Community Outreach and Social Justice
Richfield United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, MN believes all people are worthy of love – and all means all! We invite neighbors like you to partner with us as we collaborate with vetted organizations for meaningful work in compassionate outreach and justice-centered change. This approach helps the church practice priority thinking, act with integrity, and maintain missional alignment with causes.
You don’t have to be a church member to love your neighbor. Sign up for monthly updates to help your neighbors when you volunteer, donate, and play an active role in a movement of kindness. Together, we can make a difference.
Current Project: Food Drive
August 11-September 29
Bring a full bag of groceries for VEAP Food Shelf to campus or donate online so VEAP can stretch our giving even further!
Or donate online so the Minnesota Council of Churches refugee services can stretch our giving even further! This year, we helped VEAP get well on their way to a $25,000 matching fund!

Get updates on ways to help your neighbors! About once a month, you’ll get an email filled with ways you can participate in food and donation drives, special fundraisers for nonprofit charity partners, and other social justice action. You’ll also get updates on fun community events and other partnership opportunities.

Neighborhood Outreach Projects in 2023-2024 include...
- NEARLY $15,000 AND 1,000 LBS. of funding and food donations for local food shelves, statewide food pantry efforts, mental health services, fair housing advocacy, in 2024 so far!
- REFUGEE RELIEF DRIVES to build welcome kits for new Minnesota neighbors who were refugees from Ukraine and sub-Saharan African nations in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Churches: Refugee Services.
- 40 WELCOME KITS for new neighbors living in The Metro (formerly the Metro Inn) managed by Agate Housing and Services. This project was recently featured in the Minnesota Star Tribune.
- 144 PERSONALY HYGIENE KITS supplies purchases and assembled as kits for families in disaster recovery across the nation through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
- ONGOING: PILL BOTTLE RECYLCLING sends dozens of gently-used pill bottles to Matthew 25 for other nations to dispense pills securely. (Washed, dried, and capped amber pill bottles only, thank you.)
- ONGOING: MEALS ON WHEELS servant volunteer teams make sure neighbors get nutritious hot meals, in partnership with other churches in the local area.
- WRITING AND DELIVERING 40+ POSTCARDS supporting the Bring It Home MN legislation campaign for more affordable housing opportunities – and it passed!
- SPECIAL FUNDRAISING for nationwide immigration lawyers and advocacy justice networks, mental health services in Minnesota, Native and Indigenous community centers, and the Minnesota Council of Churches refugee services.
- RAPID RESPONSE RELIEF FUNDS to aid challenging situations around the world in Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Haiti, and beyond through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).









Other recent outreach projects since 2020 include:
- OVER 10,000 lbs. and thousands of dollars of donation drives of food, health and household items, and school supplies for VEAP Food Shelf, the West African Family and Community Food Shelf of Brooklyn UMC, and the statewide Minnesota FoodShare effort.
- THE SOUPER BOWL DRIVE of canned soups leading up to the Big Game.
- 24 FLOOD CLEANING BUCKET KITS assembled for UMCOR Natural Disaster relief.
- YOUTH MISSION TRIP to Detroit, Michigan for urban farming developments, local beautification and home improvement projects, and workshops with local Black entrepreneurs through Motown Mission.
- HOSTING AND PROVIDING HOUSING ADVOCACY for families experiencing homelessness through the “Families Moving Forward” program of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, as well as hosting Beacon’s recent congregational community gathering.
- UMC SPECIAL OFFERINGS on Native American Ministries Sunday, Peace with Justice Sunday, UMCOR Sunday, UMC Student Sunday, and World Communion Sunday.
- MANY SPECIAL OFFERING RECIPIENTS INCLUDING Agate Housing & Services, Avivo, the Ayn Dah Yung Center, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, Every Meal (formerly The Sheridan Story), Growing Hope Globally, Heifer Project International, the Immigration Law & Justice Network, LYNC, Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services, Minnesota FoodShare, Twin Cities Food Justice, VEAP food shelf, and offerings with other United Methodist Churches that went to Red Bird Mission, Simpson Food Pantry, Holy Grounds community meals for people experiencing homelessness at Centenary UMC, Mankato, and many more!