written by Rev. Brad Moore, pastor of First UMC Clinton and Leslie UMC
Agape Community Resource Center is the new “mission outpost” ministry of Clinton First UMC. We are planning to have a diaper bank and laundry detergent bank and will offer several classes in the building (cooking, canning, pressure cooking, organic gardening, parenting, etc.). We are also working on a mentoring program for the school year.
The Summer Feeding Program was a partnership with the Van Buren County Library and the Clinton School District. It was a six-week program and we raised over $30,000 to fund it. It was a fantastic community effort. We gave away over 850 bags of food and food boxes.
Before we started with this project, we developed a “community needs assessment” survey and had folks fill it out when they came to pick up the food bags. The biggest needs identified were food, laundry detergent, diapers, and programs for children and youth. We have been blessed, and we were reminded that God is the God of abundance!