Potter's House Evening Meal

We have served the evening meal at Potter's House the first Friday of each month at 7 pm, continuously since 1989.  We provide a complete hot meal to the residents of Weaver House. Regular volunteers include the Weekday School Staff, Youth Group, various Sunday School classes and small groups, committees, neighborhood groups, and Scout groups.  We meet at the church between 5 and 6 pm, depending on whether we cook in the ORUMC kitchen or at GUM, and return before 9 pm.  Any funds budgeted for the dinners, but not used are donated at year-end for everyday expenses in Weaver House, such as bus passes, prescription drug co-pays, clothes washing and other needs. Any groups or individuals are encouraged to volunteer.

Ministry coordinator is Alison Huber.

Other Weaver House Opportunities

We donate the remainders from the ORUMC Consignment Sale, as well as toiletries, towels, canned goods and other items to GUM.  Other opportunities to serve at GUM include helping to sort canned goods and/or clothing, in the food and clothes pantries, or help serve the lunch meal from 10:30 to 12:30 each day, provided for anyone who comes in; usually 450+ people/day. Contact Gail at 271-5959 ext 305, the volunteer coordinator, if you are interested is any of the above.

Stephen Ministry at GUM

A listening ministry where a resident of GUM is provided distinctively Christian support through the trials they are facing.  Two Stephen Ministers at ORUMC also serve at GUM.  Those served include individual residents of Weaver House, Pathways Center (family shelter) and Partnership Village (long term transitional housing).

Ministry coordinator is Dan Nelson. 

Monday and Wednesday Morning Prayer Breakfasts

Sponsored by Friend's House Ministry and has been a ministry at GUM for nearly 25 years, with ORUMC participation for over five years.  We gather at 6 am to prepare a hot breakfast for 70-120 Weaver House residents on Mondays, and 150-250 non-restricted guests on Wednesdays.  There is worship for both the volunteers and guests prior to serving.  Volunteers arrive and depart as their schedule permits. The volunteers represent many churches and schools, with a diversity of ages, economic status and races, and it is an amazing blessing.   At present a group of youth from ORUMC is serving every other Monday.  Additional volunteers are always welcome. 

Ministry coordinator is Dan Nelson.

Mid-day Worship

Meeting 6 days per week, from 12:30 pm to 1:15 pm in the Weaver House Chapel. Music, prayer, a devotion, and fellowship are powerful connecting tools, and relationships are built among the residents and those who come to worship with them.  The services are very moving, and ORUMC is often represented.  All are welcome to attend.

Ministry coordinator is Dan Nelson. 

Pathways Center

The Pathways Center is a housing program of Greensboro Urban Ministry. Our purpose is to provide homeless families a safe, temporary environment to live while they are searching for 
other housing.  The center houses 16 families. Each family has a private living area. Childcare is provided by Guilford Child Development for 160 Partnership Village and neighborhood children.

A variety of programs and some meals are provided by volunteers for the residents. There is no fee to stay at the Pathways Center. Families must agree to save money, pay off past bills, search for other housing, abide by the rules, and participate in case management.

We prepare and serve dinner to the residents on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  We also provide money for bus fares, food gift cards, and periodically  collect sheets, towels, clothing and other needed articles for the residents.

Beyond Pathways

In September 2008, Greensboro Urban Ministry launched a new program to quickly get homeless families from emergency shelters into permanent housing, while paying their bills and helping them stabilize themselves so they can get back on their feet. With roughly 40 families on the waiting list for Pathways Center, and with the Guilford Public Schools identifying over 1,000 homeless children in Guilford County,  GUM  was looking for a new strategy to help get homeless families on their feet more quickly.   Roughly 80 percent of homeless people lack housing because of their immediate situation, compared to the remaining 20 percent who are chronically homeless.

Known as "Beyond Pathways," the new "rapid re-housing" program builds on the "Pathways" initiative we have supported for many years.  A grant is initially providing the funds to meet the initial financial needs, and  “housing care teams” provide in-kind services to help these families get settled in their new housing.  We are excited to begin building a volunteer “housing care team” to help a family in this program.

Ministry coordinator for Pathways is Linda Sullivan

Emergency Assistance Program

The Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) provides financial aid and food to people in need in the Greater Greensboro area. The EAP interviews clients for financial assistance by written referral only. Referrals can be made by the Salvation Army or other EAP-approved human services agencies.

Emergency assistance is available for: past due rent;   deposits for rent, water, electric and gas deposits (available for subsidized housing only); past due mortgage payments; and past due utility bills.

Food assistance can be received four times per year by presenting the Social Security cards for everyone in the family.   Food is distributed in proportion to family size. The food includes a mixture of canned goods plus some perishables, including butter, and fruits, vegetables and bakery goods. The latter is largely provided by Oak Ridge UMC and others in the Food for the Needy collection ministry.

Ministry coordinator for the Emergency Assistance Program is Dan Nelson.