Community
Serving our Neighbors
The "ABC's" of Serve at Suntree
We have so many different community partners that we work with! Use the button to access a comprehensive list of all of our partners, a short description of each organization, and how you can get involved.
The Mission Partner of the Month is: Cuba Missions
September’s Mission of the Month is our Cuba Ministry! This ministry is dedicated to partnering with our sister churches in Cuba by providing financial support for their missions, donating essential food and medical supplies, and praying for one another. You can support our neighbors in Cuba by donating OTC medication in the mission boxes outside the worship spaces all month, giving online at SuntreeUMC.org/Give, and attending the Cuba Dinner on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6pm. Tickets are available in the lobbies before and after the services, as well as online at SuntreeUMC.org/Events.
BRIGHT
Shine Bright for Justice!
Suntree is a proud partner of the BRIGHT (Brevard Righteously Igniting Good Hope Today) Network!
BRIGHT is a 501(c)3 community organization made up of congregations across Brevard County. While our congregations differ in terms of theology, race, socio-economic status, and location, we are united in our Biblical call to do justice. Unlike direct service agencies or mercy ministries, BRIGHT does not work to address the immediate needs of individuals. Instead, BRIGHT is a direct action organization made up of justice ministries that work together to address the root cause of community problems by using the power of organized people to hold public leaders accountable for fair and just policy.
The two current areas of focus for this year are: Affordable Housing and Increasing Reading Achievement.
You can learn more about BRIGHT by visiting: BrightBrevard.com
Our Community Partner Organizations
Blue Sky Community Garden
Blue Sky Community Garden grows food to be shared with the community. Produce is given to local soup kitchens. For the fall growing season, we need volunteers on Saturdays from 8:30 AM- 12:00 PM.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueskycommunitygarden/
More Info Contact: Karen Shea < >
Family Partnerships of Central Florida (foster care)
We really need your help to keep our closet full of diapers of all sizes, wipes, and duffel bags. Some popular sizes of diapers requested are “Goodnites” (Small, Medium, and Large) and “Pull-ups” in all of the toddler sizes. Newborn, sizes 1, 2, 3, and 4 are also needed.
We offer (new or like new) duffel bags to foster parents so that when their foster child(ren) is being reunited with their family, the child has a bag to pack all of their belongings to take home.
Donations are accepted in the front office.
Website: https://fpocf.org/
More Info Contact: Jenny Murdock ( )
Cocoa Champions
Interested in serving and mentoring the next generation? The Cocoa Champion is an Elevate Brevard pilot program at Cocoa High School, developed in partnership with Brevard Public Schools and other community leaders, to mentor and incentivize seniors to pursue a postsecondary credential after graduation. The project seeks to increase career aspirations and college enrollment rates for Cocoa High seniors. The vision is to create a future where all youth have access to an educational pathway beyond high school.
Commitment & Requirements for Mentors:
- 2 - 4 hours per month
- BPS Fingerprinting and background check.
- Short Training
Daily Bread
For many years, we have sent volunteers to serve at Daily Bread, which was a local soup kitchen in Melbourne. As the mission of Daily Bread has expanded, they decided to shift from a soup kitchen model to a mobile outreach model where they now serve our homeless neighbors with a food truck, mobile showers, and case management services at several locations across the county. They are also getting ready to break ground on a brand-new affordable housing project called Providence Place. To reflect this expanded vision, Daily Bread is changing its name to Providence Connects. And we still have some amazing opportunities to serve! On the first Wednesday of each month, from 12:30 to 4pm, join us at the South Brevard Sharing Center (17 Hibiscus Boulevard) to love and serve our homeless neighbors with fresh produce and baked goods in the Fresh Market.
Click the link here to sign up!
Website: www.dailybreadinc.org
More Info Contact:
Devereux
Website: www.devereux.org
More Info Contact:
Family Promise of Brevard
The goal of Family Promise of Brevard is to address homelessness in our community with the goal of making family homelessness brief, rare and non-recurring. SUMC welcomes families quarterly for a week, with food, lodging, conversation and fellowship.
The “Family Promise” is to empower families experiencing a housing emergency to create a path toward stable, long-term housing and provide peace and security along the journey.
More Info Contact: Chris Yarbrough ( )
Gifts from the Heart
This is the Christmas outreach of several nonprofit care organizations in Brevard County. Families affected by poverty can select brand new, quality gifts for their children at greatly reduced prices. This process restores some dignity and gives parents agency to thoughtfully provide a Christmas experience for their children. You can bring your unwrapped, brand new children's gifts to Suntree on November 21 and November 28. Here are registries for gifts that can be sent straight to their facility: Amazon, Walmart and Target . (If you shop online for GFTH, please let us know!)
Website: http://www.giftsfromtheheartshop.org/
More Info Contact:
Harbor City Elementary School
Through our Church/School Partnership with Harbor City Elementary School, volunteers work with the school administration to provide support, supplies and assistance to teachers.
Website: https://www.brevardschools.org/HarborCityES
You can also help by signing up to decorate the Harbor City Elementary's Teacher Lounge the first week of the month.
More Info contact:
Hymnstirs
More Info Contact: Brad Shea ( )
Neighbor Up Brevard
Website: www.neighborupbrevard.org
More Info Contact:
One Blood
One Blood conducts regular blood drives on our campus throughout the year.
Sign up here to make a donation appointment
All donors will receive a OneBlood long sleeve T-shirt and a $20 eGift Card! Plus, a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening!
Website: https://www.oneblood.org/
More info contact:
Salvation Army Women's Domestic Violence Center
Website: https://thesalvationarmymelbourne.wordpress.com/locations/
Suntree Stars & Stripes
Our annual cookout and music celebration of the Independence Day holiday. Free food and children’s activities in the afternoon; musical concerts in the evening.
Thanksgiving Missions Baskets
Each Thanksgiving, Suntree UMC provides all the items for Thanksgiving Dinner for deserving families in our area.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for the entire SUMC family to help our neighbors! We are asking for food and cash donations at the beginning of November.
You can donate to this by typing "Thanksgiving basket" in the memo line of your online giving.
Sign up here to serve throughout November with this ministry!