Kits & Cans

Annual Conference 2022: Kits and Cans Is Back!

This popular mission opportunity has been part of Annual Conferences for many years. But with the switch to virtual during the pandemic, each District was asked to organize its own individual Kits and Cans collections for local distribution. And until recently, UMCOR has stopped receiving Kits.

Here’s the good news for Annual Conference 2022.

First, Kits and Cans will keep the new local approach for collecting cans of food and other designated items. Many congregations told us they prefer this. In Arlington/Alexandria last year, we had five collections sites at churches around the District, and each one determined which items to collect for local distribution. We will be getting out more information soon on locations, what to collect, and when.

Second, UMCOR is open for business again. Congregations who participate should start planning to assemble Cleaning and Hygiene Kits for drop-off at our District collection sites. Kits will be transported to Mission Central, a collection hub for UMCOR in Mechanicsburg, PA, or the smaller collection hub in Culpepper. We will be coordinating about this with the collection sites.

Third, based on lessons learned last year, Kits and Cans will be more flexible. Collections can take place at District collection sites 1-2 weeks before Conference. See Collection sites and times below!

Thank you to Rev. RJ Jun and the Conference serve ministry for organizing this hybrid approach to Kits and Cans. This is exciting. Our District congregations can help meet local needs AND support the UMCOR ministry that has done so much good at disaster sites across the U.S. and worldwide.

Got questions? We’ll get answers. Contact Kenn Speicher, 703-328-2607

Collection Sites

Please note: we hope to add two additional locations, stay tuned!

Clarendon UMC

606 N Irving St, Arlington, VA 22201

June 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

for the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)

AFAC is most in need of the following low sugar & low sodium items:

• Canned tuna
• Canned soups
• Canned vegetables
• Canned tomatoes
• Peanut butter (in plastic jars)
• Cereal

Please do not donate foods that are opened, expired, prepared meals, or packaged in glass. AFAC also does not accept ice packs, Styrofoam coolers, or plastic bags as donations.

When choosing items to donate, look for labels that read: low sodium, no salt added, no sugar added, unsweetened, 100% fruit juice, etc.

 This location is taking UMCOR Kits

Rising Hope Mission Church

8220 Russell Rd, Alexandria, VA 22309

June 4, 10 a.m. – NOON

for Rising Hope (food pantry and homeless ministry)

Rising Hope – Milk and Honey Food Pantry
General non-perishable food items needed. Avoid glass containers.

• Canned meat- tuna, canned chicken, ravioli, canned soups with meat, non-meatless soups
• Rice- 50-100lbs bags (food pantry volunteers will bag in sandwich baggies)
• Canned tomatoes and pasta sauce
• Cereal and oatmeal
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Canned fruits
• Canned veggies
• Dry beans- pinto, black eye peas, lima, navy, black beans, kidney
• Assorted pasta
• Condiments
• Coffee & tea
• Juice
• Granola bars & cereal bars
• Fruit snacks
• Sugar & flour

For Homeless Clients:

• Sardines, spam, Vienna sausages, tuna in packages
• Microwave soups & roman noodles (cup)
• Single size cereal & oatmeal (in cups)
• Crackers
• Mac & cheese (in cups)
• Granola bars & cereal bars
• Peanut butter & jelly
• Fruit snacks
• Fruit cups

Burke UMC

6200 Burke Centre Pkwy, Burke, VA 22015

Weekdays, June 1 -10, 9 -3
Weekends, June 4 and 11, 10-12

for BurkeGivesBack Community Co-op, ECHO, & Rising Hope

• Cleaning supplies
• Hygiene products
• Diapers

This location is taking UMCOR Kits

BOOK SALE on June 11 (people dropping off items can buy books!)

Floris UMC

13600 Frying Pan Rd, Herndon, VA 20171

June 1-12
in the Blue Bins

for South Lakes Food Pantry & She Believes In Me

• Peanut butter
• Crackers
• Microwave popcorn
• Dry pasta, rice, and beans
• Canned meat, beans, vegetables, and fruit
• Cereal, oatmeal & granola bars
• Cooking oil (smaller bottles)
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Body & hand soap
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Cleaning products & sponges (Lysol, Ajax, bleach etc.)
• Toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins
• Sanitary napkins

St. Thomas UMC

8899 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20110

June 1-10
Wooden Bin for Drop-Offs

for St. Thomas Food Pantry

• Diced Tomatoes
• Whole Tomatoes
• Tomato Sauce
• Corn
• Green Beans

Letter of Support from 8 District Superintendents

As we prepare for Annual Conference, the eight District Superintendents have written the following letter to the Virginia Annual Conference in order to offer their support for the new District Initiative plan that will be presented and voted upon.

From your District Superintendents to the Virginia Annual Conference:

As we anticipate the coming Annual Conference, we, your eight district superintendents, are excited about the new possibilities ahead. All sixteen current VAUMC districts have been working diligently and carefully to craft plans to move forward as eight new districts following Annual Conference. We have been inspired and motivated by the work of our fellow districts and their teams throughout this process and are eager to share that with you as we come to Annual Conference.

Each of your District Superintendents has been working with a local team to help develop new district structures for our district-level work, projected to be starting July 1, 2022. It is anticipated that once the Annual Conference votes on the final number of Districts, we will see new Districts doing new things all across our conference. We have been listening, asking questions, challenging the status quo, and searching for the best funding and structures possible to meet the unique needs of our areas, and this work has been done by laity and pastors in the areas they serve. We are incredibly thankful for the participation of so many people in this process, from those who took surveys and participated in listening sessions, to teams of people asking the hard questions of “How can our district help the local churches best?” Out of this time of listening and creation, we have been innovating and restructuring in ways many of us never imagined when we started.

We don’t know what the future holds, and that is probably the biggest challenge of this season. How will our denomination change in the next season of ministry? Who will come with us on a journey to focus our attention on making disciples and transforming the world? We don’t know, and yet in that space between now and the unknown future, we will innovate and experiment and learn new things.

As your District Superintendents, we are enthusiastically optimistic that with God’s help, we will help further the mission of Christ in the Virginia Conference. We ask for your approval of eight districts at Annual Conference so this work can move forward.

Your District Superintendents,
Denise P. Bates, Danville & Lynchburg
Charles F. Ledlum-Bates, Rappahannock River & York River
James H. “Jay” Carey Jr., Farmville & James River
Sarah L.K. Calvert, Alexandria & Arlington
J. Douglas Forrester, Roanoke & Staunton
Victor R. Gomez, Harrisonburg & Winchester
Hyo J. Lee, Charlottesville & Richmond
Seonyoung Kim, Eastern Shore & Elizabeth River