and distribution of food and other aid to people in developing nations. Annually, UUMC volunteers gather to assemble more than 10,000 meals that are shipped to global destinations to feed our brothers and sisters in Christ. For more information, email our Children’s Director at childrens@universitymethodist.org.
Mission Outreach Dinners
Twice each year, UUMC's Mission Committee sponsors a Mission Outreach Dinner. In the past, members gathered to assemble hygiene kits for distribution to the Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless and gift bags for the children served by UUMC through Kids Hope USA. Volunteers share fellowship and a meal while working to help those in need in our community. For more information and for a timeline for future outreach dinners, contact Betty Backstrom at bbackstrom54@gmail.com.
LSU Food Pantry
During the summer months, University United Methodist Church provides volunteers to serve the LSU Food Pantry while its student volunteers are typically "out" for June, July, and August. UUMC also collects food items for the pantry year-round. For more information, contact Betty Backstrom at bbackstrom54@gmail.com.
Advent Giving Campaign
Every Sunday in Advent, UUMC's members collect items and monetary donations that are given to community agencies that assist those who need our help. Typical agencies that have been recipients of the donations include the Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless, HOPE Ministries, and the IRIS Domestic Violence Center. For more information, contact Betty Backstrom at bbackstrom54@gmail.com.
