Angel Tree

Donations up to $25 dollars apiece to COS Prisoners in Christ will provide camp bags for some kids going to Camp Tall Turf this summer. We will also need help putting on the Christmas party for children of parents who are in prison and the persons who care for them; planning will start in September. Anyone interested can contact Lucie Marsden (text preferred) at 616-481-1425 or at lucie.marsden@gmail.com.

Camelot Community Partners

Volunteers will assist families in the immediate neighborhood of our church in partnership with other churches in our area. Help is needed this summer with:

Ice Cream Social: Saturday, June 16 from 2-3:30 pm at Camelot Park.

Meet up Eat up: free lunches distributed to all children 18 and younger from Monday June 18 – Thursday August 2, 11 am –noon.

Camelot Block Party including back pack distribution: Sat. August 11 11:30am-2:30pm

Community garden

We could use some compost heroes who want to take charge of putting compostables from church (e.g. coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit and vegetable scraps, shredded paper) in the two compost bins after church events.

English as a Second Language

The ESL program will start again in September. Teachers and other helpers will be needed. Contact Mark Fackler (pmfackler@gmail.com).

Mentoring at Ridge Park Charter Academy

Mentors help elementary and middle school children socially and academically.  We are down to 5 mentors, and at least one is thinking is retiring, so we could definitely use more next year. Contact Pam Plantinga, pplantin@calvin.edu.

Mobile food pantry

The MFP distributes food on the first Saturday of each month except when a holiday falls around the first weekend of the month.  In that case, the distribution is the second Saturday of the month.  The distribution takes place at Camelot Woods Apartments Community Building (2335 Rowland Ave., SE, Grand Rapids, MI). Contact Bev Klynstra:  e-mail – bevklyn@gmail.com or phone – (616) 901-7389 several days in advance. Once 12 to 14 volunteers have responded, the Coordinator will inform all volunteers that enough volunteers have signed up and no additional volunteers will be needed. Volunteers who signed up should arrive at Camelot Woods by 9:15 AM.  Responsibilities are generally completed by 11:00 AM. The distribution schedule for 2018 is:

  • July 7
  • August 4
  • September 8
  • October 6
  • November 3
  • December 1

Prisoners in Christ

Citizens returning from prison need mentors. Training is provided by 70×7 Life Recovery – Kent County – Grand Rapids Service (http://www.cjcministry.org/ ) 616 454-4925.

Refugee Support Team

There are many ways COS members and friends can help with refugees. These include household moves, child care, meals and food assistance, transportation, home visits, simple home repairs, help with vehicles, educational assistance for both kids and adults, youth mentoring, help with financial, medical, tax, and immigration problems, job seeking, professional referrals, prayer, faith formation, and more. Contact Nita Vander Berg, nitavanderberg@gmail.com.

Vacation Bible School

Lots of help is needed. See the VBS page on this website. (https://www.churchoftheservantcrc.org/outreach/vacation-bible-school-2018/)