Hands-on
Volunteers in Mission
Through Volunteers in Mission, United Methodists can serve in a wide variety of ways in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Volunteers in Mission scholarship information can be obtained by calling (651) 208-9000. Fill out this form to apply for a scholarship.
More Opportunities to Serve
There are also a wide variety of churches, ministries, and organizations that the Minnesota Conference recommends that provide opportunities for hands-on service. Check them out, and get involved with one that aligns with your interests and passions.
Local
- The Dignity Center at Hennepin Avenue UMC in Minneapolis supports people in poverty by assigning them an advocate who meets with them regularly and helps them set and meet goals; it also provides participants access to a wide variety of resources to help them achieve stability. (Adults)
- Emma Norton Services in St. Paul provides housing and support services to women, children, and youth overcoming homelessness, mental illness, and chemical dependency. Volunteers are needed for everything for painting, light construction, office help, tutoring, reading, and more. (Youth and adults)
- Feed My Starving Children packs and ships meals to hungry children and families in 70 countries throughout the world. Volunteers are needed six days a week to help pack in the Twin Cities area. (All ages)
- Wesley Foudation, a United Methodist campus ministry at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, coordinates with youth and college-age volunteers to offer summer mission trips as part of its ministry. (Young adults)
Hennepin Avenue UMC Community Meals in Minneapolis serves meals every Sunday evening. (Youth and adults) - Matthew 25 Food Distribution is a ministry of Coon Rapids UMC that provides groceries to hundreds of people on the second Sunday of each month. (All ages)
- Mobility Worldwide MN – Twin Cities in Minneapolis builds and ships personal energy transports (three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs with hauling capacity) to persons with disabilities in 80 countries. Woodworking volunteers are needed. (Adults)
- Simpson Center for Servant Ministries collects and distributes fresh food items to families in South Minneapolis each summer. It also provides tutoring and music lessons and serves the community in a variety of other ways. (All ages)
- Simpson Shelter meals are served nightly and each morning in South Minneapolis. Individuals and teams are needed. (All ages)
- S.T.O.R.M. Camp provides service to others in rural communities in Minnesota each summer. Youth spend a week doing clean-up and light construction work. Contact davidebrown55@yahoo.com or (651) 792-6578 to learn more. (Youth and adults)
- Urban C.R.O.S.S. provides service to others in the Twin Cities area each summer. Teams of youth and young adults spend a week doing clean-up and light construction work. Contact urbancross.st.paul@gmail.com or (651) 774-8736 to learn more. (Youth and adults)
- Wesley Meals are served at Historic Wesley on Grant in Minneapolis each Saturday. Volunteers are always welcome. Call 612-878-3505 to learn more. (All ages)
National
- Appalachia Service Project serves individuals and families in five states. Volunteers, ages 14 and up, serve for a week during the summer months. (Youth)
- Henderson Settlement coordinates year-round opportunities for individuals and teams, ages 14 and up, who wish to volunteer in rural Kentucky. (All ages)
- Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois, works with volunteers of all ages to sort and pack UMCOR relief supplies. Volunteers stay in a dorm on campus. (All ages)
- Mountain T.O.P. serves individuals and families in Tennessee. Volunteers, ages 14 and up, serve for a week during the summer months. (Youth)
- Red Bird Mission serves individuals and families in rural Kentucky. Youth and adult volunteers are desired year-round for light construction and office work. (Youth and adults)
- Spirit Lake Ministry Center in North Dakota hosts youth and adult volunteers to serve on weekly work teams in the summer. Arrangements can be made for families also. (All ages)
- Tree of Life Ministries serves individuals and families on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Volunteers, ages 14 and up, are wanted to serve for a week in the summer. (Youth)
- YouthWorks coordinates Christ-centered mission trips to connect teenagers to God, each other, and communities. It offers opportunities in 70 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. (All ages)
International
- Caribbean and Central America work teams for adults go each winter. Contact Rev. Lyndy Zabel (612-230-6124). (Adults)
- Haiti work teams for youth and adults are coordinated by Pat Toschak (507-438-6429). (Youth and adults)
- Imara International sends youth and adult work teams to Kenya several times a year. (Youth and adults)
- OC Ministries sends youth and adult work teams to Jamaica, Liberia, and Sierra Leone several times a year. Contact Rev. Lyndy Zabel (612-230-6124). (Youth and adults)
- Southeast Asia work teams for youth and adults from Minnesota are scheduled for Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Contact Rev. Lyndy Zabel (612-230-6124). (Youth and adults)
- Strong Missions in Costa Rica hosts youth and adult teams year-round in the San Jose area. (Youth and adults)
- Ubuntu Journeys are hosted by United Methodist Women and provide short-term mission service opportunities for women in multiple countries each year. These journeys are about women of faith coming together to address social issues and discover new ways of working together and growing spiritually. (Adults)
- United Methodist Volunteers in Mission lists dozens of opportunities for youth and adults throughout the world to serve on construction, medical, or teaching teams, or others. (Youth and adults)
- World Beat Connection takes volunteer music teams to Jamaica each February. Contact barbarameyermusic@comcast.net. (Youth and adults)
