Partnership with the St. Ambrose Food PantryEach Sunday, during our worship service, any member of the congregation may bring non-perishable food items which are collected during the children’s time and taken to the pantry after the service. In 2016, over 1,300 items were delivered. The Rags to Riches program to support the Capital City Rescue Mission. Please use the receptacle in the church foyer to drop off your un-useable tattered, torn, or stained clothing and linens. All you have to do is to keep a bag next to your current recyclables for your unwanted, no-longer-serviceable items made of textile material—tattered clothing, worn out curtains, linens, bedding, pillows, etc. When you come to church, bring your bag and place it in our collection box located in the foyer outside the Gathering Space. That’s all there is to it. We’ll be green and generous. This mission keeps textiles out of our landfills and supports Capital City Rescue Mission with on-going donations. The Rescue Mission gets $.17 a pound for textile materials they bundle up for recycling. Serviceable items are given to clients and third world missions and unserviceable items are bailed and sold to provide funds for Rescue Mission programs. In 2016, 19 truckloads of rags and clothing have been delivered to the Capital City Rescue Mission. This contribution of rags and clothing has netted the Capital City Rescue Mission approximately $684. We also have specially scheduled drives for items during the year (for example winter coats, socks, toiletries, etc.) The UMW will accept your serviceable clothing, linens and bedding for the rummage sales. The United Methodist Women’s (UMW) Rummage Sales are held each spring and fall and are open to the community for shopping. Proceeds support women’s and children’s ministries around the globe.
Items accepted: gently used clothing for men, women and children, small household items, (dishes, glasses, cookware, decorative items, small working appliances), gently used children’s toys, and jewelry. If you are not sure if an item may be donated, please call the church. No large items or electronics, please. Please note that items may only be dropped off the week of each rummage sale. Please contact the church office for dates, times and drop off. Please see the UMW page for more informatiom on mission work done by the UMW.Capital City Rescue Mission
Calvary has a long standing commitment to serve dinner @ The Capital City Rescue Mission, serving on the 3rd Monday of odd months of the year. A carpool is available from the church, leaving at 5:45 pm and returning by about 7:15 pm. For information, please contact melansonlinda@hotmail.com .Matthew 25 Ministries - Pill Bottles
Throughout the year, the UMW also collects clean, empty, prescription bottles; as well as bottles from over the counter medicines, for Matthew 25 Ministries. These can be dropped off at the upstairs entrance to the church, in the missions area located next to the church office door. Please wash the bottle and remove all labels. These bottles are used to distribute medications.For further information on Matthew 25 Ministries: www.m25m.org Lions Institute – Eye Glasses: (Donation box outside the church office)Calvary continues to collect prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses that no longer fit your prescription for the Lions Institute. Equinox - Cell Phones/Chargers: (Donation box outside the church office)Victims of domestic Violence throughout Albany County can benefit from used cell phones and chargers to help ensure their safety and ability to communicate. Collection of small toiletriesThroughout the year as needed and requested by agencies and people in need. (Donation box outside the church office)
ZOE – Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor For information on ZOE, please visit http://www.zoehelps.org) The second Sunday of each month is ZOE Sunday in worship, where a donation of $1.00 or more per person is requested to provide support for this mission project. Let’s change the world for these children! In 2016, over $1,300.00 was donated to Zoe! Support has been provided by the congregation, the UMW, the youth group, the children’s Lenten mission project, CUMC Yoga group and CUMC’s King’s Kids acting troupe. How does this mission work? A pair of chickens cost $25.00. One chicken can lay up to 200 eggs per year, $200 will by 8 pairs of chickens, 16 chickens will lay up to 3,200 eggs per year, baby chicks can be sold and chickens provide fertilizer for a garden –the beginning of food sufficiency! Schenectady Home Furnishings (SHF)SHF began as a project of Church Women United and now serves people in transition due to emergency situations; such as, fire/flood, domestic violence, homelessness, disability, a discharge from prison/rehab/hospital/nursing home, and people with mental illness.
With the help of our church community and community members, we were able to provide the following donations to the Schenectady Home Furnishings program and support those in need of a fresh start. In May, The SHF donation truck was about half full! We received approximately 75 plus items. Among them, two table sets with chairs, a microwave, 6-7 end tables, a chair, a couple of toaster ovens, crock pots, coffee pots, blankets, pots, pans, kitchen items, glasses and 2 microwave carts. Thank you to all who supported this mission project!
Please check our church web-site, monthly Tidings newsletter on line, mid-week messages and weekly church bulletins for special events throughout the year. (Please know that our children are also very active in missions! Watch for special children’s ministries, especially during Lent and Advent) Click here to view a report of all the committee's activities for 2015.
Other Local Organizations for donation and shopping
In addition to CUMC mission work, here are local organizations that accept donations of furniture, clothing and various household items throughout the year. Please consult each charity to determine the appropriate donation or to find locations where you would like to shop!
Blessingdale’s of the Capital City Rescue Mission 88 Trinity Place, just off South Pearl Street at Arch Street, behind the mission Mission is located at 259 South Pearl Street Albany, NY 12202 (518) 462-0459 ext. 258 http://capitalcityrescuemission.com/get-involved/donate-items/ Albany United Methodist Society 340 1st Street Albany, NY 12206 (518)432-0818 Accepts good, usable clothing, food and fresh produce – please call for other items that may be needed.
Habitat for Humanity of the Capital District Re-Store 70 Fuller Road Albany, NY 12205 (518) 275-6638 http://www.habitatcd.org/restore/ Habitat for Humanity Schenectady Re-Store 115 North Broadway Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 395-3412 restore@schenectadyhabitat.org www.schenectadyhabitat.org/restore
Schenectady Home Furnishings – Elsie’s Room 603 State Street Schenectady, NY 12305 Contact: Peg Miller or Jamie Doriguzzi (518)346-2444 homefurninc@aol.com http://schenectadyhomefurnishings.org/donate_furinshings.html Troy Area United Ministries 392 2nd Street Troy, NY 12180 (518) 274-5920 www.taum.org The furniture program accepts beds, dressers, tables, chairs –please call for details The Salvation Army Thrift Store Troy Schenectady Road Latham, NY 12110 (518) 783-7120 Also: The Salvation Army Family Store 2145 Central Ave. Colonie, NY12205 (518) 346-0205 www.salvationarmyusa.com Goodwill – Colonie 1 Fuller Road Colonie, NY 12205 (518) 459-5580 www.Goodwillny.com Beyond Clutter 1211 Waterside Way Cohoes, NY 12047 (518) 238-3842 http://www.beyondclutter.com/pass-it-on/local-organizations/
For locations that accept other types of items, monetary donations, or to understand each type of charity please visit www.CharityNavigator.com or check the NYS Attorney General’s Web-site. Other places to shop or donate: http://www.thethriftshopper.com | 
