Help our neighbors facing homelessness and food scarcity by supporting our Sandwich Blessing ministry.  Individuals or groups prepare a sack lunch and gather each week to serve and talk with those coming for Streetside Showers service.

The event is held each Wednesday and Saturday from 10:30 AM – 2 P.M.  at two locations:

Hope Restored Missions | Wednesdays | 1947 K Ave Suite B100 Plano, Tx. | SIGN UP TO SERVE

Assistance Center of Collin County | Saturdays | Located at 900 18th Street, Plano, Tx. | Sign - Up | SIGN UP TO SERVE

Sandwiches can be made off-site or at the church. Please contact amber@cumc.com to reserve a room at CUMC or if you have any questions. The Sign-up Genius has the details of quantity and items for meal preparation.

Contact Amber Orr for more details.

Snack packs are provided to those facing homelessness and food insecurity. We deliver our snack packs to many local agencies that work directly with these neighbors as well as providing them to walk-in individuals at the church. Suggested items for snack packs: applesauce pouches, bottled waters, cheeze-its, chips, dried fruit, fruit cups, granola bars, hand warmers, seasonal juice boxes, peanut butter crackers, pretzels, protein bars, protein packets, chicken, tuna, vienna sausages, etc. small pack of tissues small pack of baby wipes Please pack items in a gallon size zip-top plastic baggie. An encouraging note is always a nice touch!

Contact Amber Orr for more details.

FG is an emergency homeless shelter for families that provides stability and supportive services including shelter, supportive housing, general and vocational case management, and education. The school age children living in the shelter are students within PISD schools.

Family Gateway - We Help Families Affected by Homelessness

Support our homeless neighbors by supporting our mission partner: Hope Restored Missions. Donate, volunteer, and more to help end homelessness in Plano!

Men’s Packets Deodorant Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Brushes/Combs, Soap/Body Wash, Small bottles of lotion, Shampoo Razors and shaving cream, Small foot powder, Nail clipper/kits, Body spray/cologne.

Women’s Packets Brushes/combs, Toothbrush/Toothpaste, Deodorant, Soap/Body Wash, Small bottles of lotion, Shampoo & conditioner, Razors and shaving gel, Small foot powder, Nail clipper/kits, Body spray/perfume, Feminine sanitary product.

Items For Outreach Gallon size Ziploc bags, Travel hand sanitizers, Travel size emptied containers for bulk sanitizer gel, Wash clothes/small towels, Individual wipes packets.

Please bring donations to the HRM Resource Center or drop at the church welcome desk 1947 Ave K, Suite B100, Plano, 75074 phone -214-501-2181 Hours 10AM-4PM Mon-Fri.

Donation List

Hope Restored Mission

Contact Amber Orr for more details.

Christ United’s Men’s Service Group (MSG) is a volunteer organization designed to help Christ United men serve God through home repairs and maintenance in Plano and the surrounding areas. Work is done in the homes of those in need and on our church campus.

Visit our Men’s Ministry page for more information about volunteering for MSG.

In 2018, Christ United, in conjunction with the CC Homeless Coalition, worked with other community leaders to establish the Plano Overnight Warming Station where people

who are experiencing homelessness can seek shelter for the night, have a warm meal and receive services during inclement weather. We are so excited to be an advocate and supporter of this initiative that cares for some of our most vulnerable in our community.

POWS is open on nights when the forecasted temperature is 35 degrees with a 20 percent chance of precipitation or a standing temperature of 32 degrees or below is anticipated. We are excited to support this center that can provide overnight housing to those

who would otherwise be sleeping outside. Each year, Plano experiences roughly 25 nights a year when temperatures fall below freezing. POWS is located this year at EPIC (the East Plano Islamic Center) in east Plano. The CUMC Team is looking for volunteers who

can serve 2-3 times per year for 1-4 hours. Volunteers can sign up for set up (2-hours); drive vans, welcome/register guests, help with clothing closet or pass out bedding (all 4-hour shift: 6-10pm); clean up (1 hour shift); or you can just be a smiling face.

Contact Christ United POWS Team Co-Leaders Christie Patterson and Diana Reynolds at: christie@pcawebdesign.com to learn how you can get involved.

The mission of City House is to protect, serve, and empower children and young adults that are experiencing homelessness, abuse, or neglect. There are 3 major components of City House; emergency shelter, transitional living program houses, and street outreach.

https://www.cityhouse.org/City House

These transitional living houses serve young adults who have aged out of foster care or are homeless without critical support. They provide classes to the residents to help launch residents into sustainable independent living.

Jim Riley Outreach

Emily's Place is a local agency that helps to break the cycle of domestic violence for women and their children through long-term transformational care that seeks to restore faith, hope, and health.

https://www.emilysplacetx.org/

Guinn Special Programs Center / Homepage (pisd.edu) School Age Parent Program / School-Age Parent Program (pisd.edu)

We are looking for some wonderful CUMC volunteers to mentor 2nd-5th grade Stars at Sigler Elementary School. The time commitment is only 30 minutes a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays and will be during your student's grade level lunch period between 12:10-1:10. Prior to mentoring a volunteer background check will need to be completed at https://plano.voly.org/ email kimberly.edwards@pisd.edu or amber@cumc.com Sigler Elementary / Homepage (pisd.edu)

Costa Rica 2025 Mission Trip Christ United is traveling to the city of Grecia (Alajuela province) in Costa Rica. Adults and families are welcome to join the mission trip to be held from July 13 - July 19, 2025. Our team will have many opportunities to serve while in Costa Rica with a focus on community outreach projects, hosting Vacation Bible School, or supporting our Vision of Light Team (VOLT) clinic during our trip. The people you meet and the work you do will leave a lasting impact, both on those who serve and on each member of the CUMC team.

The UMCOR Sager Brown Deport in Baldwin, LA packs and ships supplies for disaster relief when war, conflict, or natural disasters disrupt one’s life. Mission team members may participate in packing supply buckets or volunteer in the local community on housing rehabilitation projects. Participants will stay on campus with access to an excellent dining hall.

Inspiring Travel Forms

Accordion Sample DescriptionThe Bear with Me Program was started in 2003 at Christ United with the mission to provide stuffed bears, pillows and dolls to children who are ill, in counseling, under-privileged or displaced from their homes due to violence, abuse or other conflict. The goal is to provide comfort and to make difference in a child’s life through the word of God.

To learn how easy it is to make a bear to donate, watch this video.

Contact Rita Ward for more details.

Provides assistance to people whose property has been devastated by a natural disaster such as floods, fires, severe thunderstorms, and hurricanes. The primary responsibility of the DRT team is to make things safe, sanitary, and secure in the early stages of recovery. The team also offers reconstructive assistance following the early stages of recovery. Since 2004, this courageous team has been all over Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. We gladly welcome any new comers, so please email Tina Wilson for more information.

Gift cards are needed and appreciated year-round for our neighbors in need. Walmart, gas stations, and fast food cards are needed in increments of $5 and $10. Please contact amber@cumc.com with any questions.

Our annual gift tree drive begins in late November and runs through early December. Toy and monetary donations are collected, sorted, and distributed to local agencies for Christmas.

VOLT is a mission team that provides eye care such as vision screenings, glasses and treatment of certain minor eye diseases with the goal of providing a better quality of life to those with poor vision. The team serves those who would otherwise not have access to eye care facilities both internationally and in the United States. They also provide Christian education programs, clothing, books and medical supplies to those being served as the projects allow. VOLT meets the second Monday of each month from 7 PM – 8:30 PM in room N156.

Hygiene kits are distributed to our neighbors in need and are always needed. Suggested items: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and lotion packed in gallon sized plastic bag. A handwritten encouraging note is always appreciated. Hygiene kits are needed year-round.

Betsy Crawford | Director of Serving Others Ministries

Amber Orr | Assistant Director of Serving Others Ministries

Because we do not have the resources to handle all requests here at Christ United, we rely on these programs and centers to help us manage the needs of our community. In addition to our own church programs, Christ United members help support these agencies by volunteering and donating.

• Agape
• Assistance Center of Collin County
• Bed Start
• City of Plano - Helpful Links + Resources
• Family Promise
• Family Gateway
• Help Finder
• Hope’s Door
• Hope Restored
• Local Good Center
• NAMI
• Minnie’s Food Pantry
• Samaritan Inn
• Plano Homeless Resource Guide

Want to travel with us? - Inspiring Travel Forms