List of Projects

There are many ways to put your faith into action at DFUMC

Aldersgate Homes
Aldersgate provides housing for the mentally and physically impaired. “Our goal for persons with developmental disabilities is to experience life in the Community where they make choices, increase self-esteem, improve competence in personal care and vocational performance, earn respect from peers and fellow citizens and maximize their community participation.”
  Address: 4105 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30345
  Phone: 404-327-9491
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Disabled
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Angel Tree
A ministry of Prison Fellowship, this organization provides Christmas gifts for children of prisoners. Before Christmas each year, members of Decatur First will have an opportunity to choose a paper angel with the age, sizes, and gift suggestions from the bulletin board by the library, or can make a donation to purchase the two gifts each child receives (one toy and one item of clothing). A limit of $20 per gift is recommended. Donations for family fruit baskets are also accepted.
  Scope: Local, Regional
  Serving: Children
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Appalachia Service Project
ASP is a Christian ministry committed to eradicating substandard housing in Central Appalachia. It brings thousands of volunteers from around the United States to rural Appalachia to repair homes for low-income families. Youth and adults of DFUMC spend one week each summer participating in this service project. Additionally, adults of DFUMC participate in a mission trip in January to make homes safer, warmer, and drier for the winter. For more information on the youth mission, contact Jonathan Brown at 404-378-4541, ext 114. For more information on the winter mission, contact Bill Hauserman at hausermanw@bellsouth.net.
  Scope: Regional
  Serving: Individuals & Families
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Atlanta Hospital Hospitality House
The house with a heart provides lodging, comfort, and care in a home-like environment to outpatients and out of town relatives of those hospitalized in the Atlanta area. Referrals are made by a hospital chaplain or social worker for persons who live at least 30 miles from the hospital. An evening meal is provided, often by volunteer groups, for up to 38 guests who may be accommodated.
  Address: 1815 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
  Phone: 404-377-6333 | Fax: 404-377-0668
  Email melissa@atlhhh.org
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Individuals & Families
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Breakthru House
Breakthru House is a non-profit corporation. It is a home for women who are recovering from addictive diseases such as alcoholism and drug addictions.
  Contacts: Kate Boyer, Administrative Director & Barbara Larsen, Clinical Director
  DFUMC Contact: Barbara Greenig
  Address: 1866 Eastfield Street, Decatur, GA 30032
  Phone: 404-284-4658
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Women in Need
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Christian Toy Team
DFUMC members provide presents ($100 minimum) to children who would otherwise receive little or nothing for Christmas. Sign-up forms are included in the church bulletin in November, and upon completion of this form you receive a child’s wish list in the mail. Gifts are then collected At the Church in late November. Feel free to sign up for more than one child.
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Children
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Decatur Cooperative Ministries (DCM)
Includes Family Traditional Housing, Hagar’s House Emergency Shelter, and Project Take Charge.

Family Transitional Housing provides housing and support services to move families from homelessness to self-reliance in 6 to 24 months. The program, often called “Family House,” uses single-family houses and apartments throughout DeKalb County. Both single-parent and two-parent families can apply, and hard-to-place families, including those headed by single fathers or those with teenage boys, are welcome.

Hagar’s House is an emergency night shelter with support services for women with children. While participating in the program, families receive thorough assessment and crisis intervention, two meals per day, laundry facilities, MARTA fares, computer training opportunities, employment counseling, a support group, and referrals to other services, such as free child care, legal assistance, and health care. Hagar’s house is unique because it can accommodate very large families and families with teenage boys – two groups that typically struggle to find emergency shelter. DFUMC members have opportunities to prepare and serve meals to Hagar’s House residents.

Project Take Charge is a homelessness prevention program that provides emergency assistance with rent, mortgage, utilities, and food. The program serves DeKalb County residents who are in immediate danger of eviction, foreclosure, or disconnection of utility service. It also provides food through a food pantry and operates a food cooperative to offer permanent food security to selected low-income households.
  Website: www.Decaturcooperativeministry.org  
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Children, Individuals/Families, Women in Need 
  Needs List:  February 2012
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Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM)
DEAM is a shared ministry supported by twenty-three Decatur area churches that provides emergency assistance to individuals in need within the Decatur area. The ministry offers non-perishable food, rent assistance, utility assistance and prescription medication assistance to qualifying people. The center is open year-round and is staffed by volunteers and one paid employee. The Avondale location also provides used clothing.

What can I do for DEAM?
Donations of money and non-perishable food like canned meats, pasta, rice, corn bread, cereal, pasta sauces and jelly are gratefully accepted. You can donate At the Church or bring donations directly to the DEAM office during working hours.

We are also always glad to welcome new volunteers to the ministry. You will be trained in the process and can work in various capacities. The experience is very rewarding because this mission is entirely designed to support our local communities of Decatur and Avondale Estates. DEAM helps approximately 300 folks .

For questions on services, what to donate and when/how to volunteer, please contact Quill Duncan at 770 414-4766 or quillduncan@msm.com.
  Website: http://deamdecatur.org/
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Individuals/Families
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Global Health Action
The mission of Global Health Action is to improve the health of individuals and communities around the globe through education, training, and practical programs in leadership, management, and health promotion.
  Website: www.globalhealthaction.org
  Address: PO Box 15086, Atlanta, GA 30333
  Contact: Robin Davis, 404-634-5748
  Scope: Global
  Serving: Children, Elderly, Individuals/Families, Women in Need, Sick/Hospitalized
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Habitat for Humanity
DFUMC participates in DeKalb County Habitat for Humanity. If you, your family, Sunday School class, or small group are interested in this opportunity, please contact Sam or Robin Thompson at 404-406-3609 (Sam’s cell), 404-406-3610 (Robin’s cell) or rthom10@emory.edu (Robin’s email).
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Children, Individuals & Families
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Heifer Project International
Heifer International is a global nonprofit with a proven solution to ending hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Heifer helps empower millions of families to lift them out of poverty and hunger to self-reliance through gifts of livestock, seeds and trees and extensive training, which provide a multiplying source of food and income.
Contact: www.heifer.org
  Scope: Global
  Serving: Children, Individuals & Families
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Honduras Mission Trip
Honduras Outreach is a non-denomination, Christian organization dedicated to building life-changing relationships between the people of the Olancho department of Honduras and caring North Americans and other nationalities.

Nearly every week during the year, the mission arranges for groups of volunteers from the United States to travel to Rancho el Paraiso, a 800-acre working ranch in the Agalta Valley of Central Honduras. From that base, the North Americans work side-by-side with Hondurans from nearby villages on community projects that range from replacing earthen floors with cement to helping establish schools, medical clinics, churches, micro enterprises, and public health facilities.

Each February a group from Decatur First helps the people of Honduras. They spend a week working and worshiping with the villagers. There are other ongoing local volunteer opportunities as well.

  Address: Honduras Outreach
                150 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 350, Decatur, GA 30030
  Phone: 404-378-0919
  Scope: Global
  Serving: Children, Elderly, Individuals/Families
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Mountain View Personal Care Home
Provides assisted living for the elderly. There are numerous volunteer opportunities year-round.
  Address: 3675 Kensington Road, Decatur, GA 30032
  Phone: 404-508-7593
  Administrator: Karen Dobson
  DFUMC Contact: Freida Forkner, 404-325-2506
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Elderly
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Northside Shepherds Center
Creating a joyful today and a promising future for older adults by offering services such as home-delivered meals, Senior Center meals, wellness clinic health services, recreational activities, transportation referral services, home repair services, nutrition education, education and exercise classes, shopping assistance and day and overnight trips.
  Address: 1705 Commerce Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
  Phone: 404-352-9303
  Executive Director: Celia Kalousck
  Center Manager: Jean Webster
  Meal Coordinator: Catherine Patterson
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Elderly
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Nursing Home and Assisted Living Ministries
There is a need for people to help with worship services at Clairmont Place, Regency House, Clairmont Oaks and Wesley Woods Tower and other assisted living establishments. People are also needed to visit the nursing homes and home-bound members of our church. Please contact the church office if interested.
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Elderly
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Organic Garden
The DFUMC Organic Garden is cultivated on the grounds of DFUMC by the Kehillah young adult group and other volunteers. Produce from the garden is donated to DEAM.
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Individuals/Families
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Our House
Our house is located in Decatur and provides childcare support for homeless families. It provides up to four months of free childcare.
  Scope: Local, Regional
  Serving: Children, Individuals & Families
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Rape Crisis Center
Provides rape counseling, support, and education. The Rape Crisis Center offers the following services: Crisis line, counseling, support groups; court and hospital companions; speakers bureau for prevention and education; emergency room services; volunteer opportunities.
  Website: www.dekalbrapecrisiscenter.org/
  Hotline: 404-377-1428
  Office: 404-377-1429 or contact Julie Childs, 404-633-3643
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Women in Need
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Senior Connections in DeKalb
Services include Meals on Wheels, transportation services, family and caregiver services, in home services, case management services, senior center services, information and referral.
  Address: 202 Nelson Ferry Road, Decatur, GA 30031
  Phone: 404-370-4081
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Elderly
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Share the Warmth
During the month of December, Decatur First collects blankets for Open Door Ministries and the Decatur Cooperative Ministries.
Contact: Mark Balte, 404-327-8692
Scope: Local
Serving: Children, Elderly, Individuals/Families, Women in Need
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United Methodist Children’s Home
This is a ministry to hurting children and families. It seeks to prevent the breakup of families, restore and heal separated families, and teach teens and young adults how to create successful and meaningful lives for their own future families. The Home’s main campus is located in Decatur and its web site is www.umchildrenshome.org.
  Scope: Local, Regional
  Serving: Children, Individuals & Families
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UMCOR
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is the humanitarian relief and development agency of the United Methodist Church, a worldwide denomination. Compelled by Christ, UMCOR responds to natural or human made disasters—those interruptions of such magnitude that they overwhelm a community's ability to recover on its own.
  Contact: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/
  Scope: National, Global
  Serving: Emergency/Relief
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Vacation Bible School Teachers
Volunteers are needed to teach children during the week of Vacation Bible School each summer. Please contact the church office if interested.
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Children
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Wesley Community Centers
Wesley Community Centers Inc., as part of the church of Jesus Christ, exists in response to the call of Christ to love our neighbors as ourselves. Working in partnership with residents and organizations in specific inner-city Atlanta neighborhoods, we exist to develop caring, compassionate ministries to meet the needs of these neighborhoods and their residents, with a primary focus on women, youth, and the elderly. This organization sponsors Wesley’s Walk for Others, the 4th Saturday in October.
  Address: Grace UMC Educational Building, 3rd floor, Suite 7
              458 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308
  Phone: 404-872-0086
  Fax: 404-872-0386
  Executive Director: Chuck Logan
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Children, Elderly, Women in Need
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Wesley Woods
The mission of Wesley Woods is to help people age in healthy, affordable, and ethical ways. Its vision is to be recognized as the leading system of geriatric care and retirement communities in the Southeast region, differentiated by discovery, innovation, and services that exceed public expectations.

The Wesley Woods Center, located half a mile from Emory University Hospital and located on a 64-acre wooded campus in Atlanta's Druid Hills section, is nationally recognized for its comprehensive care to individuals and families who face age-related health care issues.
  Scope: Local
  Serving: Elderly
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