Faith in Action Making a Difference
by Jamie Jones, Family Ministries Coordinator
(April 2025)
In April, our youth and children took part in a meaningful Faith in Action project where we came together to make sack lunches for The People Concern, a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to supporting those experiencing homelessness. The organization provides essential services such as food, shelter, and assistance with finding jobs and housing. They work tirelessly to ensure that people know they are not alone and that there is a community that cares for them.
We began the project by reading Lulu and the Hunger Monster by Erik Talkin. This book is a powerful story that highlights the realities of childhood hunger and food insecurity. It follows Lulu, a young elementary student, who invites others into her world to help them understand what it’s like to face the “Hunger Monster.” Through Lulu’s journey, readers also learn about potential solutions to this critical issue.
After reading the book, the children broke into groups to start the Faith in Action project. The older students, grades 6 through 12, were responsible for making the sandwiches, each carefully wrapped in a zip-lock bag. Meanwhile, the younger children, from preschool to elementary school, decorated the 50 paper lunch bags. Once the bags were decorated and the sandwiches made, the middle school and high school students paired up with a younger child to assemble the lunches in a fun assembly line. Each team worked together: the older youth held the bags while the younger children added the lunch items.
It was truly a heartwarming sight to witness. The older students were not only helping the younger ones, but also taking the lead in organizing and ensuring every bag was packed with care. This project was a wonderful example of intergenerational collaboration where everyone, regardless of age, played an important role in making the project a success. The energy, teamwork, and thoughtfulness that went into preparing each lunch was inspiring, and it was clear that everyone involved had a genuine passion for the project.
Afterward, Sandra Jones and I had the privilege of delivering the lunches to The People Concern, one of First UMC’s Mission Partners. As we handed out the lunch bags, we shared that they were packed by children from our church community. Their smiles and gratitude were a testament to the impact of our efforts. Each lunch bag contained a personal drawing and note, offering a simple but powerful message of kindness and love.
This project was not only meaningful but also cost-effective. Each lunch consisted of a turkey and cheese sandwich, a bottle of water, chips, a fruit cup, a granola bar, mustard and mayo packets, a set of silverware, and a decorated paper bag. Each lunch bag costs $3 to make, and the assembly process was straightforward, making it accessible for all ages to participate.
This initiative is particularly timely, as many programs that were previously supported by government funding are now facing cuts. Organizations like The People Concern are increasingly in need of food donations. We are grateful to this church community that supports outreach efforts in our community, and it’s wonderful to see our children and youth engage in acts of service. Not only do they help meet the needs of those in our community, but they also learn firsthand the value of service and faith. This project was a beautiful reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. We look forward to continuing this tradition of service and helping others in the future.
Faith in Action is a day when the children and youth work together to perform a gracious act of community service. You can see some of their past projects below.
Past Projects:
Thank You Healthcare Workers
The First UMC Children’s Ministry invited families to take part in a Faith in Action service project that would reach out to a need we are seeing in our community during the Coronavirus and Safer-at-Home living. Families were asked to craft a poster or card to say thank you to the health care workers on the front lines. Their artwork was captured in video and picture and compiled into a “Thank You Video.” This project gave children the opportunity to express their gratitude and it gives all of us a way to lift up the everyday people who are our heroes during this time. We hope this video message lifts your spirits and shows how much we appreciate the amazing ways healthcare workers serve the community during this time. We invite you to share our video with others who would benefit from it.
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Homelessness Response
The children put their faith into action by making Christmas-themed care kits for those experiencing homelessness. Each kit included hygiene products, candy, and a homemade Christmas card. The kits were given to people through Martha’s Kitchen, a program through The Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills that provides a home cooked meal for over a hundred people every week.
Kindness Placemats
The children created “kindness placemats” for homebound members to remind them of our love and care for them. Our Congregation Care Associate Anne Premer took the placemats to the members as she visited with them throughout the month.
Blessing of the Animals
The Faith in Action kids cut out their hand-prints to create their own unique hanging birds for The Blessing of the Animals exhibit, Big & Small: Take Flight. The kids also made peanut butter and seed plates to put out in their backyards to feed the birds.
School Supplies for Upward Bound House
Every year First UMC collects backpacks and school supplies for Upward Bound House’s Family Place. Thanks to generous donations, we were able to supply Upward Bound House with 60 backpacks packed with all the essentials to start the school year off right. This year we made 30 backpacks for children and 30 backpacks for adults heading back to school to finish/start their degree. These backpacks will ensure that the Upward Bound House residents are ready to hit the books feeling prepared and confident. Thank you to all who donated!
Valentine’s Day Cards for Homebound Members
The children decorated cards with loving messages to spread God’s love to our homebound congregation members that will be hand delivered by Anne Premer, our Congregation Care Associate. The children also made piggy banks to help raise money for Pennies for Haiti. All the profits will go towards buying Goats for a village in Haiti during the upcoming service trip.
Stockings for the Homeless
Jamie Jones (wearing Santa hat) leads Sunday School’s Faith in Action with the help of Dot (far left) and Emily (far right) Plukas. The group assembled stockings stuffed with hygiene supplies for the homeless that were distributed later that morning by Jamie and her mom, Sandra Jones.
The Kindness Rock
Intended to spread love and kindness, kids painted rocks and included a positive message or affirmation. They were then placed where people can easily see them (like a front yard, porch, public park, school garden), and even pick up and give it to someone who needs a little love.
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