Kokomo Urban Outreach is a network of churches, individuals and organizations who have a heart for hometown missions.
Our philosophy can be described in two words, "Go Out". We go to people right in their neighborhoods, to listen, build relationships and to work with neighbors to strengthen their neighborhoods.
We do that through four streams of outreach---compassion, opportunity, witness and action. By showing compassion, mostly through food, and providing opportunities for personal growth we witness to our faith as neighbors are stirred to action to take charge of their own neighborhood making it a better place.
Presently, we are working in 14 neighborhoods throughout Kokomo, those neighborhoods are called Neighorhoods of Hope.
August 24 6:30 PM
Neighborhood
Council Meeting
St. Patrick's Church
September 10
First Buddy Bag Delivery
September 13
Baby College Begins
September 25
KUO Auction
Volunteers:
Mobile Food Pantry
1st Wednesday each month at Grace Memorial 12-2 PM
2nd Wednesday each month at Carver Center 12-2 PM
Kokomo Urban Outreach 1701 S. Locke St. Kokomo, IN 46902 765.457.1983 urban.outreach_gmail.com
Jeff Newton, Executive Director
Pam Grohman, Executive Administrative Assistant
Sue Bond, Associate Director
Deanna Ancil, Director of Project E.A.T.
John Martin Food Pantry Coordinator
Mary Ingle, Director of Children's Outreach
Norma Blue, Director of Riley Neighborhood of Hope
Walt and Cindy Steel, Director of Brairwick Neighborhood of Hope
Dave and Gina Kiltey, Director of Pine Valley Neighborhood of Hope
Greg McCombs, Director of Maple Lawn Neighborhood of Hope
Gloria Strickland, Director of ReStart
Mike Rodgers, Director of Cook-outs
Garden Square
Pine Valley
Briarwick
Wabash/Broadway St,
Southern Indian Heights
Riley Modern Estates
Maple Lawn
Downtown
Open Arms
West Middleton
Bon-Air Mobile Home
Village Green/Billy Bob
Eastern Howard County
Locke/Virginia St.
Stephanie Bergoff, President
Director of Servant Ministries Crossroads Church
April Mozingo, Vice President
Hospice Nurse, McGrawsville UMC
Travis Taflinger, Secretary
Bridges Outreach, New Life Assembly
Jim Clark, Treasurer
Pastor Hillsdale/Faith UMC
Grant Poynter
Retired AT &T, Trinity UMC
Gloria Strickland
Neighbor, Trinity UMC
Walt Doering
Retired, Christ Lutheran
Lori Collins
IUK, St. Luke's UMC
John Rudy
St. Joseph Hospital, Oakbrook Community
Madelyn Stanforth
St. Joan of Arc
Stacee Fischer-Gerhing
Associate Pastor Grace UMC
KUO engages neighborhoods through Four Steams of Outreach. Click the streams below to learn about each one.
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Email: urban.outreach_gmail.com
Trinity United Methodist Church
1701 S. Locke St.
Kokomo, IN 6902
765.457.1983
Click logo to learn more about compassion outreach.
Food Pantries:
Trinity UMC Mon & Wed 12-3
Riley Modern Lot 144 Mon & Wed 12-3
County Line (Carpenters House Church) Friday 5-7
Hillsdale UMC (Sycamore Rd at 500 East Friday 1-3
Servant Ministries Crossroads Church 3rd Sat 9-11 AM
Alto UMC by referral from Pine Valley residents
Food To You Mobile Pantry 1st Wed at Grace Memorial
2nd Wed. at Carver Center
12-2PM
Buddy Bags:
Weekend food bags containing six meals for school children that enables food insecure families to eat on the weekend. In 2009, nearly 600 bags were distributed each week to students in 4 schools. Needed in 2010-2011, sponsors for bags, $120.00 will provide a student with a bag each week for the entire school year.
Cooked Meals Sunday Nights 5:00 PM:
Garden Square Apartments
Pine Valley Apartments
Briarwick Apartments
Wabash and Broadway (Parr Church)
Indian Heights Park
Riley Estates Lot 144
Bon Air Mobile Home Park at the office
Maple Lawn at the Park
Friday Nights at Carpenter House Church 5-7 PM
Saturday Mornings at St. Andrews Episcopal Church 10:00 AM
4th Saturday Breakfast at Trinity UMC 10:00 AM
Let's Do Lunch Club- Noon Lunches weekdays when school is out, at Trinity Church
Mary Ingle and Brenda Underwood lead KUO's Hands of Hope. Hands of Hope provides a monthly meal in downtown Kokomo mostly to the homeless. The Meal is the 3rd Friday at 5:00 PM rain, snow, sleet or heat will not keep this group from providing hope to those with little hope. Blankets, toiletries, and other supplies are distributed each month.
Click logo to learn more.
Baby College is an opportunity for parents to enrich their parenting skills. Baby College is geared toward families with children under the age of five. Classes are provided for nine weeks for two hours each week. Children attend classes designed just for their age group. Topics include: Coping with Crying, Taming the Tantrum, Safety, First Aid, and preparing your child for school. There is a break out class for Dad's taught by Guy Lovell.
The classes are taught by experts in child development. Baby College is a collaborative effort between Early Childhood Education Center, Family Services, Bona Vista, Purdue Extension, Howard County Library and Kokomo Urban Outreach. The Director of Baby College is Sue Bond.
Volunteers are needed to care for children. The next session will begin in September.
ArtReach provides children who are less fortunate an opportunity to experience fine arts.
Classes are six weeks in length and are taught by volunteers. Instructors select the age of students, the number of students, the time and date.
Guitar lessons
Dance lessons
Piano lessons
Writing (fiction, non-fiction, poetry)
Art lessons
Drum lessons
Our goal is to help children discover God-given talent, learn self-discipline and build self-esteem.
So many in the city are starting over. ReStart helps family start again. We provide sheets, towels, blankets, pillows, dishes, and sliverware.
Clothing giveaways are held once a month in serveral neighborhoods call our office for more details(457.1983).
GED classes are offered at Trinity Church with the help of Intergenerational Initiatives. Classes are completed via computer, students complete classes at their own speed. Twenty-two students started in January of 2010 with 8 graduating in only a few weeks.
Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are all active at Trinity Church. Leaders include: Billy Rood, Pam Grohman, Bobby Thicke, and Sue Bond. There are about 30 scouts in our pilot program with the hope of expanding scouting into other neighborhoods.
Each summer 12 boys and girls are selected to be a part of the Urban Outreach Youth Ranch. For two weeks children learn about themselves and others through Egala Therapy. Horses are used to teach self-esteem, discipline, responsibility and manners. Susan Zody has been instrumental in this program's success.
Life Skill classes are offered in some of the Neighborhoods of Hope. Classes offered include:
Sewing Classes at Trinity each Tuesday at 10:00 AM
Computer Classes will be offered this summer at Trinity.
Weight Loss Classes are offered Thursday afternoons and Evenings.
First Foundation Ministry is one of KUO's newest outreach ministries. Under the leadership of Dennis Ensay, he and his team will provide minor home repairs for those in need. If you know someone who has a need contact the KUO office for an application.
Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving Eve with the corporation of the Kokomo Rescue Mission, Trotts Catering and KUO about 1000 traditional meals are served in the Neighborhoods. Every child at the meals receive a bag of new socks. Items needed include socks, pies and lots of volunteers.
Tom Carey
Easter Basket Workshop
Nearly 1000 children received Easter Baskets as parents came to workshops and put together baskets for their children. Items needed for 2011 include baskets, stuffed animals, candy, coloring books and small toys.
Christmas
Christmas includes two major activities: Secret Santa where children select gifts for their parents and the Christmas Day Sack Lunch Blitz. Lunches are bagged and delivered door to door in select neighborhoods.
Back to School Backpacks
In 2009, 600 children received a backpack filled with hygiene supplies. In 2010, we need backpacks, shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, combs and deodorant.
Valentine's Day
The Sunday before Valentine's Day a box of valentines are given to each child so they may fully participate at school parties.
H
Hats, gloves and mittens are collected year round and given as needed to children.
Short-term Mission Teams(up to four days) for groups of less than 15 are available in Kokomo. The cost is $15.00 per day per person that includes all food and lodging.
For more information call 765.451.1983.
In 2010, Vacation Bible Schools will be held in various neighborhoods. This years theme is Fiesta, where Kids are fired up for Jesus.
The Schedule is:
June 21-25 Fairview Baptist Church
June 28-July 1 Trinity
July 5-8 Parr
July 12-15 Riley
July 19-22 Maple Lawn
July 26-29 Pine Valley
Kidmo stands for Kids In Motion and is KUO children's ministry that is held in many of the Neighborhoods.
Kidmo is generally held on Sunday Nights in several neighborhoods. Children sing, prayer, hear stories and play games. Children learn to love God, and to love their neighbors as themselves.
A neighborhood coordinator (Cathy Stover) was hired through a grant provided by the 4Community partners of Howard County which is facilitated by The United Way and is an employee of KUO. The 4 Community partners include businesses, non-profits as well as state and local United Way entities. The goal of this group is to strengthen families in Howard County. One way to do that is to work is to strengthen neighborhoods thus strengthening families. The 4Community partners chose two neighborhoods to pilot the neighborhood program, those neighborhoods include: Pine Valley Apartments and the neighborhood bounded by North St., Jefferson St., Washington St. and Phillips St.
Neighborhood leaders (Champions) will be identified and action plans will be put into place by neighborhood councils. Cathy Stover will coordinate that work.
Action is the fourth stream of neighborhood engagement and comes after relationships are made with neighbors. In the action phase, neighbors are called to neighborhood councils to make plans to make their street the best street, in the best block, of the best neighborhood in the city.
Kokomo Urban Outreach
Kokomo, IN 46902
Thank-you for partnering with KUO. Your Gifts make all the difference in the world.
You may send a check directly to the Outreach or you may use a credit card on our secure server.
Thanks again
Jeff Newton
