Helping our neighbors

Soapstone UMC’s support of Baileywick Elementary School began about 10 years ago after, then Bishop, Hope Ward, started Congregations for Children (C4C) a statewide initiative for the UMC to help children in public schools who were living in poverty.

Soapstone UMC chose Baileywick ES because of its proximity to our church. Over the years Soapstone UMC has partnered and contributed to Baileywick. Some of the ways we’ve contributed over the years include:
– collecting and donating school supplies for students and teachers
– collecting and donating snacks for students
– providing teacher/staff appreciation throughout the school year
– serving as tutors and classroom volunteers
– being lunch buddies for students
– donated to a fund established for field trips (so all children could participate)
– Christmas Challenge money raised was used to buy computer equipment and books for each classroom so kids could take home books to read and then return.
– mission madness has provided manpower to paint murals within the school and tidy the grounds
– providing Food Lion and Walmart gift cards for the social workers to distribute as they learn of families in need
– collecting hygiene supplies and creating hygiene kits for older students as needs arise

Process required to volunteer in a public-school building:

1. Go to any public school in WCPSS and indicate that you would like to be approved as a volunteer.

2. Show your driver’s license and provide an email address.

3. The office staff will then send you a document, via email, to fill out for approval. This application does include a background check.

4. Indicate the schools in which you would like to volunteer.

5. Wait for approval.