Shady Grove's Mission Committee is working hard to do God’s work in our community as well as throughout the world. Our goal is to bring our church’s light and promise of Christ’s love to those in need. We ask that you remember that Christ teaches us to go out and be “fishers of people” as well as to care for those who find themselves in less fortunate circumstances than ourselves.

Youth Mission Trips and Activities 

Mission opportunities are a vital part of the Shady Grove UMC Youth Ministry. The largest part of our youth missions are our summer mission trips. In 2024 our middle school will be heading to Asheville, NC and our high school to Winston-Salem, NC. Other youth mission events have been packaging meals for Rise Against Hunger, collecting items and packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child, putting together UMC Healthcare Kits, CARITAS and many other community outreach activities.

Shalom Farms

Come Dig in the Dirt! Shalom Farms is a regional food security, community development project of United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond (UMUMR). And Shalom Farms is a non-profit community farm project with the goal of helping low income inner city neighborhoods in Richmond with food security. SGUMC regularly sends a team of volunteers.

United Methodist Family Services 

Shady Grove is involved with the UMFS for various projects throughout the year, such as back-to-school backpack collection for students, painting of cottages, providing Christmas gifts and gift cards, and more. 


Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter

For those living on the streets, CARITAS is a haven of safety, providing food, shelter and social needs to individuals and families who are experiencing a housing crisis. Shady Grove began its efforts with CARITAS in 2002.

Global Missions

Shady Grove supports missionaries and mission efforts around the world. Visit the the Global Missions page for more information.

Appalachian Service Project

ASP provides one of the most rewarding structured service opportunities in the nation — bringing thousands of volunteers from around the country to rural Central Appalachia to repair homes for low-income families. Since 1969, they’ve made homes warmer, safer, and drier for families and provided transformational service experiences for volunteers. Each year, more than 15,000 volunteers serve with ASP, providing critical repairs for more than 350 families. Shady Grove has had adult mission teams serve with ASP.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is an nonprofit Christian organization committed to eliminating substandard housing through the rehabilitation and building of simple, decent homes for those in need. Habitat works in partnership with qualified families and community volunteers, including businesses and organizations, to build and sell houses with non-profit, interest free mortgages. Shady Grove is proud to be a part of this effort. Volunteer opportunities include working on a construction site, in the Restore and recycling opportunities.

Caring Closet

Provides free clothing for people in need from people who care. We have several agencies whose clients are served by our closet, including United Methodist Family Services cottages and foster families, Fresh Start for Single Moms ministry, and others. In February 2021, we moved from the campus of Shady Grove UMC to expand and consolidate our efforts into one location and are now located on the UMFS Campus.

Strategies to Elevate People

STEP’s main purpose is to defeat physical and spiritual poverty in Richmond by focusing systematically on one specific community at a time. There are various opportunities to serve at STEP, here are just a few of the ways Shady Grove serves.

  • Step Christmas Store - Opportunities are available in late November and early December to give and serve at the STEP Christmas Store. Donate new toys with price tags and they will be "marked down" so parents can purchased at reduced prices, but still have the opportunity to shop for the gift of their choice. You may also volunteer at the Christmas Store to assist in readying the store and selling the items.
  • Victory Reading Program - Do you have a heart for working with at-risk children? Here is an opportunity to learn to mentor K - 4th graders in Gilpin Court, where the following is provided; homework assistance, snack, Bible story, small group reading, crafts & fun activities. Victory Reading Program meets 4 days a week (M-Th) from 3:30pm - 5:30pm in The Calhoun Center @ 436 Calhoun Street, Richmond, VA 23220. Most volunteers choose 1 day a week that works best for their schedule. Call or text SGUMC member Nancy Pennington at 804-433-6196 for more information.
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