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.
Projects
Stirring Up HOPE
In November 2025, as a response to uncertainty about SNAP benefits andongoing federal furloughs, we started Stirring Up Hope. an initiative to create shelf-stable meal kits to be distributed throughout the community. Each meal kit contained all the ingredients needed to make a soup recipe, empowering anyone facing food insecurity to prepare a warm, home-cooked meal. Relying entirely on donated funds, nearly 70 volunteers, ages 1-91, assembled 250 kits. Our distribution model was simple: bring the kits to locations where community members frequented and could retrieve kits anonymously. Local farms and libraries served as pick up locations, and within weeks, all 250 kits were distributed. Additional kits were assembled by scout troops, churches and families, who dropped off at local food pantries.
Sprinkle Birthday JOY
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.
LOVE is Blooming
Coming in June 2026: As requested by local assisted living communities, we will create and distribute 150 floral arrangements to residents. Using glass jars as vases, each arrangement will fit in a 20-30 oz repurposed container. Volunteers will choose from individual blooms and greenery (generously donated by local stores, neighbor’s gardens, and contributions of store bought bouquets) to lovingly create one-of-a-kind arrangements that will brighten resident rooms and spirits. For details on how to participate, reach out to Katie at admin@cumc.net
