VEAP Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People is a fully accredited social service organization with the slogan of “Neighbors serving neighbors in need,” serving south Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington and Edina. Their services include counseling and financial assistance, food service, and seasonal services. RUMC has supported VEAP from its inception with financial and volunteer support. Volunteers helpin the warehouse and office, driving, and at special events. We also conduct year-round food collections with special emphasis on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, as well as school supply and Christmas toy collections.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RUMC has a history of being involved with helping provide affordable housing in the Twin Cities, and recently, in New Orleans, Louisiana. We hope to be part of building yet another home somewhere in the Twin Cities in the future.
TRUST RUMC is a member of Toward Renewed Unity and Service Together (TRUST) an ecumenical coalition of congregations that started with 8 congregations in 1970 and has now grown to 18. TRUST identifies current community needs and develops programs to meet those needs regardless of differences in denomination, race, or neighborhood boundaries.
WINPRO Women’s Independent Network for Production (WINPRO) is an association of women in Bareilly, India, started by RUMC member, Ruth Nave, as a means of helping them become more economically self-sufficient. While Ruth’s husband, Bob, was involved with educating boys at the Nave Institute, Ruth saw women could help their families by learning to sew and knit to produce saleable products to increase their incomes. She has continued her work even though she currently operates long-distance from Minneapolis, where she now lives. RUMC awarded WINPRO a Mission Grant in 2006 to expand the program by involving more women and finding more outlets for sales. Once a year, RUMC members have the opportunity to purchase hand-made items at church and at twice-yearly Jubilee sales held in the Twin Cities.
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