Community Outreach
At Portage UCC, we seek to make a positive difference in our community and the world. The agencies we participate with serve the poor, homeless, hungry, young and old within Kalamazoo and the wider community. God calls us to help and support those in need in our community. Portage UCC supports these organizations both financially and by volunteering our time and talents to help them carry out their efforts in the community.
Wide Open Table at Portage UCC – 2-3 hours, third Saturday each month. Provide a meal and fellowship to the community and those in need.
Community Healing Center – in connection with Wide Open Table, prepare and deliver a meal for 15 people at the center.
Mission Trips – Adult and youth mission trips to different cities and countries to serve those in need.
Sponsorship of Youth Mission Trips – yearly.
Loaves and Fishes Weekend Food Packs – A Portage UCC collaborative effort between the Outreach Ministry Team and the Children’s and Family Ministry team collecting financial donations to provide weekend meals and school supplies for Kalamazoo school children through Community in Schools. (http://kzoolf.org/)
Loaves and Fishes – collect food donations for the food pantries as well as coordinate volunteers to staff the food pantries. (https://kzoolf.org)
Ministry with Community – 3-4 hours, fourth Saturday of the month. Serve a meal to those in need and provide a healthy supplement to the meal. Collect toiletries and underwear for distribution to those in need. (https://www.ministrywithcommunity.com)
Boys and Girls Club – serve a meal on Fridays. (https://bgckzoo.org/)
Open Door/Next Door – several times a year, prepare/serve a meal and work on projects as needed. (https://www.opendoorskalamazoo.org/)
Meals on Wheels – 2 hours, once every six weeks, deliver prepared meals to homebound adults. (http://www.seniorservices1.org/mowpage.htm)
CROP Walk (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) – annual walk with the youth of Portage UCC to raise money to help end poverty in our community. (https://www.crophungerwalk.org/kalamazoomi)
Refugee Council – Portage UCC helps raise money and provide basic necessities for families transitioning to a new country, culture and language of the US. We also provide mentoring for young men between 17 – 19 years old who live in a group home.
United Alliance (Momentum Employment Group) – volunteer to mentor/tutor at risk adults (individuals with challenges of former drug addiction or criminal record) as they complete education and training for employment. (https://www.uainc.org)
Shepherd’s Center – Portage UCC supports both financially and with volunteer drivers for those in need of transportation. (https://www.shepherd.org)
Stay tuned! Portage UCC continually adds new volunteer opportunities to our list of agencies served in the community!