Our Mission: We demonstrate the love of Jesus through care for those in need of emergency assistance, while offering pathways to self-sufficiency.
We specifically serve the Van Buren County area Hartford areas. We work with WeCare in the areas of Bangor and South Haven.
Our Services
United Christian Services
600 E Michigan Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49071
UCS Office
Mondays & Thursdays 9 AM - 2 PM
Wednesdays 9 AM - 12 PM
Coffee Connections
Mondays 9 AM - 11 AM
Lydia's Clothing Closet
Mondays & Thursdays 10 AM - 1 PM
The Porch
Mondays & Thursdays 12:30 PM (check in around 11 AM)
Diaper Bank
Third Monday of Each Month 9 AM - 12 PM
Location
600 E Michigan Ave
Annex Suite 1
Paw Paw, MI 49079
For information & services:
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For donations & partners:
Phone
Main office:
(269) 415-0767​
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Voicemails:
Speak clearly and slowly with your call back information
Coffee Connections
Mondays from 9 - 11 AM
Enter through Entrance C in the East Parking Lot at Freshwater Church.
This is the place where you can get free coffee, bagels and other baked goods, and where you can also find agencies and resources for advice and assistance.
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Representatives* from:
DHHS,
Friend of the Court,
Express Employment,
Domestic Violence Coalition,
The Great Start Coalition,
Veteran Services,
Caring Circle of Spectrum Health,
& many more organizations are regularly in attendance and are willing to meet with you to discuss your needs.
*Every agency does not attend every week, so please check our facebook page for updates or call the office for information.
United Christian Services volunteers are always willing to work with you to find help if we cannot assist you ourselves. Free Budgeting advice!
Even if you do not have any need of assistance, you are welcome to attend and drink coffee and enjoy bagels and sweet treats.
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Laundry Project
Next date: TBD
Stay tuned for date, location, and details!
The Laundry Project is sponsored by United Christian Services, Van Buren County MDDHS in association with community partners Van Buren County Friend of the Court and Domestic Violence Coalition.
This project is aimed to help migrant, agricultural seasonal, and low income families. The Laundry Project is typically held once per month. Check back for updated information.
Diaper Bank
3rd Mondays 9 AM - 12 PM
During Coffee Connections
Enter through Entrance C in the East Parking Lot at Freshwater Church.
United Christian Services and Hopeful Beginnings are partnering to provide FREE diapers and wipes to eligible households. This free resource has been made possible by the funding from Allegan Community Action Agency.
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Eligibility: Free diapers and wipes to families for children UNDER
36 months who qualify for at least one of the following:
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Below 200% federal Poverty Level
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Free and Reduced Lunch (NLSP)
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Food Assistance (SNAP, Bridge Card)
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CSFP
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FDPIR
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Don't forget to check out Lydia's Closet for clothing, too! Open on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 AM - 1 PM
Lydia's Closet [NEW LOCATION]
Mondays & Thursdays 10 AM - 1 PM
600 E Michigan Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49079
Annex Suite 2 (south doors facing the bus garage)
At Lydia’s Closet, we provide free clothing to people in need. Professional wear, maternity, men’s, women’s and children’s items available. If we don’t have the size you require, take a “raincheck” and we will do our best to appeal to the community for what you ask for. ​ Our friendly volunteers will help you choose from our shelves and clothes racks.
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Lydia's Clothing Closet is named after Lydia in the book of Acts in the Bible. She was a fashion designer in that day!
Not able to visit during our opening hours? Call the office with sizes and needs and we will put a bag of items together for you to collect.
Acts 16:14-16 tells her story…
“On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, God gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!” (the Message Version)
Donate Items:
We will not be accepting donations until May 6th so we can concentrate on our Grand Re-Opening and get used to our new space!
We accept new and gently-used items, free of stains and rips. We accept both casual and business apparel.
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We accept up to TWO medium containers per donation, please! We appreciate you checking with us before making donations as we have limited space and our needs are constantly changing.
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We do not accept undergarments or clothes with tears/staining. Donations left outside our building will not be accepted.
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The Porch
Mondays & Thursdays 12:30 PM
Check in begins at 11 AM
600 E Michigan Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49079
East 2 (beside the gymnasium)
We are so grateful to churches, businesses, and groups who provide donations of canned goods, fresh food, and personal care items to keep our shelves stocked! These donations helped us feed many hungry families in Van Buren County.
Supporters include:
Hardings of Woodbridge on Centre St in Portage, Panera Bread on Westnedge Ave in Portage, St Mark's Episcopal Church, Senior Services of Van Buren County, The Lion's Club, Refresco (formerly CocaCola), Western Diversified Plastics, Many Local Farmers
Other Pantries often give us what they have left from their own distribution days. Huge thanks to: Mattawan Area Pantry, Eleanor's Pantry in Paw Paw.
If you are interested in organizing a food drive, or making a donation, please contact the office by calling 269 415 0767
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8
Providing fruit, vegetables and bread for free for anyone in need on Mondays and Thursdays. We are not a Pantry and the food we provide is to be considered a supplement to other food sources. There is no restriction on the number of visits, and we do not take names or contact information, the only thing we ask is that you tell us how many people you are feeding.
We are known as a "gleaning pantry" because we glean from many people and places who give us food to give away. We record the number of households who come and the number of visits made.
Emergency Assistance
We work with other agencies and help in the gap!
If you need financial assistance for an emergency, please call the office during opening hours or email us as a first step. Our office number is (269) 415-0767.
For utility shutoffs and evictions, we ask that you apply for State Emergency Relief first through DHHS or MIBridges: www.michigan.gov/mibridges
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Anyone we assist with financial support is required to be interviewed by one of our caring volunteers over the phone. During that confidential meeting, we will assist you in identifying your most crucial needs, complete an intake questionnaire, and identify the services we offer that can help you. On many occasions, we also have knowledge and contact information of resources for those needs outside of our scope. We will pray for you and your family if you wish it.
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Requirements:
Before we can help with any financial assistance we require copies of:
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The past due or shutoff notice, eviction notice or lease.
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Your proof of income
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Any DHHS decision notice
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A list of monthly household expenses and income
To help you efficiently and as quickly as possible, you must get these documents to us either through email: gethelpfromucs@gmail.com or make arrangements to drop them off at our office.
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Confidentiality Form: Some organizations request a confidentiality form on file before we are able to work on your behalf. If this is the case for your situation, please fill out this form and return it to gethelpfromucs@gmail.com.
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Volunteer with UCS
Help those in our community
Call the office or email us to learn more!
We always have opportunities for new volunteers! Come and meet with us, see what we do here, and we can discuss where the best fit for you is and what opportunities we have vacant!
"Volunteering with United Christian Services is one of the most fun and rewarding things I have done since retiring. Working with Tom, Ronn and Elizabeth is so much fun!" -Sheryl
UCS is a happening place to volunteer. Over 30 other volunteers from many walks of life form a beautiful network of energy and skills here. This means UCS has many creative ways to serve our guests. Connecting with churches, agencies, and other resources, we work together towards providing help with food, utilities, housing, clothing, budgeting, meal preparation, and other things." -Eva
