Community Outreach | Bethlehem United Church of Christ

Community Outreach

Community Outreach
Community OutreachCommunity OutreachCommunity Outreach

Below is a portion of community organizations we support on a variety of levels.  If you feel called to serve in any of these ministries, contact the church office, and we will help you get involved! 

United Caring Shelters

United Caring Shelters is an organization founded by local UCC churches. Bethlehem volunteers cook and serve a meal to 100+ people on the fourth Sunday of each month. Members also donate items needed by the shelters, and participate in special “drives” when the shelter has an urgent need. We also include financial support UCS in our annual budget. Some of our church members serve on the board for UCS, and we have a history of a strong, supportive relationship with all of their ministries.

Habitat for Humanity of Evansville

Our church has made a major commitment to this important community program by donating $6,000 annually and providing labor and leadership in building houses each summer with other churches in Evansville.  We hold annual fundraisers (such as our Ice Cream Social) to raise funds for our building pledge, and our children (and adults) bring “Habitat Banks” forward during worship quarterly with donations they have collected.

Outreach Ministries

Bethlehem provides a portion of its annual budget to this Evansville organization, which helps people in crisis with utility bills, food, emergency assistance, etc. 

Adams Food Bank

Ongoing donations of non-perishable foods are collected and delivered each month, and special collection projects often occur at certain times of the year. We encourage members of our congregation to bring a donation for the food bank on Communion weekends.

Good Samaritan Home

Volunteers from Bethlehem come regularly to help in many areas of the nursing home. In addition, we delegate members annually to serve on their board. At Christmas, our Outreach Ministry Team also includes some of the residents on our Sharing Tree, and we provide Christmas gifts for them.

Sharing Tree

At Christmas, we designate one of our bulletin boards as a “Sharing Tree.” On the tree, we hang paper ornaments to provide gifts for those in need. Our generous congregation purchases gifts for United Caring Shelters (UCS) residents in transitional housing, several residents of Good Samaritan Home, and a local family “adopted” from the community. Our Outreach Ministry Team coordinates gifts for UCS and Good Sam, and they are delivered after the Motley Crew fellowship group wraps them. Our Y2K fellowship group selects the family each year and wraps the gifts before delivering them to the family members.

Undie Sundays

During the month of February, our Eosin fellowship group hosts a congregation-wide collection of new socks and underwear for local school children and delivered through the EVSC’s PTA Clothing Bank.

Weekday Christian Education Ministry and Evansville Community of Churches

Church members volunteer for fundraising projects and our church gives regular financial support, as well as delegating members to serve on these boards.

Other Ways We Reach Out

Our building and grounds are home to several community non-profit organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts and Little League teams.