Grant Ministries Continue During Pandemic
Author: Tricia Louque
In March 2020, we followed-up with our grant award recipients to inquire how the pandemic was affecting their ministry efforts. We found that many are still providing ministry across the Virginia Conference despite the difficulties of COVID-19. One such example is Kid’s Soar of the Roanoke District who adapted its program to meet the needs of the community. They provided the following summary about their efforts:
“Kids Soar usually has an afterschool literacy program for children who are behind in reading, weekly programming for parents, and a youth group in Roanoke, Virginia. During the COVID-19 emergency, we rapidly transitioned to become a Feeding Southwest Virginia food pick up site where anyone can get food. We’re also providing families with books and supplies to keep children productively occupied, and we are calling the families we serve regularly to check on them. Since school is now canceled for the rest of the year, we’re setting up a “Book Buddies” program. Volunteers can read to kids over the phone and have kids read to them. This will help kids stay in practice with the reading skills that they have gained so that they are ready to do well in school as soon as it starts again. Kids Soar is very grateful to our donors. The United Methodist Church has supported us for over 30 years with grants, church and individual donations of cash and supplies, and by providing hundreds of volunteers. While we are in this emergency situation churches have been even more involved by collecting food for us. We are so thankful and blessed to be a ministry of the United Methodist Church.”
Kids Soar, 2020 Grant Award Recipient
Roanoke District
2020 Grant Awards
Arlington District
• Just Neighbors Ministry
• SEED Learning Lab, UMC in Northern VA
Charlottesville District
• Tuesday’s Table, Stanardsville UMC
• Disaster Kits/Central VA Mission Hub, Culpeper UMC
• Hope Beyond the Bards, Scottsville UMC
• Iftar Meals Extended, Wesley Foundation at UVA
• Nelson Kid Care, Nelson UMC
Danville District
• Backpack Ministry, St. Luke’s UMC
Eastern Shore District
• Creating a Culture of Renewal Cohort
Elizabeth River District
• The Learning Garden Preschool
• Wednesday Night Supper for the Homeless,
Monumental UMC
• Wesley Community Service Center, UMW Mission
Institute
Farmville District
• Wings Ministry, South Hill UMC
Harrisonburg District
• Children’s Clothes Closet, Mission Central UMC
Lynchburg District
• Food for Kids Pack-a-Sac Program
Richmond District
• Welborne Welcome Table, Welborne UMC
• Conference Ministry of Scouting, Conference/St Marks UMC/Center for Scouting Ministries – GCUMM
• BCRS Food and Clothing Ministry, Belmont UMC
• tABLEspoons Bakery, Westover Hills UMC
• New Song Serves, New Song UMC
• Workplace Readiness Program, United Methodist Family Services
Roanoke District
• Kids Soar, Trinity UMC
Staunton District
• Sustainability for Mission, Basic UMC
Winchester District
• Rise Kids & Youth Program, Duncan Memorial UMC
York River District
• Salem’s Food Pantry, Salem UMC
Conference Wide
• Virginia United Methodist Archives
• Amending through Faith, VA Conference UMM
