Missions

First Church Missions: Partnerships and Connections

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Morning Glory Ministries

The first ministries the group worked with were Rooted & Rising (formally United Methodist Children Services), Northcott Neighborhood House, and  at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.

“These opportunities to go out into the world really help us to grow.  Of this, I am sure.  Second Saturday Servants provides a meaningful way to serve God by serving those in need. Everyone is welcome to participate; you do not have to be a church member. Workers may choose from one or two projects that typically last two to four hours. You can choose from projects that will take place at the church or beyond the church walls in the area.”
-Thomas Bolton

Our Second Saturday Servants now serve in a wide variety of programs that serve the poor. Together, they are making a difference in the lives of those in need. We support the following ministries with hands, our hearts, and our pocketbooks.

Larry Under the Bridge

Learn more about Larry Under the Bridge

Divine Intervention is a collaborative ministry of over 46 intra-faith communities including First United Methodist Church of West Allis. Divine Intervention is spearheaded by Tippecanoe Presbyterian Church. We serve their Larry Under the Bridge ministry once a month.

52 Sundays a year…and now also Mondays, Larry Under The Bridge brings significant bagged dinners and basic supplies to local campers/homeless in our area.

It’s just what we do.

Larry Under the Bridge is a food and encouragement ministry to the homeless in the Bay View area. Significant bagged dinners and basic supplies are delivered to strategic locations near campsites on Sunday evenings every week and now also Mondays. Larry UTB helps 30-50 people each Sunday and Monday night of each week. Each dinner consists of:

• 2 sandwiches
• Granola/breakfast bar
• 2 pieces of fruit
• Cookies or other desert item
• Occasionally chips
• Bottled water

In the summer months juice boxes, Gatorade, and extra waters are given out. Bug spray, camouflaged tarps, and sleeping bags are some of the other items handed out when available.

In the winter months gloves, hats, and long underwear were also supplied to campers. Donated toiletries, socks, underwear, toilet paper are handed out year-round.

Through Larry Under the Bridge we are changing the world, one person at a time!
The homeless who we are coming to know as friends are changing!
Our church members and ministry are changing!

Mineral Street Programs and Services

Learn more about Mineral Street Programs and Services.

We serve once a month in Mineral Street’s Morning Glory program for the homeless.

Repairers of the Breach

Learn more about Repairers of the Breach

We provide regular support for Repairers of the Breach which provides Greater Milwaukee’s only daytime refuge and resource center for homeless adults.

Located at 1335 W. Vliet Street in Milwaukee’s central city, the Repairers of the Breach Center is open from 7AM to 4PM, Monday through Saturday.

Their daytime sanctuary is an empowering place where homeless and at-risk men and women create community and a sense of “ownership” in their center. They work together to find solutions to homelessness using our “constellation” of free resources—all in a nurturing and non-judgmental context emphasizing “homeless helping homeless.”

Northcott Neighborhood House

Learn more about the Northcott Neighborhood House

 

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Thanksgiving Baskets Ministry

Thanksgiving is a time of celebration by sharing our resources with families in need. FUMCWA receives names of families from West Allis/West Milwaukee elementary schools and from our church members of those who are struggling financially. They are generously offered a turkey and other food needed to prepare a complete Thanksgiving Meal. Your support continues to strengthen such mission work.

 

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Fill the Stocking Ministry

The Children’s and Adult Sunday School classes collect socks for the homeless during the Advent season. These socks make a missional difference and are delivered to Morning Glory Ministries, Larry Under the Bridge, and Northcott Neighborhood House. Warm socks create warm hearts. Your support continues to strengthen such mission work.

Mitten Tree and Socks for the Homeless

These programs collect winter wear for children and socks for the homeless. They are distributed through a charitable organization.

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Food Pantry

Our Food Pantry is possible because of the generous donations from our church members and from the West Allis community. This helps our church connect with people in the neighborhood for the purpose of feeding them and connecting them to the love of Christ. It creates a positive presence for our church in the community. This West Allis community outreach is for people who need groceries and personal care items. Your support continues to strengthen such mission work.

Our Food Pantry is located at our church, 7520 W. Lapham St., West Allis. We are here to serve persons with an emergent food need. To be eligible for help from the pantry persons must have proof of residence in West Allis.

The Pantry hours are as follows:
Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 2:30 – 4:30 pm. Recipients receive 2 bags of food plus optional food and personal care items. Between 10 and 30 family units are served each time. For Pantry Information call 414-774-5500 (church phone).

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Angel Tree

Angel Tree Donation Page

Every child has a story. For 2.7 million American children, that story is filled with the abandonment, loneliness, and shame that come from having a mom or dad in prison. For many, it may also include following their parents down the same destructive road to incarceration.

Angel Tree, a program of Prison Fellowship, reaches out to the children of inmates and their families with the love of Christ. This unique program gives us an opportunity to share Christ’s love by helping to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the families of prisoners. A Christmas tree is decorated with angels that have the name and pertinent information about a child of an incarcerated parent. Those who take an angel from the tree give a desired Christmas gift to the child through Prison Fellowship.

In Milwaukee and hundreds of other American cities this Christmas, forgotten victims of crime will receive gifts from people they’ve never met. These victims are the children of men and women in prison. They will benefit through Prison Fellowship Angel Tree, a program sponsored by Prison Fellowship, an interdenominational Christian outreach, and FUMC of West Allis.

Church members are asked to select one or more angel gift tags from the tree. The gifts need to be purchased, wrapped, and returned to church and then delivered to the families.

 

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Rooted & Rising (formally United Methodist Children’s Services [UMCS])

Wisconsin Conference of the UMC (Wisconsinumc.org) announces a new agency, Rooted & Rising. Rooted & Rising values dignity, potential, and worth of each individual and creates a nurturing environment and sense of community in which miracles do happen. Through housing, childcare, resources, and community engagement, Rooted & Rising acts as a stepping stone for families on their way towards stability. Their Family Resource Center focuses on helping families with several needs including emergency foodbank, clothing bank, hygiene products, access to food share and other resources. FUMCWA partners with the Wisconsin Annual Conference in supporting Rooted & Rising through our Apportionment giving also known as “Connectional Giving.” Rooted & Rising, Northcott Neighborhood House, and Harbor House are supported by our Apportionment. Your support continues to strengthen such mission work.

Click here to learn more about Rooted & Rising.