The Outreach Programs at St. Paul's
St. Paul's is a small community with a big heart. We have a goal: To Walk Our Talk. We don't always achieve it. We believe that faith and love mean nothing if they do not benefit others. We try to move beyond navel gazing. We want to be channels of God's love for the world. So we involve ourselves in the needs of the Denver community.
All these programs and the people benefiting from them need your support! Call 303 832-4929 or Email your desire to participate.
We sponsor the following outreach efforts:
The Sunday Meal Program
We serve a hot sit-down meal to over 300 people every Sunday in our church fellowship hall.
St Paul's United Methodist Church started the Sunday Meal Program on October 5, 1987. We did so because of a real need in our community. Although other programs operated six days a week, there was no place for a hungry person to turn on Sundays. We started with a simple meal cart loaded with sandwiches in our church parking lot. But when the cold weather hit, we moved the meal into the fellowship hall of our church, where it has been held at since then.
Our goal is to provide a hot, nourishing, sit-down meal to those in need. All are welcome at our Sunday Meal tables. Our meal guests are women, men, teens, and families with small children. We are seing more and more children. Most of those who eat at the Sunday Meal tables are homeless or near homelessness. Some are chronically mentally ill. Some people live on low monthly income and have to chose between a place to live and something to eat. Everyone at the Sunday Meal is treated with warmth and respect.
The nation's mayors have been saying that they are facing a rising tide of hunger and homelessness. A report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors shows an average 18% jump in the demand for emergency food, the largest boost since 1992. The report also shows an average 12% increase in demand for emergency shelter, the largest since 1994. The study is based on a survey of 26 cities for a 12 months period of time. About 85% of the cities reported rising hunger and 69 reported rising homelessness.
Our Sunday Meal Program had an increase of 15% during the year 2000, to an average of 300 meals per Sunday. We serve approximately 15,600 meals during the year. Through the kindness of organizations and members of Saint Paul's United Methodist Church and friends who believe and support our cause, we have been able to provide a hot, healthy sit-down meal to all that came to our door.
We have many challenges ahead of this year, with the growing numbers coming to our table. We can use all the creative and industrious ideas of this community to continue the Sunday Meal Program.
We host The New Genesis working man's shelter within our building every night of the year, averaging about 35 men per night. Previously, we sponsored Safe at St. Paul's, a homeless shelter started at the request of the City of Denver in 1990. Eventually, it was adopted by Urban Peak Homeless Youth Program and it was moved into their new building.