Copley Outreach Center
Copley Outreach Center began with our members in June, 1995. It is now a collaboration with our nearby faith partner Guardian Angels Catholic Church. The Outreach Center is under the management of Maryann Henry. Our church supports the center with funds and donations. We believe in the importance of caring for our neighbors.
They are located next door to the church at 1502 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd. Copley, Ohio 44321. You can learn more at https://copleyoutreach.org/.
The Free Store
Copley Church has a Free Store open on the first Friday of each month from 10AM‒2PM for people who may need clothing or household items. We collect gently used clothing and household goods, which our dedicated volunteers sort and prepare for our monthly “shopping” day.
Shelters
Our church supports a variety of emergency shelters with supplies such as clothing and toiletries:
- The Battered Women’s Shelter provides emergency shelter for women and their children. Our church has purchased needed pajamas and toiletry items.
- The Valor Home in Akron is the only male facility in Summit County providing emergency shelter and support programs for up to 30 veterans at a time. Our church gives each man his own set of towels. We have also supplied pillows.
- We collect mittens, scarves, and hats for women and children at Harvest Home Women’s Shelter in Akron.
Adopt a Soldier
Since 2003, when Copley Church first began this mission to send care packages to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the church has continued to “adopt” an active-duty soldier who is known by someone in our congregation. We gather small, needed items and send them in care packages to that individual, while they are serving overseas.
Habitat for Humanity
Copley Church has been working with the Summit County Habitat for Humanity organization for many years. We provide and deliver lunch for the workers on a Habitat house one Saturday a month, when the housing builds are taking place.
Amazing Grace
This group was founded by Roseanne Wagner of our congregation. It provides opportunities for the women of our church and the wider community to meet together for social support and outreach, which includes service projects, learning opportunities, craft projects, and ecumenical fellowship.
Examples of some of our meetings have included:
- Understanding the Ukraine situation and how we might help refugees.
- Painting pottery and other fun handicrafts.
- Assembling Samaritan’s Purse Christmas boxes of small gifts to send to poor children
overseas, many of whom have never received gifts. - Social events like a high tea and a spring strawberry celebration.
Quilt Patchers
CUMC Quilt Patchers meet weekly to hand quilt on a classic frame. We have quilted new as well as much loved quilt tops. One such top was found in the belonging of an aunt who passed away. Her niece knew that her mom had worked on the piecing and wanted the quilt to be finished, and we were able to do that for her. The money we have made doing this quilting is donated to the church or to the Copley Outreach Center.
Holiday Giving
During the holiday season, church members donate Acme, Aldi, and Giant Eagle gift cards to families for their holiday dinners. We also provide 200 of a particular item requested each year by the inner city Open M Ministry for their community holiday meals. Last year, we supplied 200 cake mixes.
In December, the congregation also decorates a special Christmas tree with hats, scarves, mittens, and gloves to be donated to the Harvest Home Shelter for women and children.
Community Connections
Beyond our Copley Church ongoing missions, our actively involved congregation provides help to many others in the community. This includes working on community needs and providing a meeting place for nonprofit and other organizations. Some of these endeavors are:
- Donating individually wrapped comfort snacks for families who need a break in the family room of the Ridgewood hospice center.
- Treating attendees at a Copley Circle concert to a free ice cream social.
- Holding the Kiwanis flower sale & lunch in our church parking lot.
- Hosting weekly meetings for Boy Scout Troop 382, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al Anon, and Alateen.
- Providing a place to meet and work for the nonprofit K.I.S.S. Quilt Guild, who meet monthly to support other quilters, including those learning the skill. They have made and delivered over 1000 Quilts of Valor to our Veterans, given crib sheets for the Barberton Pregnancy Center, baby quilts to the Ronald McDonald House, dresses for To Dress A Girl Around the World, placemats for Meals on Wheels, and quilts for families who have come to the United States.