Community Ministries

University UMC has a long history of ministry in the community of University City and St. Louis. We’ve been on this corner since the early 1900’s, remaining a part of the urban community when most of our neighbors left to relocate in the suburbs. Our unique location directly affects the kinds of ministries that we embrace.

The people of UUMC seek to do God’s work of justice in an urban setting by being involved in community ministries and mission work around the nation and the world.


Click on any of the individual items to learn more about our ministries of caring in the community.

Kids' Place

Kids' Place is a three-day-a-week after school program that serves low-income children in the University City East area, in conjunction with Delmar-Harvard Elementary School.

The program begins at 3:30, when the staff walks to Delmar-Harvard Elementary School to meet with the children and then walk back to UUMC with them. Once onsite, the children eat a snack, followed by a curriculum built on quality children's literature. Games and enrichment opportunities, as well as homework help are available from trained adult leaders.

On Monday the session ends at 5:30 and then children either walk home or are picked up by their parents. At 5:30 on Tuesday and Thursday children and adults alike move to the dining room for a shared dinner. Following dinner, all children read for twenty minutes with an adult tutor. Homework, learning games and computer classes last until 7:15. After cleaning up, a final snack is served and children leave for home at 7:30. We are scheduled to add a fourth afternoon session each Wednesday, beginning January 2003, providing we find funding sources for it.

Each month there are opportunities for activities for the parents of our Kids' Place kids. We also meet with the parents each semester as we evaluate our work with the children.

Volunteers for Kids' Place come for UUMC, Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel Synagogue, Grace United Methodist church as well as students at Washington University involved in the YMCA Literacy program. Volunteers are always needed for the Kids Place Ministry.

How Can You Help?

Volunteer Each Week on site with the Children:
Mondays from 3:30-5:30
Tuesdays or Thursdays 3:30-5:30
Tuesdays or Thursdays 6:00-7:30
Tuesdays or Thursdays 3:30-7:30

Shop for and Deliver Snacks or Dinner

Attend and Help at Special Events
Special Dinners or Parties
Field Trips

Write Grant Proposals
Because we are funded primarily by grants and gifts we are always looking for people who will help write grant proposals.

Work With Parents
Once a month we provide an activity for parents. If you have ideas and would be willing to help implement those ideas, we'd love to have you join us!

If you would like more information of how you can be a part of this important ministry in the lives of children in our community please call Emily Hopkins at 314-863-8055.

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Health Protection Services

In collaboration with U City East, members and friends of the church work at a monthly health screening service. Medical tests and consultations are free to all. You can volunteer to help with setting up, greeting clients, filling out paper work, providing needed medical services and cleaning up after the monthly gathering.

Bread Run

Volunteers pick up bread from St. Louis Bread Company and deliver it to agencies, which distribute them as needed. Volunteers sign up for one or more Sunday evening pick up and delivery dates. Directions are available for first time Bread Runners!

Clothes Closet

Volunteers work at Connect Care to help patients find clean, gently used clothing. Clothing is collected at church continually. You can help by bringing in clothing, delivering clothing to the Clothes Closet and/or volunteering to help clients find appropriate clothing at the Clothes Closet.

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Church Door Help

UUMC has people who are in need come to our church for help each week. Church Door Help provides bus tickets, food vouchers and prescription vouchers for needy people who seek aid from our church.

Church Drivers

There are several people who would like to be able to attend church events, but cannot drive or do not have cars. Members and friends of UUMC can volunteer to be drivers for church events. Church drivers pick up older adults, disabled persons and college students who do not have transportation and drive them to worship and other church events. Following the time at church the drivers deliver them back to their homes. If you would be interested in being a church driver, contact the church office for contact information.

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Part Of Something Bigger

University United Methodist Church is one of many thousands of United Methodist chuches in the world. As such we are part of a connectional system. UUMC is part of the Gateway Central District and the Missouri Area Conference, www.moumethodist.org.

The United Methodist church has district, conference and general church mission initiatives supported by our community of faith. Our donations to these missions allow the United Methodist Church to respond quickly to needs in our country and around the world Some of those missions are:

United Methodist Committee on Relief
UMCOR is known throughout the world as one of the first organizations to respond to disaster relief sites.

Bishops’ Initiative on Children
The United Methodist Council of Bishops adopted an Initiative on Justice for All Children in 1996. This includes everything from advocacy for the removal of land mines to dental kits for children in Missouri to clean water projects for children in Africa.

Festival of Sharing
We join other United Methodist Churches to support a wide range of charitable and development programs, such as providing care kits for those in prison and school kits for children beginning the school year.

For more information on United Methodist Missions, log on to www.umc.org <http://www.umc.org> and go to the mission links.

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