St. Paul’s United Methodist Church believes that we have been called to lives of extravagant generosity.  This is true for each of as individuals as well as a community of faithful people.  One of the ways St. Paul’s UMC practices generosity is through “The Well of Generosity.”  The Well is one of the ways we express our partnerships with a number of friends in Tucson and the world.  We give to the well in hopes that the overflow will create a stream of blessing far beyond our imaginations! These are the partnerships funded by “The Well of Generosity.”

Schumaker Elementary School

Did you know that 28% of the kids in our zip code live in single parent households and that over half the kids at Schumaker receive free or subsidized meals?  That’s right and many of them cannot afford school supplies. This year we have provided over 100 backpacks, a truckload of boxes of school supplies and in the past have paid the salary for a part time music teacher.  St. Paul’s is on a mission to be sure the kids in our neighborhood do not do with out the basics of a good education.

Robles Elementary School

Located 20 miles west of Tucson, Robles Elementary School is in the Altar Valley School District.  When a St. Paul’s Member learned that this district was one of the poorest, most underserved districts in the state of Arizona, she had to respond.  Bringing the concern to St. Paul’s congregation was all she had to do to rally a cry of support in the form of backpacks, school supplies, Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and gifts, clothing drives, coat drives, uniform drives, and toiletries drives.  St. Paul’s activity has made a measurable difference in the education of children at Robles Elementary School.

TMM Children’s Village

TMM Children’s ministers to children of all ages in this group home setting.  This agency is home to many children who have known no other home.  We minister to the children living in Children’s Village through monetary and product donations, but also by offering our loving presence as volunteers several times a year. A task force at St. Paul’s creatively designs these activities.

Ministries in Liberia, Africa

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church has had a long-standing relationship with John Dean’s Town in Liberia Africa. As our friends in this remote area struggle to recover from the devastation of a 17 year civil war we are working with them to develop a healthy , vibrant community that can provide hope for their children’s future.  The love and generosity of our community has partnered with our Liberian friends to construct a school, a medical center, and water well. These are the only services of these kinds for many miles.  Infant and child mortality rates have dropped dramatically due to the clean water provided by the well.

Continuing contributions help to pay the salaries of teachers and provide uniforms and school supplies for children who often walk 2 hours one way to attend school.  As we provide staffing for the medical clinic we also help provide medicine and health education.  Looking to the future calls us to put nursing students through school so that they can one day work in the medical center.

This is truly a ministry that provides a future and hope. 

Operation Hospitality

Even in the beautiful, warm Sonoran Desert, it gets cold in the winter.  Perhaps it’s not cold in our houses, but it sure is if you have to sleep in a wash or on a bus bench.  St. Paul’s co-operates with the Salvation Army by housing homeless men, women and families several weekends during the cold winter months.

Community Food Bank

Open Monday through Friday our branch of the Community Food Bank provided over 45,000 meals last year.  This ministry is growing all the time!  The food bank is open Monday through Friday from 9-11:30 and can be reached by calling 296-1927.

The Well of Generosity mission projects are not funded through our general budget.  These ministries represent gifts that are given through offerings and fundraising outside of general budget monies.  Donations are always accepted for these projects.  We encourage each person to reach out beyond themselves in mission for the good of the world.  Perhaps you’ll join us in these very valuable projects.