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Outreach

Walnut Hills is very intentional in its commitment to service and social justice, and strives to be a congregation which gives away 10% of its budget to charitable organizations. A portion of this giving is distributed through the Outreach Committee at Walnut Hills, which receives and evaluates grant requests.  

In 2005, 13 organizations received grants from the Walnut Hills Outreach Committee, for a total of $34,130.00:  

Amanda the Panda: Provides support to children, youth and adults who are grieving the death of a family member. Services include support groups, Camp Amanda, pen pals, and school visits. Visit www.amandathepanda.org for more information.

AMOS (A Metropolitan Organizing Strategy): An organization of member institutions and congregations who care about the social fabric of our community. AMOS identifies issues to be addressed in the community, researches those issues, and seeks solutions that work.

Bidwell Riverside Center: Provides services to individuals and families which meet immediate needs and works in cooperation with those persons and the community to develop programs and policies which will promote continual improvement in their lives. Services include a food pantry, clothing distribution center, assistance for homeless women and children, and emergency financial help

Children and Family Urban Ministries: Addresses the concerns and conditions of school-age children, youth and their families in the neighborhoods of the near north side of Des Moines. CFUM serves meals at breakfast and supper year-round, hosts after-school and summer youth programs, and in other ways responds to the needs of children and their families in our community. For information visit www.cfum.org.

Churches United Shelter: Provides free shelter and meals to homeless adults regardless of their physical or emotional conditions, and facilitates their move toward self-sufficiency. For more information visit www.churchesunitedshelter.org.

Compassion in Action: Provides emergency assistance grants to families or individuals who have little resources. The fund is a partnership between the Des Moines Area Religious Council, the Salvation Army, and other agencies. For information visit www.dmreligious.org.

Des Moines Area Religious Council: An interfaith organization that exists to provide a common means of responding to basic human needs in ways single congregations can not do. DMARC also provides a context for interfaith dialogue, support, education, and fellowship. Visit www.dmreligious.org for more information.

GLBT Safe Schools Task Force: Helps build safer schools and communities for all students, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. The task force provides resource booklets to educators, parents and students, and hosts public forums raising awareness about GLBT students and safe school policies.

Interfaith Hospitality Network: Provides temporary housing through partnerships with Des Moines area congregations for homeless families. Host congregations provide housing and meals for families 3 – 4 times throughout the year.

Iowa Conference Camps Capital Campaign: These funds provide improvements to the five camp and retreat centers sponsored by the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church. Over 20,000 individuals attend camping and retreat programs annually. For more information visit www.iaumc.org and click on the link to Camping & Retreats.

Principe de Paz United Methodist Church: A small, Hispanic congregation in the Rio Grande Conference in San Antonio, Principe de Paz offers a free health clinic and provides outreach to the Cassiano Homes public housing project. Walnut Hills has partnered with Principe de Paz since 1997, and our support helps to fund the after-school ministry. Visit our partner’s website at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/pdpumc/.

United Methodist Committee on Relief: Provides funding and supplies to those who have been affected by a disaster both domestically and globally. Walnut Hills contributed funding to provide health kits for those in need. Visit their website at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/.

Walnut Hills Youth: In 2005 the youth of Walnut Hills took a work trip to Dulac, Louisiana to help with hurricane cleanup and to assist with the Vacation Bible School program. The trip was organized through the Dulac Community Center.

In addition to the funds distributed through the Outreach Committee , Walnut Hills gave an additional $22,500.00 through financial and in-kind donations to:

United Methodist Committee on Relief: Tsunami relief

United Methodist Committee on Relief: Hurricane relief

United Methodist Committee on Relief: For Dulac , Louisiana

Heifer Project International: Funds were raised through our children’s Sunday school program. Visit www.heifer.org for information.

Des Moines Hunger Hike: Provides funding for local agencies that have meal programs, as well as to global organizations such as Church World Service.

Meal Programs at Children and Family Urban Ministries and Churches United Shelter: In kind gifts of a monthly meal for each of these agencies, which serve 100 people daily.

Adopted Family: Financial and in-kind donations to a family which relocated from New Orleans to Iowa after Hurricane Katrina.

United Methodist Special Offerings: Walnut Hills contributed to three of the six United Methodist special Sunday emphasis: Peace with Justice Sunday, World Communion Sunday, and United Methodist Student Day. For information about the special Sundays, visit www.umcgiving.org.

(updated February 15, 2006)

12321 Hickman Road Des Moines Iowa 50323
Phone: 515-270-9226 Fax: 515-270-0838 mandi@whumc.org