Ideas for United Methodists and United Methodist Churches

The purpose of this page is to generate ideas about how your local United Methodist Church might connect with this innovative and exciting statewide initiative.

1. Provide all of Florida's children with a healthy breakfast.
   • Support "Universal Access to a Free School Breakfast" legislation
2. Encourage healthy food choices.
   • Host healthy food cooking classes
3. Help families meet needs at home with food stamps.
   • Set-up a mentoring ministry
   • Assist people in need connecting with Earned Income Tax Credit, WIC and other resources using Florida Impact's Resources for Families portal
4. Improve working families' economic security.
   • Share information with families regarding the Earned Income Tax Credit
   • Start a financial planning ministry
   • Set-up a mentoring ministry for low-income families in budget planning
5. Increase families' access to fresh produce.
   • Work with local farmers' market , advocate that they make it available for people on food stamps
   • Start a community garden
   • Start a SHARE ministry in your church ( www.shareflorida.org )
   • Volunteer with Society of St Andrew ( www.endhunger.org )
6. Help after-school programs provide healthy meals and snacks.
   • Start an after-school program or work with an already existing one
   • Add a nutrition teaching element to your current after school program
   • Work with local resources to send home healthy food options
7. Expand reach of summer meals programs. (Contact Florida Impact for details 850-309-1488)
   • Host a summer meal program if in a target community
   • Collaborate with a church in a target community
8. Ensure access to balanced, nutritious diets for all pregnant women and preschool children.
   • Become an ACCESS Community Partner with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services ( www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess )*
   • Collect and distribute WIC material in an outreach ministry to pregnant women or new mothers
9. Ensure access to nutritious food in shelters and food pantries.
   • Hold a produce drive for a local food pantry
10. Provide comprehensive public education about available assistance.
    • Advocate for legislation (check here for Florida legislative updates: www.flimpact.org)
    • Promote participation in Children's Week (www.childrensweek.org)
    • Sponsor a health and safety fair
    • Become an ACCESS Community Partner with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services ( www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess )*

*The Vision of the Community ACCESS Partnership Network is to strengthen Florida's families through private, community, and inter-agency partnerships that promote economic self-sufficiency. Churches may help families by being a pick up point for paper applications or provide assistance through the entire application process. Download brochure

Help Build the United Methodist Network to End Childhood Hunger

If you have a story to share about your church's ministry of helping to alleviate hunger, please share it with others. Sharing inspiration and resources makes our United Methodist connection stronger! In addition, training for developing a summer day camping program or becoming a summer or after school feeding site is available through Melinda Trotti, Director of Justice and Spiritual Formation Ministries. To share your ministry or resources or to learn more, email Melinda at mtrotti@flumc.org or call 1-800-282-8011.

Prayers and blessings on you and your ministry as you heed Christ's commandments to feed those who are hungry.