CommUNITY in Action is built on a simple but impactful vision: to bring people together to serve with purpose and respond to real needs in our community.
Through quarterly, hands-on service projects, we aim to:
- Provide meaningful, tangible support to underserved individuals and communities in the Crofton area
- Collaborate with local organizations to ensure projects are timely and truly needed
- Offer inclusive, low-barrier volunteer opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities
- Inspire acts of service that are scalable and replicable, encouraging impact both large and small
Each project is thoughtfully designed to go beyond traditional service by focusing on what recipients genuinely need and value, while also creating opportunities for the broader community to participate in spreading hope, joy, love, and peace.
History
In November 2025, in response to uncertainty about SNAP benefits and ongoing federal furloughs, Community United Methodist Church organized Stirring Up Hope, an initiative to create shelf-stable meal kits to be distributed throughout the community. Relying entirely on donated funds, nearly 70 volunteers, ages 1-91, assembled 250 kits.
The response from recipients and community volunteers was overwhelming.
Volunteers from within and outside the church requested additional opportunities for service projects they could do with their families at an event or at home.
In coordination with local organizations, we identified additional projects that provided timely support to uplift and respond to needs in underserved communities.
Projects
In June 2026, nearly 40 volunteers hand selected individual blooms and greenery to lovingly create over 200 one-of-a-kind floral arrangements for residents in three assisted living communities. Thanks to generous donations from Costco, Fresh Market, Trader Joes and Michaels, as well as neighbor’s gardens, and contributions of store bought bouquets, we hand-delivered bouquets made with love to brighten resident rooms and spirits.
In February 2026, we introduced Sprinkle Birthday Joy, an iniative to help underserved families celebrate their child’s birthday. Around 70 volunteers packed over 60 birthday cake kits, enabling 60+ families to make their child feel celebrated on their special day. Each kit contained cake mix, a can of soda (to replace oil and eggs), frosting, sprinkles, candles, a birthday card, and a goodie bag. Kits were distributed to Sarahs House, local food pantries, schools and more.
It took nearly 1,000 items to pack the kits, all generously donated or purchased with donated funds. Whether it was a box of cake mix, a monetary donation, or a bit of time on a Saturday morning, every contribution made a difference, sprinkling joy and kindness into our community.
Through this CommUNITY in Action project, volunteers assembled 400 hygiene kits for local Title I elementary students. Each kit contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry sheets and body wipes, packaged in a reuable zippered bag. Every kit provided practical essentials to a child, giving them a little PEACE of Mind to help them focus on learning and connecting in the classroom. Additional supplies such as menstrual pads, prepasted toothbrushes, and body wipes were provided to the school’s health room.
For questions or to get involved with CommUNITY in Action projects, contact Katie Foster.
