service opportunities

Interchurch Food Pantry

Healthy volunteers are needed locally to serve at the Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County to pack and distribute food boxes, Monday thru Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Contact Beth Stillabower at bethstillabower@franklingrace.org or Carol Phipps at pantryjcmanager@gmail.com for more details and to sign up. The pantry could also use financial donations. Nonperishable goods are helpful, but monetary donations can actually go farther, as the pantry is able to take advantage of their tax-exempt status, as well as arrangements with food banks. Visit www.jcpantry.org/donate to make a monetary donation.

Indiana Women's Prison Supplies

Inmates at the Indiana Women’s Prison are currently make masks to be given to those on front lines of COVID-19. They could use 100% cotton fabric and bias tape to assist in their efforts.  Another need they have right now is Walmart gift cards to purchase crib mattresses for their Wee Ones nursery. Ongoing needs include diapers of all size (especially sizes N, 1, and 2), baby wipes, and baby formula. Items can be brought to the church lobby and placed in the tote marked Indiana Women’s Prison. Gift cards can be labeled “Women’s Prison”, and placed in the metal drop box in the wall to the left of the office door. Contact Beth Stillabower for more info at bethstillabower@franklingrace.org.

Better Together Initiative

A new community initiative called Better Together is now underway to help Johnson County residents stay mentally and physically healthy and stay connected with the community. Learn more about this initiative at https://sites.google.com/view/bettertogether1823/home. You are welcome to volunteer through Better Together to make food deliveries, phone calls to neighbors in Johnson County, or lead classes via Zoom. You are also welcome to register to receive any of these services. Email  bettertogether1823@gmail.com with questions.

Non-Perishable Foods

Grace maintains a stock of non-perishable foods to provide to individuals who come to the church in need.  These are also occasionally used to help stock the Little Free Pantry at the Johnson County Public Library- Franklin Branch.  Easy-open, ready-to-eat foods are particularly helpful.  Examples include pop-top cans of beef stew, pastas, chicken, tuna, fruits, and vegetables; granola bars; cereal cups, crackers, peanut butter, disposable eating utensils.    

New Outreach Facebook Group

Stay informed about current needs and efforts through our new Grace Outreach Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/669796680438923/.

Fabric Masks

Several Grace members have been making cloth face masks. If you would like to help support their efforts, they could use 1/8" to 1/4" wide elastic, bias tape, and tightly woven 100% cotton fabric. These items can be left in the lobby at the church. To arrange for pickup from your home instead, contact Beth Stillabower at bethstillabower@franklingrace.org.

Sweatpants for Webb Elementary and Franklin Community Schools

We are currently collecting children’s sweatpants, children’s sizes 5-16, for the health clinics at Webb Elementary and other area schools.  Collection will run throughout the month of February.  Pants can be left in the tote in the church lobby, or dropped off at one of our no-contact drop-off times- just drive up under the awning on the west side of the church Saturday, February 13 from 9:30-11:30 and Wednesday, February 24 from 5-7.

Care Kit Item Contributions

Care Kits contain toiletry items, and are given to individuals who come to the church in need. Items always accepted include:  travel-sized toiletries, individually wrapped toothbrushes, bandaids, lip balm, washcloths, and new socks.  Items can be left in the “Care Kits” tote outside the sanctuary OR purchased from the “Grace UMC Care Kit Supplies” list on Amazon.  The list can be found at:  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/4CTVKZJ6SE2D?ref_=wl_share.  Items purchased from Amazon can be shipped directly to the church.

Local Food Giving Option for Children

Many local children are in food-insecure situations. To assist directly in the effort to feed children, go to the website of the Johnson County Community Foundation at www.jccf.org/give or simply make a check to Grace UMC/Memo – School Meals. Either way, you can help children locally.

Local Businesses and Health Care Facilities

One way to help both local businesses and health care providers at the same time is to provide a meal from a local restaurant to a health care facility: to offer a meal specifically to those who care for others. Such a gesture can assist a staff at Morning Pointe or Homeview, for example. Contact Pastor Andy directly at andykinsey@franklingrace.org or Beth Stillabower to contribute to these efforts.