WAYS TO GIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

  • FROM THE GROUND UP – This holiday season we will again support From the Ground Up (formerly VC Cares for Kids) with Hornet Holidays. There is a tree setup outside the office. Just take an envelope off the tree, put a gift card inside, and then return it to the tin sitting next to the tree (or the office). We will ask for Visa, Target, Walmart, and Amazon gift cards.

  • MITTEN TREE – FUMCVC will partner with the Valley Center Preschool and collect items for a Mitten Tree. The Mitten Tree will be located in the Preschool hallway. Items can be brought any time before Sunday, December 22. They will be taken to the Lord’s Diner for Christmas Eve distribution.

  • VALLEY CENTER MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE (VCMA) HOLIDAY BOXES – Each year, area churches donate different items that are put into Holiday Boxes and then distributed to area families in need. This year, FUMCVC has been asked to donate 70 boxes of pancake mix and 70 bottles of syrup. A table has been set up in the main foyer for those donations. Donations need to be at the church before Monday, December 16.

WAYS TO GIVE (Donations can be brought to the main foyer and put in the storage cabinet on the south wall.):

  • ALUMINUM PULL TABS - Pop tabs are collected and then donated monthly to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Wichita.

  • EYEGLASSES - If you have used eyeglasses you no longer need, you can donate them now. Donated glasses are given to Valley Center’s Lions Club. Lions accept prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses and plastic and metal frames. Children's glasses are especially needed.

  • FUMCVC’s Friendship Fund – Funds are used to provide financial help to those in the church and sometimes the community.

  • THE LORD’S DINER PANTRY NEEDS – SPAM, canned chicken, tuna and tuna helper, Manwich, minute rice, jelly, cereal, gravy packets, pasta and sauce, saltines, spaghetti O’s, Knorr pasta and rice sides, Vienna sausages, pork and beans, cornbread mix, scalloped potatoes, instant oatmeal packets, jars of apple sauce, taco seasoning packets, biscuit/pancake mix, and canned beef stew.

  • OPEN DOOR & VALLEY CENTER FOOD PANTRY - November’s giving for Open Door and the Valley Center Food Pantry is boxed cereal. Money is always good as we are often buying things that don't come in donation wise. Items that we are often in need of are: Cereal (18oz), pancake mix and syrup, hamburger helper, mac & cheese, canned fruit, canned meat.

  • PAXTON’S BLESSING BOX – We are asking for the following donations: Granola Bars, Sandwich Crackers (peanut butter, cheese, etc), Ready-to-Make Macaroni and Cheese, Tuna packets, Fruit Snacks, Peanut Butter Cups – individual, Snack Packs. You can find out more about Paxton’s Blessing Box at paxtonsblessingbox.com.

  • PLASTIC BAGS - Plastic grocery bags are used at Main Street Threads.

  • SLEEPING MATS – A local Valley Center woman is making sleeping mats from plastic bags for homeless individuals. She needs LOTS of plastic bags. If you have some to donate, please bring them to the church office.

  • VALLEY CENTER MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE (VCMA) – is a cooperative ministry of the Bible preaching churches in Valley Center, KS. The participating churches working in unity to connect and support our community through outreaches, benevolence, and promoting each other’s ministries.

  • WANDS FOR WILDLIFE - Wands for Wildlife is a volunteer-run 501c3 nonprofit inspiring people to help wildlife and the environment through re-purposing discarded mascara wands. ​The organization engages people in ways to support wildlife caregivers and encourages greater mindfulness of the impact from human activities, including the use of plastics, on the environment. Used mascara wands (dirty or clean) are needed.

  • WICHITA CHILDREN’S HOME OPPORTUNITY ZONE (OZ) - Cosmetic bags and toiletries are collected and then donated to OZ. OZ is exclusively for homeless and youth in crisis. Youth who come are able to have access to food, hygiene supplies, clothing, showers, laundry, computers and most importantly, a place of SAFETY—anything to help make their situation less desperate. Youth can meet with S.O.S. workers, mentors, and volunteers that help process situations, solve problems, find housing and shelter, help fill out job applications, applying for ID's, and etc. Youth are also about to attend groups at "OZ"—such as Creative Writing, Substance Support, Healthy Relationships, Art Therapy, and S.O.S. Thursday Night Group.

  • WOMEN’S CRISIS CENTER - Each year the YWCA shelter houses hundreds of women and children. The YWCA provides safe/confidential housing, basic needs, advocacy, crisis and supportive counseling, domestic violence education, parenting, support groups, agency referrals, and a children’s program. We accept donations of the following: toiletries, kitchen and bath towels, crib, twin, and full size bedding, day planners and journals, pain relievers, allergy/cold medications, first aid supplies, Kleenex and paper towels, and children, young adult, and women’s clothing.

Items we are no longer able to accept include:

  • Ink cartridges

  • Plastic bags from newspapers

  • Used devotionals

  • Used electronic equipment