Outreach

Work Corner Ministry

Berkeley United Methodist Church has been participating in the Work Corner for at least 15 years. Members volunteer and come to the Christian Life Center on rotating Sundays at 6:00 am to cook 180 eggs and heat up 360 tortillas. At approximately 7:30 am, they pack up those items and head up to 7th Street near I-35, where they serve breakfast to an average of 90 people. Other members participate by purchasing and delivering the eggs/tortillas to the CLC on Saturdays.  Gift bags are put together by the United Methodist Women and other members for Christmas. New volunteers and donors are always welcome!

The Work Corner Ministry was originally started by Lynn Goodman Strauss, with Catholic Charities. Berkeley United Methodist Church eventually took on the responsibility of continuing her labor of love on Sundays. A YouTube video about Lynn Goodman Strauss is available online and features some of Berkeley’s original participants.

Cunningham Elementary School

Cunningham Elementary School is right across the street from Berkeley.  Members donate school supplies, clothing, and other necessary items for the children and families.  A tutoring and mentoring program is also in the works for fall 2009.

UMYF mission trip

The Berkeley youth group takes an annual mission trip within Texas.  Projects have included work with U.M. ARMY as well as independent projects.  In summer 2009, the youth traveled to Mathis, Texas where they completed substantial repairs to the home of a disabled couple.

Support of Missions and Charities

Along with other Austin area United Methodist churches, Berkeley is involved in raising money for the Imagine No Malaria campaign. This is an ambitious effort to eradicate malaria in Africa by improving prevention, access to care, education, and communication.

Berkeley’s children donate to the Heifer Project and other members collect donations for additional organizations such as Nothing But Nets, and UMCOR.  We are also pledged to support missionaries in Latin America, and we participate in special giving programs such as One Great Hour of Sharing.

Outreach Committee

The Berkeley UMC Outreach Committee supports local, state, national, and international mission work. The committee provides opportunities to participate in outreach and mission with the local community and conference, the UMC Global Board of General Ministries, and UMC Volunteers in Mission. The committee educates about mercy-related topics and mission projects, supports missionaries, when possible, and promotes the United Methodist Church Connectional Giving Program.