Hospitality for the Homeless
Union Village is one of 87
congregations that participate in the Union County Interfaith
Hospitality Network. This program provides temporary overnight shelter,
meals and support for homeless people from the local area. For three or
four weeks each year, a team of about 45 people from Union Village,
other local churches, and Berkeley Heights Boy Scout Troop 368
work together to accommodate up to 14 guests in the Union Village Church
building. Members of Union Village and other local churches serve
as hosts, prepare meals, and provide friendship.
The average age of a
person helped through the Interfaith Network Hospitality Program is 9.
The Food Bank is a non-profit agency that distributes packages of food to people of low income throughout Somerset County. The North Plainfield site is one of four pantries within the Somerset County network and serves approximately 200 people per month. Union Village has been collecting food for the North Plainfield Pantry for more than 20 years. Donations of non-perishable food items are collected in the food basket in the coat room at the church. Toys placed under the Christmas tree at the Hanging of the Greens Service are distributed to needy children.
The United Methodist Women use their income from fund raisers and pledges to support several local missions and the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. The missions supported include the Methodist Homes of New Jersey, Overlook Protestant Chaplaincy, and Christian Outreach Project. Union Village supports the Red Bird Mission by donating Campbell’s Soup labels. Through the "Labels for Education" program, Red Bird Mission is able to exchange soup labels for much needed equipment and supplies that help meet the spiritual, educational and health needs of those living in Southeast Kentucky.