Opportunities to Serve

Listed below are just a few of the many opportunities we have to serve the community around us near and far. If you would like to find out more, have any questions, or would like to find other ways to Share, please contact Farah Greeley at outreach@burkeumc.org.

FEEDING MINISTRIES

Cooking Ministries:

Hot Breakfast for the Homeless: Third Sundays, 6:45 am
- Once a month, in partnership with FACETS, we prepare breakfast burritos and deliver them to homeless persons in the Fairfax Circle area and to the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter. You can get involved by donating food for the breakfasts or joining us in the kitchen.
- Donate: juice boxes, milk boxes, Nutri-Grain bars, fruit cups. Place items in the marked bin in the kitchen.
Hot Lunch for the Homeless: Third Mondays, 9:30 am & 6:30 pm
- Once a month we prepare a healthy lunch to feed hungry individuals at various community organizations. The Lamb Center team meets at 9:30 am and Rising Hope team meets at 6:30 pm. You can be involved by joining the team as they cook at BUMC.
Sunday Lunch for Rising Hope: Fourth Sundays, 8:00 am
- Once a month we prepare lunch for 70 congregants of Rising Hope to have after their Sunday Service.

Weekend Food Bags:

We meet the last Wednesday of the month at 6pm to assemble around 300 bags for 4 schools.

Each month, a team of volunteers gathers to put together weekend food bags to be distributed at students who are food insecure at local schools so they have food over the weekend.

Donations are always accepted to support these efforts. These items can be dropped off in our Donation Center in the back parking lot of Burke UMC at any time. The greatest needs are:

chicken cup of noodles
Kraft mac & cheese bowls
Chef Boyardee microwavable pasta (variety pack)
breakfast bars

Click here to volunteer!

GLEANING

Volunteers will pick up food from local grocery stores and bring it to the co-op to be distributed.
- We currently partner with Whole Foods in Springfield and Fair Lakes and food is delivered to Burke UMC, Rising Hope, and Hanley Shelter.

Community Co-Op

We currently serve 200 + families each month. Families can choose to come into the co-op and select the products that are best for their families. Due to partnerships with local businesses and non-profits, each family receives about 6 bags of groceries, including non-perishables, produce, milk, eggs, frozen meat, bakery products and cleaning and hygiene supplies.
Interested in volunteering? Sign up here.
Interested in donating? Learn more here.

Learn More Here

Rotating Collections Throughout The Year

Teddy Bear Brigade - September
- Small to medium sized stuffed animals to be given all over the world to children suffering from the effects of abuse, poverty and disaster
Fill A Backpack - July and August
- Backpacks and basic school supplies
Thanksgiving Baskets
Christmas Parent Shop
Book Donations
Hygiene Collection

ECHO (Ecumenical Communities Helping Others)

An ecumenical area support ministry that serves immediate needs not covered by social services in the Burke/Springfield area. ECHO provides food, clothing, and household goods, job counseling. We support them financially and through donations of the above items.
Donate: vegetable oil, syrup, juice, laundry detergent, shaving cream, deodorant, pots and pans, queen-sized bedding, men's t-shirts (size small), toilet paper, paper towels. Please take donation items directly to ECHO, which is located at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield. ECHO accepts donations weekdays, 9:30AM-12:30PM, or 7:00-9:00PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.)

Burke Gives Back

Because we are called by our faith to “Love Your Neighbor”, Burke United Methodist Church started holding “Change the World” events in May 2010. As our neighbors became interested in this event, we looked for ways to involve the community in helping to care for others and to learn about the needs both locally and far away. This event shifted into our Burke Gives Back Community Day of Service over the past few years. Join our email list to stay in the loop about upcoming days of service.