In Our Community

Mission opportunities are an important part of our church life. Volunteers to help in these missions are always needed and appreciated. To learn more about volunteer opportunities and to be directed to the appropriate contact person, please click Contact Us or call or e-mail Office Manager Jan Smith (715-834-2668; jans@firstucceauclaire.org)

Community Table

First Congregational UCC gives both time and money to the Community Table, a local organization serving meals seven days a week. We are responsible for cooking and providing lunch on a rotating basis. We provide money for the meals we cook and support for the overhead of this important mission.

Habitat for Humanity

As a covenanting church, we provide both workers and money for this organization that builds homes for area families. The Thanksgiving offering goes to the local Habitat chapter.

Interfaith Hospitality Network (Beacon House)

First Congregational UCC provides workers to support this interfaith organization that provides shelter for homeless families while helping them to find jobs and permanent housing. In addition, the Christmas offering goes to support IHH.

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic

Proceeds from “the Giving Tree” at Christmas support the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic, an organization that provides free medical services for area residents. Profits from the sale of “Fair Trade Coffee” also go to this worthy project.

Support for Food Pantries & Feed My People Food Bank

First Congregational UCC supports local food pantries through the following programs:

Red Cross Blood Mobile

First Congregational UCC hosts two Bloodmobiles each year, in the fall and in the spring.

Crop Walk

Each year members of First Congregational UCC join others throughout the country in this walk to stop hunger sponsored by Church World Service. Twenty-five percent of the funds raised stay in the local area. The remaining 75% goes to fund development efforts world-wide: from seeds and tools to wells and water systems, from nutrition-enhancing Moringa trees to technical training and micro-enterprise loans.

Aid for Local Families in Need

  • We contribute to CareLink, an ecumenical project that provides emergency assistance to people in need.
  • We contribute to the Good Neighbor Project, an ecumenical project to provide for the needs of children who attend area elementary schools.
  • We provide clothing and gifts for the Christmas AIDS family project.
  • We contribute to Food for Pets, a monthly drive for the Eau Claire Animal Shelter.

Alzheimer's Association

Each year in September, First Congregational UCC’s team, Congo Walkers, gather pledges and walk for the Memory Walk. Money is raised for research and education.

JONAH (Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope)

JONAH is an organization uniting people of faith to build a better community, using the tools of Education, Advocacy, and Action. Organizing is an expression of our faith and values. Values are often expressed in public policy. Who gets health care? Who gets incarcerated? What resources do our children’s schools receive? JONAH is a vehicle for us to express the values of our faith communities in the public arena. For more information, visit their website: www.jonahjustice.org.

The Ragtime Fesitval

Each January, First Congregational UCC hosts the Chippewa Valley Ragtime Festival. A different local charity helps with this event and benefits from the proceeds. Please see details at the Ragtime Festival website. To download the Ragtime Festival Brochure, please click here.