Missions

Our congregation reaches out in many ways to its neighbors in Union County, the Carolinas and all over the world. From working with Habitat for Humanity to feeding the homeless to traveling to Kenya, Costa Rica, Cuba and Bulgaria, we seek to be the hands and feet of God in so many ways.
There is a place for all to serve.

Food collection for Bounceback Backpack Program
The mission of Matthews HELP Center is to care for those in our community by providing programs and services that meet life’s basic needs and by connecting those in need with resources that improve quality of life. Matthews HELP Center served 3,865 families last year through a number of programs and services. $291K was spent in emergency financial assistance on behalf of our clients and 3,992 people were fed enough food to last one week via our food pantry. Another program that is paramount to feeding hungry children in our community is the BounceBack Backpack Program. This program provides easy to prepare food, on weekends, when free school lunches are not available. This may be the only food that these children eat over the weekend. Matthews HELP Center currently fills 50 backpacks every week for hungry children who are identified by school counselors. 

Matthews HELP Center is currently in need of non-perishable food items to fill these backpacks. Items needed include peanut butter, squeeze jelly, cereal, macaroni and cheese, saltine crackers, graham crackers, small cans of vegetables, & instant grits (no glass containers please).

Weddington UMC will be collecting food items to help fill these backpacks throughout the month of February. If you have any questions about the program or needed items, please contact Kelly Trott, Matthews HELP Center Social Worker at 704-847-8383 ext. 231.

Volunteers Needed to help house and feed the homeless
Starting on Friday, February 10, and continuing through March 30, we will house six homeless men, women, and children in the Hemby House on each Friday night. Weddington UMC is partnering with other churches in Union County to provide a ministry called Room In The Inn.  RITI is a ministry of hospitality that provides shelter, food, and hospitality to our homeless neighbors during the cold winter months. There are approximately 800 homeless men, women, and children in Union County. 

Your help is needed to help provide meals for the ministry, to help with set-up and clean-up and to spend the night with the neighbors. For more information or to sign up to help please contact Rev. Erin Yow at or visit the table in Helms Hall.

We are also looking for donations of the following items: soap, travel sized shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste,  toothbrushes and deodorant, disposable razors, shaving cream, combs, gently used or new twin sized washable blankets and sheets, new washcloths and towels, socks of all sizes, DVDs (PG rated), games, and books. You can drop your donation in Helms Hall.