Opportunities to Serve
Serving with Woodland
Child of God Bed Ministry
The Child of God Bed Ministry Team is meeting practical needs.
It seems pretty simple — provide a bed for a child who needs one. This simple gesture keeps families together! If a family is engaged with CPS, each child must have their own bed to sleep in for them to remain in the home. Sharing a bed, sleeping on a couch, or sleeping on a palate will not work.
We started off by making beds, but it got really hot this summer and making beds slowed. Then we looked at purchasing beds and, though lots of research, we found some that work really well, though they are more expensive than making beds.
Here is where we need help:
- Making beds. If you have carpentry skills, please consider making a bed.
- Delivering and setting up beds. You pick up the bed, mattress, and bedding from the church, take it to the home, and set it up. We have plans on our Bed Ministry page. (This is our most urgent need.)
- We need funds. The Bed Ministry receives budgeted money, but it is not enough to meet the needs. We receive several grants as well. Take a look at our Bed Ministry page for more.
Contact Tim Son to be part of this wonderful ministry.
Find lots more on our Woodland Bed Ministry page.
KidsHope at Larkspur Elementary
Through KidsHope, we provide mentors for children at Larkspur Elementary School (a Title I school in NEISD).
One Adult | One Child | One Hour a Week
This is an urgent need. We currently have two mentors.
Training is provided (mostly online). Background checks are required.
Contact Lance Mayes to get started.
Check out our KidsHope page.
CAM Ministry Team
We have a group that meets once a month to make 500 bags of food for people experiencing homelessness. You can help! These sack lunches are dropped off at CAM (Christian Assistance Ministry) twice a month, and they distribute them.
The CAM Ministry Team prefers money instead of donations of items. They have found a way to purchase the items they need with less money.
The meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month to make the bags. Half of the bags are deliver on the 2nd Wednesday and half on the 4th Wednesday.
Contact Becky Upchurch to find out more including how you can help fill the bags. Contact Lee Weems to help him take the bags to CAM and to see what CAM is all about.
ESL
ESL (English as a Second Language) classes are hosted at Woodland in the morning and evening.
- Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 12 noon
- Tuesday & Thursday, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
We are always looking for teachers and conversation partners. If you speak English, you are qualified!
The world is coming to Woodland. Contact Diana Bridges to find out how you can help.
Check out these pages for more:
Migrant Ministry in Brownsville
Migrants are coming across the border and volunteers in Brownsville need our help.
These trips will pop up every once in a while when there is a request. We do whatever is needed: we serve meals, make sandwiches, sort clothing, count hygiene kits, and more.
Let Lance know if you are interested in going to Brownsville to help out for a couple of days or so.
Women in Action
Women in Action is a women’s ministry group that uses their hands to serve others in our community and throughout the world.
They meet on the third Monday of each month to prepare Days for Girls Kits or Hygiene Kits.
Find out more from Becky Miller or Linda Mason and see their Woodland page here.
Habitat Build
Woodland builds a Habitat house every fall. We’ve completed our 17th build!
Every Saturday, 7:45 am – 3:30 pm, volunteers gather at the build site to work on a new house for a family. This new home will change this family for generations.
Contact Phil Sagebiel to see how you can become involved and check out our Habitat page here.
Other Areas of Service
Give Blood
Our area blood supply always needs more. The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is taking appointments. Learn more and set up an appointment at their site.
CASA Advocate
Jennie and Lance Mayes completed CASA Advocate Training and were sworn in on Friday, October 13, 2023. A CASA Advocate is a volunteer, court-appointed position to help the court look out for the best interests of children in foster care who have been removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse.
CASA Advocates spend some time with a child (or sibling group), with the birth parents, foster parents, teachers, doctors, and more to give a report to the court and make a recommendation in their best interest.
CASA provides extensive training, requires monthly training, and supports their advocates very well every step of the way.
Every case does not get a CASA Advocate because there are not enough CASA Advocates. Consider being a CASA Advocate today.
Check out the CASA website to learn more or talk with Lance. Click to see more details about becoming a CASA.