In times when life feels overwhelming, when we feel frustrated and helpless, and when hope feels far away, one thing we can do is take small steps to put our faith into action by loving our neighbors as Jesus has called us to.
Things to consider
What cause(s) do you care deeply about?
Getting involved with causes we care deeply about can be incredibly life-giving. It reminds us that even if we cannot solve the whole problem we can make a difference.
What do you have to offer?
We all have resources to offer. Some of us have time, others have financial resources, and others have skills to share. Considering what your current capacity is and what you are interested in giving can make your action more sustainable.
Do your research.
Once you know the cause you are interested in supporting and how you would like to get involved, you can research local organizations that are doing that work to find one that fits for you.
Living our faith is not something that has one right answer. The season of life we are in, the state of the world around us, and much more can impact how we get involved at any given time. And the right answer right now doesn’t have to be the right answer forever. The important part is doing something. Here are some ideas to get started.
There are a number of options through the church and our partners that can be a great starting point. Find out about our Outreach and Missions ministries at nwumc.com/outreach-missions. You can find current opportunities by checking out the connect page announcements as well as monthly newsletter linked there; it is available at nwumc.com/connect.
Church and Community Development for All People has a variety of different areas in which they serve including a free store, a fresh market, and much more. Find information about their various ministries at https://www.4allpeople.org/
Columbus Gives Back is an organization that provides volunteer opportunities at a variety of local nonprofits. Their mission is to “create a culture of community engagement by providing social volunteer and philanthropic opportunities to the people of Central Ohio.” Find more information at https://www.columbusgivesback.org/
Columbus Humane provides services and adoption for animals. Find out more at https://www.columbushumane.org/
Faith Mission provides shelter and services for those experiencing homelessness in Central Ohio. Find more information at https://lssnetworkofhope.org/faithmission/
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. They believe affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities. They also operate the Habitat for Humanity Restore with the closest location on Bethel Road. Find more information at https://www.habitatmidohio.org/
The mission of the Hilliard Food Pantry Plus is to “improve the well-being of our community by providing food and support.” You can find out more at https://www.hilliardfoodpantry.org/
Kobacker House combines all the comforts of home with the benefits of round-the-clock medical care. Designed to provide short-term inpatient care for expert symptom management, it also provides a nurturing respite for families, including space for grief support and education programs. Find more information at https://www.ohiohealth.com/locations/hospice/kobacker-house/about-us
Little Bottoms Free Store is located in Franklinton. They work to foster a safe nurturing environment while providing essential baby supplies for disadvantaged Frankling County families with children aged 3 and under. Find more information at https://www.littlebottoms.org/
NNEMAP Food Pantry serves the evolving needs of their community by providing nutritious food and connections to essential resources. They are a leader in food access and resources to improve the health and well-being of the community. Find more information at https://www.nnemappantry.org/
One Dublin helps individuals and families living in the Dublin City School District who are temporarily in need. Their work is centered around three key pillars: Family Services, Educational Support, and Community Connections. Find more information at https://one-dublin.org/
Ronald McDonald House provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare.Volunteers can cook and serve meals, companiship and support to families while their children are hospitalized. Find more information at https://rmhc-centralohio.org
Star House is a drop in center for youth aged 14-24 who are experiencing homelessness. They also offer a variety of services. Find out more at https://www.starhouse.us/
United Way partners with a variety of local organizations doing good work and can be a great way to find out about even more opportunities. Find out more at https://liveunitedcentralohio.org/
There are many ways to support our veterans, and one way is to volunteer through Veterans Affiars. Here is the Central Ohio website: https://www.va.gov/central-ohio-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/
We live in a variety of communities – Upper Arlington, Dublin, Hilliard, Powell, Columbus, and more. Many of which have resources for getting involved through the local websites. Here are a couple from a quick search:
Dublin: http://www.dublinvolunteers.org
Hilliard: https://hilliardohio.gov/volunteer/
Upper Arlington Parks: https://www.friendsofuaparks.com/get_involved
There are variety of local libraries that can use additional volunteers for things like reading buddies, shelving books, and more. Find out more by contacting your local library.
Obviously this is not a complete list, and none of us can support them all. This is simply a place to start and a reminder (like our good news stories) that God is still at work in the world through ordinary people like us; so let’s put our faith into action! Another great option for finding organizations in your area is Volunteer Match (https://www.volunteermatch.org/) where you can search by location and cause.