Community Involvement



Are you interested in doing some volunteer missions work for Catalina UMC?
If so, contact the church office at office@catalinamethodist.org or (520)327-4296
so we can connect you to help make a difference in our Tucson community.
Here are some of our mission outreach projects that are planned for 2023:

Primavera Men’s Shelter
Catalina UMC is scheduled to cook and serve on the 4th Saturday of every month in 2023, from approximately 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The menu is planned and the grocery shopping is done by team leaders. The work involves standing and lifting while we cook and serve. All volunteers who are vaccinated, gloved, and over the age of 12 are welcome. (Masks may be required, as determined each month).
Next Date: Saturday, June 24th, 2023
Casa Maria Soup Kitchen
In 2023 Catalina will be scheduled to provide the soup approximately every six weeks. We will need 3 people to make up each of those work teams. Catalina’s schedule has not yet been set for 2023, but it always involves early morning work on assigned Saturday mornings, cooking a pre-planned menu of chicken-vegetable soup or another recipe. We start early, (approximately 6:30 am and we are finished by approximately 10:30 am). All the grocery shopping is done by a team leader. This work involves standing, lifting, cooking and serving in a very small kitchen. All volunteers who are vaccinated, gloved, and over the age of 12 are welcome. (Masks may be required, as determined each month).
Next Date: Saturday, July 1st, 2023


Market on the Move
This outreach is growing each year. We are scheduled for the 3rd Saturdays of February – May, (from about 7:00 am to 10:00 am), we will need 5 -10 people to work sorting and distributing fresh produce on a “drive-through” basis. This project offers mixed boxes of fresh produce, (up to 60 lbs), for only $10.00. If you volunteer with our Market on the Move outreach, you will have the opportunity to greet our church neighbors as they drive up, open their vehicle trunks, and receive their food. Although we can provide some folding chairs, this project involves some lifting and is subject to weather conditions that can be cold in the early months and hot in the later months. Volunteers should be vaccinated and gloved.
Next Date: January 2024
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Making
Join us to make 1000 sandwiches for a local shelter. We will have time for our volunteers to SIT, fellowship, and work together! This is an outreach that does NOT require hours of standing or heavy lifting. Stay tuned for more upcoming 2023 dates!
Next Date: Friday, June 30th, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. in E23

Our community outreach includes
- Angel Tree – Spread joy with gifts for children whose parents are incarcerated.
- Blenman Elementary School – Provide school supplies and food packets.
- Casa Maria, TIHAN, Primavera Men’s Shelter – Cook and serve meals
- The Inn – Providing hospitality to immigrants seeking asylum.
- Market on the Move – Distributing rescued produce.
Our community partnerships include:
- Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
- Interfaith Community Services
- UMCOR Relief Fund
- Frontera Wesley Foundation at U of A
- Justice for our Neighbors
- The Fuente de Vida UMC ministry in Agua Prieta, Mexico
- Multi-Faith Food Packathon (see a few highlights of a previous Packathon)