Missouri – United Church of Christ
Emmaus Homes, Inc. (Serving St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln, Franklin and St. Louis counties in Missouri)
Contact for Summer Volunteering Opportunities
Chris Adams, Development Operation Manager/Volunteers
Phone: 636-534-5218
Email: adamsc@emmaushomes.org
Corporate Office Address:
3731 Mueller Rd.
St. Charles, MO 63301
Emmaus Homes provides services for adults with developmental disabilities based on their unique needs and goals.
Project Sites will be determined by the number of volunteers and Emmaus needs (extended St. Louis area)
Project/Focus: Projects may include but are not limited to yard work, painting, carpentry, general office work, and assistance in recreational and educational programs.
Educational/Advocacy Components: As volunteers engage with clients in their homes or in the community, they will learn first-hand how people of all abilities are more alike than different. Orientation is offered to all volunteers upon arrival.
Year-round: Groups can volunteer to help with spring and fall yard maintenance, arranged at a mutually agreeable time. Volunteers may help with Special Events.
Group Size: Maximum 15
Minimum Age: 2+ years
Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:5. (Requested ratio of 1:3 if group is composed of youth ages 12-15).
Accommodations: We ask that groups make their own accommodation Emmaus partners can suggest local churches, community groups that offer housing. Typically, sleeping space, showers and cooking space are provided. Groups will bring their own bedding, sleeping bags, food and possibly cookware.
Cost: Reservation fee of $50 per group is required upon confirmation of reservation. A donation to Emmaus is requested to offset the cost of material and supplies provided during the week.
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Urban Mission Experience-St. Louis
Contact: Lauren Verseman
c/o Epiphany UCC
2911 McNair Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63118
E-mail: umestl@yahoo.com
Phone: 314.5359-9654
Website: http://urbanmissionexperience.weebly.com
The goals of the Urban Mission Experience are to financially support urban churches, introduce mission trip visitors to some of the best mission agencies in the St. Louis area and live out Micah 6:8.
Project/Focus: Groups work with several non-profit agencies in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Work may include sorting donations, stocking shelves, bagging groceries, cleaning facilities or assisting neighbors, working in a children’s summer program, painting and yard service. Activities can be tailored according to group interests and staff availability. Groups get an overview of many ways the church is active in mission here.
Educational/Advocacy Components: The “Urban Encounter” program is designed with three components: 1) service work, 2) reflection on the experience, and 3) rest and recreation. Groups should plan to work 4-5 hours per day at each mission site. Trained facilitators are available one evening to help youth reflect on issues of poverty and social justice. Local recreational opportunities include swimming, major and minor league baseball games, St. Louis Arch, Six Flags, St. Louis Zoo, Grant’s Farm, City Museum and many special interest museums.
Time: Weeklong “Urban Encounter” mission trips may be scheduled from late May through August. Trips of less than a full week and trips September through May are also available. Call for availability.
Group Size: Maximum number 40
Minimum Age: Minimum age is sixth grade.
Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:6
Accommodations: Housing is provided in a UCC Church. Sleeping rooms are air-conditioned. Bring sleeping bags and air mattresses. Groups may use church kitchen for meal preparation. Showers are available at nearby recreational center.
Cost: $200 non-refundable deposit per group is required with reservation. Suggested donation for housing is $25 per person per night for weeklong “Urban encounter” mission events.
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Contact: Ron Lindsey
Union Avenue Christian (DOC)
733 Union Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
E-mail: urbanmissioninn@gmail.com
Phone: 314.361.8844
Fax: 314.361.3036
Website: www.union-avenue.org/urban-mission-inn
Urban Mission Inn is part of the Union Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The church describes itself as a faith community growing in the treasures of justice, stewardship, artistic expression and hospitality.
Project/Focus: The Urban Mission Inn offers a variety of possible inner-city volunteer opportunities including work with children, indigent seniors, soup kitchens, community gardens, homeless shelters, food delivery programs, food pantries, and more. Work projects are tailored to the needs and gifts of each group and are designed to allow groups to interact with a variety of issues around urban mission. We plan 3-4 days of service opportunities for each group. Groups are responsible for their own food and transportation.
Educational/Advocacy Components: Group leaders responsible for own programming and staff are available for check ins and discussions. Advance materials are provided to prepare you for your trip. Our summer interns often serve along side groups and are available to lead discussions and devotions.
Time: Year-round
Group Size: Up to 30
Minimum Age: 13 years.
Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:7
Accommodations: Air-conditioned sleeping rooms, bunk beds, air mattresses, on-site showers, meeting space with pool table and games, full kitchen with space for cooking and storing food.
Cost: $15 per person (regardless of length of stay). A $100 deposit is requested to hold the date.
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Shannondale Community Center (Salem)
Contact: J. Nathan Fulk
41277 St. HW 19
Salem, MO 65560
E-Mail: nathan@mmsucc.org
Phone: 573.858.3284
Fax: 573.858.3263
Web site: http://www.missourimidsouth.org
Project/Focus: Carpentry, plumbing, painting, electrical, and yard cleanup on the site of the Shannondale Community Center. Projects also can be arranged for the improvement of the local community.
Educational/Advocacy Components: Group leaders provide own programming.
Time: Spring, summer, fall. Also, we do accept groups during the winter, but some facilities are shut down. Registration is necessary.
Group Size: 40 persons per group.
Minimum Age: None. Older persons also welcome.
Adult to Youth Ratio: Senior high youth – 1:6; Junior high youth – 1:5. Adult leaders should have necessary construction skills so that the limited staff of Shannondale can provide direction but not direct supervision of the work site.
Accommodations: Groups provide own bedding. Cooking facilities are available. Groups provide their own meals. Shannondale will prepare meals for groups of 25 or more. We are located near the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways Park. Float trips, retreat resources, adventure education, hayrides, and orienteering can be arranged for groups.
Cost: $16 per person per day if not a work group. Work groups $14 per person per day. Work materials extra.
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Fuller Center for Housing (Kansas City)
Contact: Stacey Goolsby, US Builders Registrar
701 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Americus, GA 31719
E-Mail: stacey@fullercenter.org
Phone: 229.924.2900 *Fax: 844-645-3485
Website: http://fullercenterkc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fullercenterGKC
Register on-line: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=fullercenter&id=31
The Fuller Center for Housing faith-driven and Christ-centered, promotes collaborative and innovative partnerships with individuals and organizations in an unrelenting quest to provide adequate shelter for all people in need worldwide.
Projects/Focus: Building new and repairing existing homes working with families in need. The exact projects will be determined close to group arrival and based upon the progress of previous accomplishments of our volunteers and available resources.
Educational/Advocacy Components: Each group will receive an orientation about the community they will be serving. This will include a discussion about poverty housing in the area, and the economic benefit of our “hand up-not a handout” approach and how this builds a Fund for Humanity, recycling homeowner payments to serve other people in need in the community. Churches do mission work by empowering the people they serve.
Time: Spring, (March is the best month) Monday – Saturday
Group Size: 6-14
Minimum Age: 18+ years.
Accommodations: Options range from dorm-like facilities (bedrooms with community restroom) to hosting in homes of church famililes. Food. Most lunches and dinners will be provided, but some meals may be “on the town” at participants’ own expense. Teams will prepare thier own breakfast.
Cost: $160 pre person
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Blue Spring Terrace (Blue Springs near Kansas City)
Contact: Mary Ann Pierson, Board President
312 SW 19th Terrace,
Blue Springs, MO 6401
E-Mail: hmapierson@yahoo.com
Phone: 816-392-4750
Website: www.bluespringsterrace.com
Blue Springs Terrace is a low-cost and friendly place to live in retirement for those who have dedicated their lives to serving others as pastors or full-time office staff of the United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ.
Projects/Focus: Blue Springs Terrace provides independent living in supportive Christian community for all retired pastors and Full-time Christian Workers of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and/or their spouses. Houses are provided and residents pay for utilities and a small monthly maintenance fee. Work projects include building assessments and repairs so that people can remain in their homes living independently.
Educational/Advocacy Components: Blue Springs Terrace is a member of the UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM). Conversation with retired church workers and clergy.
Time: Weekends or weeklong in Spring, Summer of Fall
Group Size: Maximum 10 (more can be accommodated with notice)
Minimum Age: None
Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:5
Accommodations: Groups stay at the ‘Agape House’ Terrace Community Center. Bring your own air mattress and sleeping bag. Kitchen provided: Groups cook own food. Bring own tools and equipment for projects.
Cost: Donations accepted for materials.
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Contact: Volunteer Coordinator
4115 Connecticut Street
St. Louis, MO 63116
E-Mail: amenstlouis@gmail.com
Phone: 314-664-5525
Website: http://amenstlouis.org
Amen St. Louis is a mission trip program run by Oak Hill Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). Middle school, high school, and young adult mission trips visit to serve the St. Louis community, reflect and have fun?
Projects/Focus: Every day you will do something different! We partner with non-profits that distribute food directly to the community, provide housing for survivors of domestic violence, provide early childhood care and education, and elder care. We also work with urban farming/gardening projects and do yard work and home improvement for seniors in the neighborhood.
Educational Components: Through our interactive sessions, you will learn about the history of racial segregation in St. Louis and how to become a voice for justice.
Minimum Age: Middle school
Adult to Youth Ratio: 1:5 In cases where groups include youth participants up to age 17, “adults” will be defined as those aged 21 or older. 18-year-olds in this case will be considered “youth” for purposes of determining the adult-youth ratio.
Accommodations: 24-bed facility is available year-round to groups. Groups are responsible for own meals. The AMEN house has a fully-equipped kitchen in the AMEN House with all necessary appliances, dishes, and basic staples like sugar, salt, coffee, and creamer. Many grocery stores are nearby. Restaurants (both fast-food and sit-down service) are within walking distance of the house. Group packs own lunches for midday meal.
Cost: Week-long – Sunday 3:00 p.m. through Saturday. $200 per person, AMEN plans the whole week and sets up any service sites. Groups cook their own food and plan their own social outings (except Tuesday night, we provide pizza and a neighborhood outing). Groups also plan their own worship and devotional/reflection time.
Service Retreat Weekend – Friday to Sunday morning: $75 per person, not including groceries or meals.
One Day Retreat: $35 per person, not including groceries or meals.
Housing Only: $75/per person/week in off-season, $150/person/week from Memorial Day-mid August and during March.
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