For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve...
Mark 10:45
The Outreach Ministry Department manages volunteering in the community and fundraising. Through serving locally in community aid programs and supporting needs that are outside of Columbia, Outreach Ministry connects the church membership to places where care and nurture are most needed.
mission serving opportunities
Loaves & Fishes
Loaves and Fishes is a soup kitchen that provides meals to Columbia's homeless and those in need. It operates out of Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church. Team Cuisine, FCC’s Loaves and Fishes serving team, prepares and serves dinner six times a year. You can volunteer the fourth Monday in February, April, June, August, October and December from 4:30-7:00 pm.
Youth Mission Trips
Each year the Chi-Rho and CYF youth groups, and the DOC college group go on mission trips in Missouri and across the United States. They work on a variety of causes and projects, from food insecurity and homelessness, to home repair and elder care. Learn more on the Fellowship Groups page.
Breakfast for our Brethren
This program was developed by the downtown churches to serve a warm breakfast to those in need on Saturday mornings. FCC serves breakfast and provides clothing and personal hygiene items. You can volunteer Saturday mornings from 7:00-10:00 a.m. in May and October.
Voluntary Action Center
The Voluntary Action Center each year matches families with children, disabled adults, and seniors with individuals, families, businesses, or groups to provide gifts, household items and food for the holidays. FCC adopts 50 people every year. You can volunteer by selecting a name off the tree in November and either personally buying gifts to the person selected or making a monetary donation and the high school youth group will do the shopping for you!
Donations
Crop Walk
The CROP Hunger Walk is community-based walk event held in Columbia at Stephen’s Park. The fundraising supports the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. 25% of what is raised goes to our local Food Bank.
Food Bank
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri is a regional disaster and hunger relief network that distributes millions of pounds of food annually across a 32-county area. The Food Bank works with 140 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other agencies to ensure food gets into the hands of those who need it most. FCC regularly collects monetary and non-perishable food items for the Food Bank.
Warm Up Columbia
Warm Up Columbia is an annual drive coordinated by VAC and churches in our community. Warm items such as coats, blankets, scarves, gloves, hats, and socks are collected and given to low-income families, elderly, homeless, and disabled individuals. You can drop off these items in the tubs outside the church office.
Heifer International
Heifer International provides livestock and training in sustainable agricultureal and business practices to create the most opportunity for individuals and communities they partner with. During the month of December, FCC collects donations that will help children and families around the world.
Special Offerings
Special Offerings are collected during Week of Compassion, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Pentecost, and Reconciliation. There is so much good that these offerings give to the work being done by the Disciples Mission Fund. These offerings help with the pro-reconciliation/anti-racism work of the Church, the relief, refugee, and development work of the Church, and many other worthy services.
Pancake Breakfasts
The Men’s Ministry and the Outreach Ministry combine forces a few times each year to host a Pancake Breakfast. The proceeds of these breakfasts have benefited Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank.