Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here Am I. Send me!"
ARK Ministry
The ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) ministry has two trailers that go out every Sunday afternoon at 3 pm and travel to different locations to deliver food, warm clothes, water, and other needed items to the homeless and low-income communities in Sanford. The ARK serves over 100 meals every Sunday to those who are homeless in Sanford and grows daily. This ARK is always looking for cooks, and people to go out and serve the food. All are welcome to be part of this ministry.
If you would like to be part of this ministry please contact Callie Spitler momaishome@gmail.com, for more information.
Backpack Pals
While schools are in session, St. Luke provides volunteers on the first Thursday of each month to make up bags of food to be delivered out on Friday to the schools (they then give the bags to kids on their way home). The bagging of food takes place at CUOC between 9 am and 11 am.
During the summer months when schools are out. St. Luke takes food bags out to Harts trailer court on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. The bags are handed out between 10:30 am and 11:00 am. The person doing it needs to be at CUOC around 10:00 am to pick up the bags to be distributed. Volunteers are also always needed to help in the bagging and stocking of food for delivery during the summer months.
If you would like to be part of this ministry please contact Barry Olsen at jello5612@nc.rr.com for more information
Blessed to be a Blessing
Blessed To Be a Blessing is a cold-weather clothing giveaway at which Sanford-area residents are allowed to "shop" for free apparel and shoes for themselves and their immediate family members in the sizes and styles they need. Coats and clothing from infant to adult sizes are collected, sorted and stored throughout the year and offered to guests on the third Saturday of October. Guests are not required to demonstrate financial need. Clothing is donated largely by St. Luke members and sorted by church volunteers, The annual giveaway is organized and staged by more than 100 volunteers from the church and surrounding community. It's held in St. Luke's family life center and guests are offered breakfast biscuits, coffee, and juice.
BTBAB is held each year at St. Luke United Methodist Church on the third Saturday of October from 8 a.m. to noon. Donations are received year-round, and the ministry has a limited ability to provide emergency cold-weather clothing outside the annual event.
For more information, please contact Martha Quillin at mquillin@newsobserver.com.
BreadBasket
The BreadBasket is an organization that offers a free lunch to those in need Monday- Friday from 11:00-12:30. St. Luke currently has two teams of volunteers serving at the Breadbasket, each team volunteering once a month. We are responsible for prepping the food, serving, and cleaning up once the meal is over.
If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Susanne Heins at sheins@windstream.net
Christians United Outreach Center (CUOC)
CUOC is a Lee County organization supported by 65 churches and many businesses. The mission is to provide basic needs of food, clothing, or spiritual guidance to residents of Lee County in North Carolina. St. Luke offers help to CUOC in many ways by year-round food collection and plastic bags for backpack pals.
If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Neal Kightlinger at nealk@windstream.net
Congregations for Children (C4C)
Congregations for Childen is a North Carolina Conference ministry that pairs churches with schools is close proximity. St. Luke has been paired with JR Ingram Elementary School and West Lee Middle School to support faculty and students both spiritually and substantially. To that end, we have provided tutors for the students, supplied goodies for the teachers, and given to social aid to guidance counselors. We hope to expand this ministry more in future years.
If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Susan Laudate at mlaudate@windstream.net
Disaster Relief
In response to recent Hurricanes heavily effecting Eastern North Carolina, St. Luke UMC has sent numerous teams to the Lumberton area to help relieve and rebuild heavily affected areas. In conjunction with the North Carolina Conference St. Luke is still working to give aid and relief to this area. St. Luke has recently completed a house adoption and is looking to continue to take teams on a more consistent bases.
If you are interested in helping with this ministry please contact Terri Kirkman at terrikirkman1967@gmail.com
Family Promise of Lee County
Family Promise and St. Luke have been working together for more than 5 years. St. Luke has provided a loving overnight environment to families in the program on a quarterly basis throughout the year. Meals and fellowship occur in the evening after busy work schedules and families can congregate in the dining area to enjoy a nourishing dinner. St. Luke host Family Promise 4-5 times a year. The week runs through Sunday afternoon through the following Sunday morning. Volunteers are needed to stay overnight, or serve drivers, or to provide dinner meals.
If you are interested in helping with this ministry by being an overnight volunteer, meal provider, or driver, please contact the church office.
Highway to Healing
Highway to Healing is a 100% volunteer organization to assist Lee County residents who have cancer but do not have family or other means to provide transportation to treatment and doctor visits. The organization provides coordination between patients and drivers who will transport them to hospitals in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Pinehurst, Fayetteville, and Sanford. St. Luke helps by providing volunteer drivers.
If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Neal Kightlinger at nealk@windstream.net
Joseph Ministry
Joseph Ministry is a hands-and-feet ministry that provides a way to serve within our church and the local community. This team will work together to perform odd jobs, small building projects, maintenance, and home repairs where needs arise.
If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Terri Kirkman at terrikirkman1967@gmail.com.
Meals for Life Ministries
St. Luke provides the meals once a quarter at Bread of Life Ministries. The meal happens around 11:00 am on Saturdays. Food is donated, prepared, and served by the people of St. Luke at an offsite location. Some meals are also delivered to homebound people. For some, this may be the only meal they receive over the weekend because other places do not serve meals on the weekends. Sign-ups for volunteers and donators are once a quarter and the dates vary.
If you would like to help with this ministry please contact Scott Phillips at shphilli7@gmail.com.
Meals on Wheels
St. Luke UMC participates in Meals on Wheels by delivering hot meals to the City of Sanford clients. The meals are prepared by the Central Caroline Hospital kitchen staff every Monday of the year. There are approximately 35 clients on 5 routes. St. Luke has 6 teams, each delivering in 2 non-consecutive months of the year. The teams need to be available between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. In total, about 8 volunteers are used every Meals on Wheels Monday.
If you would like to be part of this ministry please contact Marsha Havens at marshamhavens@gmail.com.
Red Cross Blood Drive
The American Red Cross utilized the facilities at St. Luke to conduct a blood drive which is co-sponsored by St. Luke UMC and Trinity UMC. Our volunteers in conjunction with the Durham-based American Red Cross staff provide donor registration and scheduling, dedicated facility set-up, and take down and after donation snacks and beverages for donors. These blood drive donations help in providing the blood needs throughout the Durham region. Blood drives at St. Luke take place once every 2 months from 1:30 pm-6:00 pm.
If you would like to help with this ministry please contact Leslie Cox at ljcox@windstream.net.
