Serve
The Gospel is as much about the redemption of our city and world as it is about our individual redemption. As a church, we want to embrace that “kingdom” aspect of the Gospel by engaging the social needs of our community, both in our fellowship groups and as an entire church.
Serving University City and Center City Philadelphia
God’s redemptive hand is already hard at work in our community. We are eager to join with those who, by God’s grace, daily work toward the peace, wholeness and healing of our neighborhood—what in Biblical terms is called “shalom.” The following organizations are well-recognized for their work in areas of justice and mercy in University City and Center City Philadelphia. Therefore, we encourage individuals and community groups connected to City Church (and those who have not yet joined us) to get involved volunteering with these agencies as much as possible.
- Books Through Bars sends quality reading material to prisoners and encourages creative dialogue on the criminal justice system, educating those living inside and outside of prison walls.
- Books Through Bars meets to package and ship books to prisoners every Tuesday night between 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm at the A-Space (4722 Baltimore Ave). They also pack books from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month.
- To volunteer, you can just show up. But if you and a group of at least five others would like to make special arrangements to pack at a different day and/or time, please contact volunteer@booksthroughbars.org .
- Children are also welcomed. It’s good for kids who can wrap packages, or maybe insert a nice drawing for inmates.
- For more information about volunteering through City Church, contact Jason Hsu.
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
- Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia builds and rehabilitates houses and neighborhoods by providing simple, decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need. Builds take place in Germantown, South, North, and West Philadelphia.
- On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:30-3:30, volunteers team up with Habitat partner families to build. Every site is supervised by professional construction staff, so previous construction experience or abilities are not necessary. Once scheduled, volunteers will be assigned to a worksite. Most likely, they won’t know what type of project a volunteer group will be doing until just before the actual build day. This is because there are many unknowns in project planning, so expect anything from demolition to finish work.
- To volunteer, there is an online application form. People can volunteer as individuals or as a group. All volunteers make a full day’s commitment so that they can be oriented to the job and still have the bulk of the day to work.
- In accordance with Pennsylvania regulations, all construction volunteers (anyone at the work site) must be 16 years of age or older.
- For more information about volunteering through City Church, contact Jason Hsu.
- Hosts for Hospitals is a family help program that coordinates a network of “hosts” who provide temporary housing for families who travel long distances so children or family members can receive health care in University City.
- Their volunteer are “hosts.” Hosts sign up to provide “guests” a clean and comfortable place to sleep, a bathroom and a feeling of home. All guests are screened by Hosts for Hospitals. Other tasks include giving guests directions to the host’s home, to the hospital in question, to grocery stores and to the nearest public transportation. Hosts are not asked to provide meals or transportation – these are the responsibilities of guests. Many hosts, however, are happy to help out in these and other areas, such as by making their kitchen available at least for light meals. Hosts can accept guests when their schedule allows and take time off when they need to.
- To volunteer, there is an online volunteer application. Before being accepted into the program, Host for Hospitals screens each host and conducts an on-sight inspection of the host’s home. Hosts also receive training to be sensitive to guests’ feelings of stress and concern for their loved ones. Hosts know to respect the privacy of their guests and thus do not expect to socialize with guests unless guests wish to do so.
- For more information about volunteering through City Church, contact Stacy Bartholomew.
- Project H.O.M.E. achieves its mission through a continuum of care comprised of street outreach, a range of supportive housing, and comprehensive services. They address the root causes of homelessness through neighborhood-based affordable housing, economic development, and environmental enhancement programs, as well as through providing access to employment opportunities, adult and youth education, and health care.
- Because Project H.O.M.E. provides a wide array of services, there are many different types of volunteer opportunities. Volunteers can tutor participants in their evening Adult Learning Program. They can help by preparing and delivering a meal to one of their shelters, or even cooking and serving the meal on site. During the winter, they can help serve those homeless individuals who use their overnight drop-in center, the Grace Café. Many other opportunities are available.
- To volunteer, email Erin O’Brien or call her at 215-232-7272 ext. 3015.
- Because of the complexities of ministry to the homeless, children are not best suited for this opportunity.
- For more information about volunteering through City Church, contact Jason Hsu.
- The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House serves the parents and immediate families of children who are receiving care at local hospitals by creating a “bed and breakfast” atmosphere for families to stay in.
- Their volunteer needs include planning and coordinating evening family activities, supplying and cooking a meal for their guests, helping out with Spring cleaning, putting together mailings, welcoming families and handling phone calls, etc.
- Volunteers can staff the House from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, seven days a week. They have three different shifts of volunteers: 9am-1pm, 1-6pm, and 6-9pm (at least six people volunteer on each shift.)
- To volunteer your time and/or service to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House please contact the Director of Volunteers, Linda Parry or call her at 215-387-8406. ext 302.
- All persons who serve as volunteers must be 18 years or older.
- For more information about volunteering through City Church, contact Drew Matter.
- The mission of UC Green is to promote, coordinate, and support volunteer community greening in University City, West/Southwest Philadelphia neighborhoods. Through partnerships they build community, endorse sustainable practices, and champion environmental stewardship.
- UC Green has neighborhood planning days in the spring and fall of each year and pruning and garden-keeping events weekly throughout the year. Check out their Events Page to find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities or contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Winnie Harris, at 215-573-4684.
- Volunteers can drop in at any event, and children are welcomed as well.
- For more information about volunteering through City Church, contact Drew Matter.
University City Hospitality Coalition
- UCHC provides food and other services to the poor and homeless in University City (every day of the week except Tuesday).
- Their Volunteer needs include: Serving meals: UCHC needs volunteers to help serve meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 4:30 to 7 pm. On Saturdays they need volunteers at 11 am and Sundays at 5 pm. See their website for meal locations (all in University City). Unloading deliveries: They also need volunteers once a week to unload food deliveries, but that is not a set time. See their website for more details about that.
- To volunteer, you can just show up, but if more than two are going to show up at once, it would be good to first contact the meal coordinator, Lee Ann Draud (email on the UCHC website).
- This opportunity is not best suited for children.
- There are also special requests for: preparing casseroles, regularly scheduling volunteers, and help with legal, dental and medical clinics.
The information above, as well info for a few other organizations, is included in the document below. Its purpose is to help those involved with City Church to serve our community together in ongoing and tangible ways, both individually and through our community groups.
