Outreach is a significant aspect of our faith experience at Shandon United Methodist Church. The main purpose of the Commission on Outreach is to reach out to our community in the name of Jesus Christ to meet human needs, both locally and globally. The main projects handled by the commission include the following:

Harvest Hope Food Bank:
The Commission on Outreach coordinates a food drive three times during the year. We recruit volunteers to distribute bags and food lists on two Sundays and then we receive the food on the third Sunday. The food is distributed through Harvest Hope Food Bank to persons/families who are experiencing food emergencies.

Blood Drive:
This is a coordinated effort between Shandon UMC and The American Red Cross to host four blood drives a year on the Shandon campus. The Commission on Outreach is responsible for organizing and publicizing these drives.

Methodist Student Network:
This is a fellowship of Methodist students located on the campus of the University of South Carolina. The Commission on Outreach provides a Sunday evening meal each semester for approximately 30-45 students.

Seeds of Hope:
Every Saturday morning, from June – August, the Commission on Outreach sponsors and assists a low-country farmer in the sale of fresh fruit and vegetables, grown on his or her farm. Each sale takes place in the church parking lot and is open to both church members and the community.

Habitat for Humanity:
For the last three consecutive years the Commission on Outreach has led church-wide efforts in building three Habitat houses in the Columbia area. This includes fund-raising, volunteer recruitment, and scheduling of all work and meal teams. The Commission hopes to lead the way in building a fourth house in the near future.

Around the World:
The Commission on Outreach supports annual regional and international United Methodist Volunteers in Mission trips. Over the past three years Shandon has sent teams to Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Haiti, and a youth team to Montserrat. This has been a growing ministry at Shandon and the Commission on Outreach will continue to sponsor and support many more trips in the upcoming years.

*The Commission on Outreach meets bi-monthly.

If you feel drawn to serve in any of the mentioned areas, or if you simply want more information about the Commission on Outreach and its projects, please do not hesitate to contact the church office at (803) 256-8383.