Mission Focus
Tend My Sheep Haiti along with our partners have continued our work at the Duparc Farm. The security situation in Haiti continues to worsen, although the area around the Farm so far has not seen much gang activity. We continue to work to meet the needs
of the community and the refugees coming in from Port au Prince and other gang infested areas.
We have increased our production of chickens and goats as well as vegetables and corn for sale at the local market
and also to donate as needs arise. We continue to support day laborers with food and wages as much as we can.
During the past year Tend My Sheep Haiti funded the construction of a water harvesting project to collect water from the building roofs and pipe it to a new 8,000gallon water storage tank. This water is used for bathroom facilities for our staff in the living area. In addition, we installed three hundred feet of pipe from the tank to supply new bathrooms and showers near the fields
for the workers and the community. We are working this year to help some of our staff become self-sufficient.
We have 2 young men from our staff starting a bakery business and another is establishing a taxi business and a mechanic shop.
Our administrator Ernst is also continuing to pastor and grow the church located on the farm property.
FELT – Feeding Empty Little Tummies
August’s mission focus is FELT. (Feeding Empty Little Tummies). We are in our 10th year of providing backpacks of food every weekend and break for those students in need at Mays Chapel Elementary School. We will start out this year with eight children. That number will fluctuate throughout the year as circumstances change or families relocate. This year may be particularly challenging as we see how SNAP benefit cuts, healthcare changes and job losses unfold. These past few years have been especially hard for many families in our community. Making sure the children have access to nutritious meals when they are not in school enables them to concentrate in school and succeed in life. They are our future!
We have an amazing and generous corporate donor that FULLY funds this mission! We are grateful for their continuing support.
As always, THANK YOU for your generous and consistent support of Mays Chapel missions. Your willingness to provide “hands on” and monetary support lets Mays Chapel reach out to those in need near and far. Anyone wishing to share ideas, get more information or become more involved please get with any missions team member.
100+ Homeless Students (PreK-High School) Need Our Help! They are from families, in Baltimore County, that Prologue Inc. assist.
A list of School Supplies needed is below. Please bring your donations or check to church by August 3. If you write a check, please include school supplies on the memo line and we’ll do the shopping! Thank you!!
School Supplies
Backpacks, Composition Books–Wide Rule, Crayons, Erasers–Cap, Folders–2 Pocket Plastic/Poly with Prongs, Glue Sticks, Highlighters–Wide & Thin Tips, Markers–Dry Erase, Markers–Washable Wide Tip, Markers–Wide Tip, Notebook Paper–Wide Rule, Notebook Paper–College Rule, Pens, Pencils, Pencils–Color, Pencil Boxes, Pencil Large Zipper Pouches, Pencil Sharpeners, Scissors, Spiral Notebooks–Wide Rule, Spiral Notebooks–College Rule, 1″ or 2″ binders.
Manna House started out informally, handing out food bags to the poor and needy in the community. And grew from there.
In 1966 the Midtown Churches Community Association was incorporated.
In 1973 their soup kitchen was opened in a row house on St Paul St.
In 1986, through a grant, they were able to obtain additional resources for their clients.
In 1989 the soup kitchen and administrative offices moved to the current location at 435 E 25th St.
Over time they have added literacy programs and (MEET) mentoring, education, employability training. Midtown churches community association became Manna House Inc in 1994. They continually add resources for their clients. Health care for the homeless brings their van weekly to 25th St. case workers help clients obtain valid identification, transportation to health care appointments, case management, showers and clean clothes and much much more.
Manna House has been one of Mays Chapel’s mission focuses for many years. Manna House has been serving the homeless and poor in Baltimore City for over 55 years. Their website says “It starts with breakfast, then we can have a conversation.” Start by making sure that their clients are not hungry, then they can move on to figuring out what resources are needed. Some of the resources are health care, clothing, job training and many more. Their small dining room and kitchen were recently renovated to accommodate more clients. They once again are serving clients breakfast Monday through Friday every week. (7:45-10:30am)
How can I help? Let Dawn know if you are interested in serving and we can coordinate a day or two.
Volunteers are always needed to pack hygiene kits, sort clothes, and organize storage of donated items. There are other ways your time and talents can be used as shown on the website.
mannahouseinc.org Mays Chapel collects travel size toiletries to donate for their hygiene kits.
Monetary donations are always needed. Please mark your donation “Manna House”.
Examples:
$10 donation purchases one Maryland Birth Certificate
$20 donation purchases a Maryland State ID
$50 purchases a pair of steel toed work boots.
Larger donations are used to purchase bus passes for clients to go to medical appointments or work. Also, for security deposits for housing.
As always, thank you for your faithful and generous support of Mays Chapel missions. All are welcome to participate!
Our mission is to improve the quality of life and provide equal opportunities to people of all abilities through community development and employment services while raising public awareness.
Inspired by the success of our Expressive Arts Therapy program, we launched our Meaningful Day program in 2019. This is a Monday-Friday program that aims to provide an elevated experience for young adults with disabilities after they exit the educational system. Karina Association offers its Meaningful Day program as a God’s testament to its mission of empowering individuals of all abilities. Through community-based activities, vocational training, and personal development opportunities, the program aims to enrich lives and foster inclusion. This initiative reflects the organization’s commitment to serving God and the community with compassion, love and dedication.
We provide Community Development Services to our participants, where they are immersed in their community via volunteering and hands-on learning opportunities. CDS fosters personal growth and development of new skills through engagement in community-based activities with people without disabilities. CDS provides the social support necessary to foster lasting relationships and a path to discover each individual’s niche for employment opportunities within the community. With encouragement and support, young adults identify their skills, interests, and needs, and work toward improving their ability to self-advocate. This journey of self-education is an ongoing process, as individual needs change over time.
We are also approved to provide Employment Services, including a variety of support to help Karina’s participants identify career and employment interests, as well as to find a niche for self-employment.
Hopi Mission: Sharing Christ’s Love with a Peaceful People
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” – Psalm 143:10
In the peaceful highlands of northeastern Arizona, the Hopi people—one of the oldest living cultures in the world—carry rich traditions and a deep spiritual heritage. Yet, fewer than 5% are Christian, and many in the community face daily challenges such as poverty, isolation, and health disparities. With a history marked by painful encounters with early missionary efforts, the Hopi need to see the Gospel through a new lens—one of humility, love, and service. Our congregation is proud to support the Hopi Mission, led by Korean
Methodist missionary Rev. Dae Jun Park and his family, who serve faithfully in this sacred land. Through practical outreach like delivering firewood to elders, offering meals, celebrating baptisms, and nurturing faith through worship and discipleship classes, they bring the hope and healing of Christ. Their 2025 vision—“Ask, Seek, Knock” (Matthew 7:7)—invites us to join them in prayer, partnership, and support as they spread Jesus’ unconditional love across the Hopi Reservation. We invite you to learn more, pray with us, and consider how you might be part of this meaningful mission. Together, let’s be led by God’s Spirit onto level ground.
United Churches Assistance Network (UCAN) is a not-for-profit organization formed by local churches in Northern Baltimore County. UCAN’s Mission is Empowering Local Communities with Emergency Assistance and Support. UCAN offers financial and referral help to those in need within our local community focusing on preventing evictions & utility turn-offs. UCAN is an all volunteer organization. There is NO payroll.
UCAN opened its doors on June 3, 1996 providing assistance to adults & families. These monies included food certificates, lodging, prevention of evictions, utility payments (gas, electric and heating fuel oil), transportation (including MTA tokens) and prescriptions. This aid is in addition to assistance provided through networking with other community assistance networks within Baltimore County.
Prologue Outreach workers meet the homeless in Baltimore County where they are. (Camps, shelters, airports, woods, etc.) Prologue provides needed resources to clients to help them return to a stable environment or at least make it through another day safely.
Mays Chapel United Methodist Church supports the homeless they serve by providing packed lunches once a month, collecting school supplies, and purchasing gifts at Christmas to bring joy to so many.
How can you help? You can join in a lunch packing session held once a month. Purchase school supplies during July/August to help the many children that cannot afford basic supplies. Let a child know that they are loved by purchasing a Christmas gift for them in November/December. Monetary donations are used to purchase lunch making supplies or provide emergency needs.
Always, thank you for supporting Mays Chapel Missions!
“As the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Committee on Relief – UMCOR – assists United Methodists and churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need. UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters – famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire, or other events—to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for the vulnerable. UMCOR provides relief, response, and long-term recovery grants when events overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on their own. UMCOR also provides technical support and training for partners to address emerging and ongoing issues related to disaster relief, recovery, and long-term health and development.” Current responses are U.S. and International disaster relief, Ukraine response, U.S Hurricane response, Aid to migration and refugees and others.
Christmas Mission Projects
The holiday season is approaching fast! This year we have two different choices on how we can help our community in need.
1. Prologue Inc. is collecting donations of new toys (If your toy requires batteries, please include them with your gift.) and fast-food gift cards for children/teens who are experiencing homelessness. Prologue often falls short on gifts for preteens and teens. One suggestion is small denomination gift cards to fast food restaurants. Favorites include Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, and Subway. (Please include the amount of the gift card with it.) Please bring in your new unwrapped gift or gift cards by December 8th. We will deliver them to Prologue for distribution. Thank you!
2. Our Sunday School kids will be conducting a food drive to support the Cockeysville Food Pantry. The holiday season is a busy time and supplies often run low. The food pantry needs donations of non-perishable food. Items that often-run low are canned soup, canned fruit, mac and cheese and jelly. Check out the Sunday School’s display for a complete list. (Please no food with expired dates.)
Thanksgiving Meals
We will be partnering with ACTC (Assistance Center of Towson Churches) again this year to provide Thanksgiving meals to many in need in our community. Monetary donations will be used to purchase prepacked bags of food and perishables to make the Thanksgiving holiday meal special. The due date for donations for thanksgiving baskets is November 17th.
