Family Promise
For the past 12 years Salado United
Methodist Church has been a part of Family Promise of East Bell County. This
organization helps families with children get their feet back on the ground by
providing housing, food, and transportation for a period of time. It started
many years ago when our church hosted multi families in the Sunday School rooms
for seven days a week, four times a year. Members of our congregation donated
their time cooking meals, driving vans, spending time working with kids on
school projects, and even taking them to the Texas Rangers Game. Many things
have changed since Covid, and we have had to adjust what we do to help the
families. We did manage to raise thousands of dollars for Family Promise to
help build their own facility in Temple. They no longer need our church
facilities to house families anymore. In fact, their new facility does that and
much more. They are always in need of volunteers to work with the families
still providing meals, fellowship, and overnight lodging at their place instead
of ours. If interested in helping serve on behalf of the Salado United
Methodist Church, please contact our church office by calling 254/947-5482 and
ask for Rolly Correa to answer any questions you may have.
Salado Food Pantry
This is our local pantry called Heart
and Hands Ministry located near the Brookshire Brothers parking lot. This
pantry serves families in need of food and clothing in Salado. Our church plays
a big part in providing food and volunteers to keep the pantry going. Every
week our congregation drops off food and supplies at our church and at times,
donates money to the pantry to help defray the cost of running this very
valuable operation. Andrea Heater is a member of our church and is on the board
of directors and works closely with the board to ensure their needs are met.
Wheelchair Ramp Project
We want to start up this project
again since Covid is now over. This project helps construct wheelchair ramps
for the homes in need that have wheelchair bound people, giving them easy
access in and out of their living quarters which in turn gives them more
freedom to get out of the house. Our church has a portable building with all
the supplies needed to construct ramps. We help provide some funding for
construction and materials. Sometimes homeowners have money but need help with
manpower. This work is generally completed in a day. We are looking for more
volunteers to start up this very worthwhile project again.
I-H 35 Thanksgiving Meal Project
Volunteers and members
from Salado UMC serve Thanksgiving meals at both rest stops south of town,
north and southbound I-35 Bell County, and is offered to any travelers who stop
by on Thanksgiving Day. This is an outreach that has been occurring for over a
decade. Our I-35 Thanksgiving Meal serves hundreds of workers and travelers
each year! Plan your calendar and volunteer to help serve next year on
Thanksgiving Day 2023. Over 20 plus turkeys are served up with all the fixings
at no cost to the travelers on the road. Your heart will be touched as you meet
people travelling in the holidays as well as the intrastate commerce truckers
that spend the time hauling our commerce. In some cases, due to restaurants
being closed, our truckers plan their route so that they can share a meal and
fellowship with our church family.
Wild Game Dinner
Our Wild Game Dinner is an annual
fundraiser where all donations go to Salado UMC's Missions & Outreach in
support of local, national, and international organizations and efforts. We
have many BBQ pits and awesome wild game cooks giving our guests samples of wild
game dishes like venison, bison, aoudad, wild hog, elk, quail, dove, pheasant,
fish, armadillo, squirrel, rattlesnake, and more! Our SUMC members will provide
home cooked sides and breads, salads, desserts, and beverages, too! Enjoy Live
and Silent Auctions and a Kids Zone! The event is free, but we kindly take
donations to help support our missions and outreach.