Mount Olivet’s Outreach mission is to provide a vital source of support and empowerment within our community and beyond, reflecting the love and compassion of Christ through practical assistance and meaningful engagement. The church strives to create a compassionate network that addresses immediate needs, fosters hope, and builds sustainable pathways to longer-term well-being and self-sufficiency. Further, the church strives to deepen its own understanding and awareness of the social needs in the communities we serve – so as to foster our culture of empathy, advocacy, and transformative action and to cultivate an informed and proactive church community that actively engages in addressing social challenges.

‍

‍Vision Statement
‍Guiding Mount Olivet’s congregation to live out Christ's love by serving those within our community and beyond, and supporting mission efforts that transform lives through faith and compassion.

‍

Current Members: Jose Collazo Chair, Stephanie Bekhor, Roxanne Carnahan, Jim Coates, Barbara Feer, Andy Hallowell, Peter Joyce, Intan Parada, Stacy Porro, Kenn Speicher

The Committee focused the year's activities on Food Security (having access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food) - given the significant number of food insecure people right here in Arlington, the US, and internationally.

‍

‍Selecting Lenten & Advent Offering Recipients
‍Our Lenten and Advent Offering groups were chosen to address this need.This year for Advent the congregation generously funded the Arlington Food Assistance Center ($7,000), UMCOR relief in NC (hurricane) and fire (CA) ($7,000), RISE Against Hunger ($7,000), and World Central Kitchen ($2,000).Additionally, for Lent the congregation raised a record amount for the Lenten season - funding the Caldwell Street School in Liberia and its feeding program ($8,400) and World Neighbors ($8,400).  

‍

‍Key Food Security Event
‍The Outreach Team, under the leadership of Barbara Feer and Peter Joyce, held an incredibly successful RISE Against Hunger Event. The event resulted in packing 12,000 meals for food insecure people in developing countries, brought together about 90 participants from both services, was intergenerational and family-oriented, met and exceeded its financial goal, generated teachable messages linking communion and food security, featured great music from Mount Olivet talent, started with a great meal provided by Witness and Welcome, and was FUN!

‍

‍Financial Support for Local Organizations
‍Provided further financial support for a number of Methodist Church Ministries (UM Family Services, UM Special Offerings) Local United Methodist Ministries (ESL, Just Neighbors, All God's Childrens Camp, Refugee Relief) and other Local Ministries (La Cocina, Friends of Guest House, Meals on Wheels, Alternative House, VA Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Doorways, and Offender Aid and Restoration OAR).

Plans are in the works as we begin a new year of ministry! Check back soon to see how you can get involved.

If you would like to volunteer to support the Outreach Committee's activities, please contact Jose Collazo at collazojb@gmail.com