A small team of volunteers prep, cook, serve and clean up a healthy dinner for approximately 80 guests.
Prep, Cook and Set Up: No special skills needed, no culinary requirements! All supplies are brought by the program leaders, volunteers only need to show up ready to work. Once the room is set and the meal is prepared, another group of volunteers come in to serve and clean up.
Serve and Clean Up: Dinner is served restaurant-style. We also breakdown the dining room at the conclusion of the meal. All supplies are brought by the program leaders, volunteers only need to show up ready to work. We have jobs for all skill and comfort levels.
Age Restriction: Most of our volunteers are over 10 years old. However, if you feel your younger child is capable of helping prepare a meal at home-they are welcome here!
Where: Fredericksburg United Methodist Church
Time Commitment: We have two shifts for the 4th Saturday Meals: Prep, Cook and Set Up (1:00 PM-3:00 PM) or Serve and Clean Up (3:15 PM-?).
What: Angel Tree is a seasonal opportunity to assist under-resourced families during the holidays. Seniors and families, identified by Social Services, local schools and church members, are asked to create gift wish lists. Each ‘angel’ represents a gift on a child’s or senior’s wish list. Our congregation shops for, wraps and returns the angels in early December. Additionally, we collect food donations to create food boxes for each family or senior. Each of these food boxes not only supplies all the traditional holiday dinner items, but also non-perishables basics to last well beyond the holiday. In addition to donating gifts and food, many volunteers are needed to help sort and pack.
Age Restriction: None
What to Bring: Varies
Where: Ebenezer United Methodist Church
Time Commitment: mid-November through mid-December
What: Brain Builders is an after school tutoring program created by our partner Stafford Junction. The goal is to combine homework assistance, nutritious food, and opportunities for intellectual and social growth for local students. Twice a week our volunteers meet at Hampton Oaks Elementary School to spend one on one time with students. Program runs September through May. Application and background check required.
Age Restriction: Minimum age 7th Grade
What to Bring: All materials and guidance are provided.
Where: Hampton Oaks Elementary School, 107 Northampton Blvd, Stafford, VA 22554
Time Commitment: Meets Monday and Wednesday 3:30PM – 5:00pm, volunteer as often as your schedule allows.
Twice a month Ebenezer volunteers cook and serve a home-style dinner to the residents of the Thurman Brisben Shelter. The shelter houses individuals and families for extended periods of time while they work to attain self-sufficiency. Our volunteers, in two shifts, cook and serve the meal for approximately 80 people.
Age Restriction: 12 and up
What to Bring: Dress comfortably.
Where: Brisben Center at 471 Central Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. ( When you arrive, park wherever you like, sign in at the main desk and then join us in the kitchen.)
Time Commitment: 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM Prep and Cook Dinner, 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM Serve Dinner.
Build A Backpack is a seasonal volunteer opportunity.
On Sunday mornings in July, sign out a backpack and, using the included school supply list, fill the backpacks and return them to the church office no later than August 12, 2018.
Many of the items are available online if you are not able to find in a store. Some store suggestions include: Walmart, Target, Office Supply Stores, Dollar Stores, and Amazon. A sample of each item will also be on display at the ‘Build a Backpack’ signup table each Sunday.
The Cold Weather Shelter, a program of Micah Ministries, is a seasonal volunteer opportunity for the first and second Saturdays of each month from December 3-March.
Our small team meets at the shelter in south Stafford; we do some housekeeping, provide snacks and drinks, check-in clients as they arrive and enjoy fellowship throughout the evening. We are always looking for new volunteers willing to commit to one or more Saturday evenings a month.
Age Restriction: Adults only
What to Bring: All materials provided
Where: 750 King’s Highway (Route 3 East) Stafford, VA
Time Commitment: Saturday 5:30PM – 8:30PM
What: CRM is a local independent partner organization seeking to meet the basic needs of families in crisis within our community. Their five areas of ministry include Firewood, Transportation. Disaster Relief, Helping Hands and Construction. Ebenezer partners with CRM regularly to cut, split, deliver, and stack firewood to those who rely on it for heating.
Age Restriction: 10 years old and up
What to Bring: Gloves, chainsaw, axes, mauls or any other logging tools you might have.
Where: Varies
Time Commitment: One Saturday a month, 8:00AM
Using the church kitchen, the team prepares and delivers meals to local seniors on the first Saturday each month.
Age Restriction: None
What to Bring: All materials provided.
Where: Ebenezer United Methodist Church
Time Commitment: First Saturday of the month, 9AM – 12PM
Ebenezer Acre is a seasonal opportunity from May-September. Volunteers help plant and tend crops before harvesting and donating to the local food pantry, S.E.R.V.E.
On Saturday, August 25, 9:00-11:30 AM we will harvest, clean and bag the potatoes for S.E.R.V.E. We will celebrate with a picnic lunch when the work is done!
Age Restriction: All ages welcome and we will have some extra fun for the kiddos.
What to Bring: No need to bring anything, unless you have a favorite pair of work gloves. We will have all you need!
Where: 2249 Garrisonville Rd., Stafford, VA 22556
No need to register just join us.
What: This is a seasonal opportunity for us to support the Kairos Prison Ministry through baking and donating cookies. The Kairos program is a Weekend that consists of carefully structured talks, meditations, and individual and group activities led by volunteers. This Weekend experience offers an invitation to develop a personal relationship with Christ. So, why the cookies? These cookies are an expression of love and generosity. Twice a year when the team heads to a Virginia state prison for a Weekend, they offer inmates unlimited home-baked cookies. Many prisoners come to a Weekend event just for the cookies but leave with a changed heart.
Age Restriction: None
What to Bring: Cookies!
Where: Cookies are delivered to Ebenezer United Methodist Church
Time Commitment: March and October
Phoebe Circle makes caps and coverlets for babies and hats/head huggers for cancer patients. If you have a love for knitting/crocheting, join us the 4th Tuesday of the month at 9:30 AM in room 215 in the Ministry Center. If you would like to learn, we will be able to assist you. Everyone is welcome!
What: This dynamic team meets weekly at Ebenezer to sort and then deliver donated food to our local food pantry, S.E.R.V.E. While at the pantry, volunteers also help shelve donations. Additionally, on Sunday mornings team members collect donations from the congregation. The team also participates in occasional community outreach events on behalf of S.E.R.V.E.
Age Restriction: None
What to Bring: All materials provided
Where: Ebenezer United Methodist Church & S.E.R.V.E. 15 Upton Lane, Stafford, VA 22554
Time Commitment: Tuesdays 11:45AM – 1:00PM Sundays 9:00AM – 11:00AM
What: Our sewing team, made up of beginners to seasoned sewers, meets regularly to work on sewing projects as a means of outreach. Projects vary, and may include sewing pillows for hospital patients, supporting other Ebenezer missions, and blankets for the chronic homeless. Additionally, the group creates quilts for the Prayers & Squares program. These quilts provide comfort to those experiencing loss or illness.
Age Restriction: None
What to Bring: All materials provided.
Where: Ebenezer United Methodist Church
Time Commitment: Thursdays 9:30AM – 11:30AM
This is a seasonal opportunity that happens just before school starts each year when we collect school supplies for children in Stafford County.
Women In Service meets the third Thursday each month from 10:00 to noon to work on service projects. We make and send Get Well, Happy Birthday, and Prayer Cards. We also sponsor luncheons for the residents at The Gardens, make sleeping mats for the homeless and support and serve at the quarterly Blood Drive at Ebenezer. These are just some of the things we do. Come and join us for a rewarding day of service to the Lord.