Visitors Serving the Homeless
Shower Program
Our church opens up it shower facilities in Baker Center and provides soap, towels, and a breakfast twice each week for the homeless in our community. We provide over 8,000 showers and breakfasts as year! We bring in health care and social services to address a variety of needs for our homeless guests. We host social workers from the City of Tempe’s Project HOPE who bring expertise and assistance for our homeless guests.
Our Baker Center showers are open Mondays and Fridays from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. for people to get clean, eat breakfast, rest and visit. Volunteers are needed for two-hour blocks of time to serve coffee and help clean up.
Potter's House
Our weeknight drop-in center for the homeless (and everyone else!) is open Monday-Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. in the Baker Center. We provide spiritual care, meals, friendship, Bible study and more. Potter’s House offers respite from the elements and a place to get water, sunscreen, hats and hospitality. We are always in need of persons to help serve as hosts at Potter’s House who can share the welcome, help make the coffee and visit with our guests.
Volunteers are needed to greet and talk with the men and women who attend each night.
I-HELP
Tempe First UMC was instrumental in starting I-HELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program) in downtown Tempe. Homeless folks are provided with food and a safe place to sleep three days per week. I-HELP is an interfaith, cooperative effort of several Tempe congregations, Tempe Emergency Assistance Ministries, Tempe Community Action Agency and Tempe Salvation Army plus Tempe business and education partners.
Each Sunday night, around 30 homeless guests spend the night in our Ross Hall. You can be involved by helping to prepare meals for this important group; there are occasionally other needs as well.
If you'd like to volunteer with any of our homeless ministries, please contact us.
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