It’s Here! Secure electronic giving now available!
Your gift to the general offering of the church supports all the ministries of our church. Our space is vital to much of the mission work we do, especially so for our food pantry and partnership for free dental services. Our staff works hard to enrich our ministries, to empower individuals in ministry. And the more you give to our general fund, the more we can envision engaging new ministries.
Your gift can also be designated for specific ministries, some of which are outlined below. Consider building a spiritual habit of giving generally as a thank-you to all God gives you and giving to special funds to mark special ocassions or as you discern a call from God to especially support a particular ministry. Maybe you coudl give generally as a habit and then discern a different ministry to support as a special gift each month or each quarter.
We do this as a congregation each week, collecting our general offering in the plates that are passed (and with online giving), and then also passing what we call the Blessing Box, which always goes to serving our neighbors directly. Some examples of Blessing Box beneficiaries include our food pantry and the pastor’s discretionary fund for community support (help with bills, cold-weather clothes, fans in the summer, etc.), but also includes various community partners like Aurora House hospice, UM Campus Ministries of the RGV (UTRGV and STC), Humanitarian Respite Center, Good Neighbor Settlement House, Project Transformation Rio Texas, and many more partners beyond our church.
Hand in Hand Food Pantry
Beginning in 2014, Weslaco First UMC serves around 200 family units each month as an agency of the RGV Food Bank. Using FDA and TDA income guidelines, the food pantry gives each qualified family twenty or more pounds of staples and fresh produce every month. Through careful planning, the church’s costs are held to les than $2.50 per family each month - your donations go far to help our neighbors! Donations can be designated for the shoe bank at any time.
Distribution happens on the 3rd Saturday of the month from unless otherwise noted (very rare!), unloading and prepping happens on the Friday preceding.
In His Steps Shoe Bank
In 1996, Weslaco First UMC founded a shoe bank to provide vouchers for new shoes to low-income students in Weslaco ISD through the district’s parental involvement and counseling personnel in partnership with the Texas Department of Human Resources. In the 2016-2017 school year, 552 pairs of shoes were purchased through our shoe bank. Donations can be designated for the shoe bank at any time.
When ready to give to In His Steps shoe bank, simply designate your gift with a note that says "Shoe Bank" and all funds will go toward shoe vouchers.