FUMCL: Evangelism: Winter Haven

Winter Haven is a cooperative program among the Laurel area churches and the Laurel Advocacy and Referal Service (LARS) to provide shelter for homeless men and womoen during the winter months. Seventeen churches of various demoninations rotate providing the shelter and additionally provide snacks, food, clothing, and other needs of the men, as well as the opportunity for spiritual counsel and growth. The program has an oversight Board of Directors providing continuity from year to year and church to church as well as liaison with LARS. LARS provides assistance to the men in obtaining other services through private and public programs and provides assistance to the churches in identifying those men in need of assistance and who seem capable of cooperating in the volunteer settings offered by the churches.

First UMC has participated in this ministry since 1990. During the week of December 11, 2005, 76 church members and 15 scouts from troop #1250 volunteered and supported the shelter for 15-18 men, including breakfast, a sack lunch, and dinner. We will be supporting the men's shelter again the week of December 10, 2006.

First UMC will also be hosting the women's shelter the week of February 25, 2007.

Each Church ultimately determines who it will accept into the program with the added support and advice of the Board and LARS. Winter Haven is an opportunity for all members of the church to minister to those in an unfortunate circumstance. Each church offers a different environment. At First United Methodist Church it is a total church family experience. The United Methodist Women Circles, Choir, Adult Sunday School classes, United Methodist Youth Fellowship, and sometimes a group of friends will prepare and provide dinners for the guests during our week. Men and women volunteer to serve as evening monitors each night from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm. In addition, volunteers are needed to stay each night as overnight monitors until 7:00 am when the guests leave. Children from kindergarden through high school have helped to serve dinners, set up and take down the beds, and prepared Christian messages on placemats used during dinners.

Certain types of clothes are always needed such as jeans (generally size 30 to 38), heavy shirts, jackets, athletic socks and tennis shoes or work shoes. Dress clothes are not very popular with these guys.

First UMC usually sponsors a men's week in December and a women's week in January. Each year, the following opportunities exist.

Adults each evening to be evening monitors, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00p.m.
Adults each evening to stay overnight, from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Groups to cook and serve dinner each evening, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Help in setting up and taking down the beds on Sunday and transporting them to the next church.
Help washing the sheets and blankets at the end of the week - also could add clothes washing once during the week.
PRAYER for the guests and the volunteers.

For additional information about Winter Haven at First UMC of Laurel, please contact Greg Sweitzer, Ingrid Loukota, or the Church Office.