Missions
There are so many ways our congregation is in partnership with our community during the winter months! Please take a moment to learn about a few of the missions and ministries where you can serve during this season. Click the button below to view a list of items we will be collecting between now and our Merry Missions event on December 7th.
Winter Missions Opportunities
Merry Missions
Sunday, December 7, 2025 | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Come join us for a fun, hands-on mission experience for the whole family!! This event will serve as the kick-off for our Christmas season of service. As part of our kick-off, we invite you to collect and bring items for our various mission partnerships to bring forward during worship that day.
At 11:30 AM, we will eat a hot dog lunch together in the fellowship hall and then break into groups to serve by packing Hill Holiday gift bags for the students at HG Hill Middle School, creating baskets of essential items for the residents at the Village of Glencliff, creating hygiene packs for UMCOR, creating cleaning kits for the residents at Dream Streets, or sorting collected supplies for our ministry partners.
Please RSVP by clicking the button below. You can also RSVP to Cheryl Brown via email at cheryl@bellemeadeumc.org or by phone at 615-352-6210 and let her know you plan to attend and which mission you would like to sign up for. Don’t miss this opportunity to share a meal with your church family, listen to Christmas music, serve, and make a difference!!
Salt & Light Food Pantry Collection
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Salt & Light Pantry is a partnership with MNPD to address the nutritional and hygiene needs of families and individuals in our community. MNPD Officers participate in the monthly drive-thru events and advise the members of the donated items needed. The next drive-thru donation event is Wednesday, December 10th, from 11 am – 1 pm. Bring non-perishable food items, cleaning products, hygiene items, and winter weather items (hats, gloves, blankets, and socks) to donate.
To learn more, contact: Skip Wild at pupperwild@gmail.com
HG Hill Holiday Gift Bag Distribution
Friday, December 19, 2025 | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Since 2018, with the help of a generous matching grant from Dollar General and our Children’s Center families, we have been able to provide gift bags for EACH student at HG Hill that include $10 gift cards and various treats. We are excited to be once again able to celebrate the season with our HG Hill neighbors.
Volunteer: All ages are welcome to help distribute gift bags at HG Hill Middle School on Friday, December 19th from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.
To learn more, contact: Bea Thompson at bea.thompson8@gmail.com
Village at Glencliff
A medical respite program consisting of 12 tiny homes created to provide people experiencing homelessness with a dignified and hospitable place for recovery after a hospitalization.
Volunteer: Click here for opportunities to help on the campus with gardening and cleanup events.
To learn more, contact: Dawne Martin at dawne.m.martin@gmail.com
Dream Streets
Their mission is to protect and empower individuals living in distress. They offer many options for service including a mobile food program, after school arts program, Teen Night, Sunday kids programs, and a community group for moms.
Volunteer: Click here for service opportunities that include food distribution seven days a week.
To learn more, contact: Julie Kropski at julie.kropski@gmail.com
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
UMCOR focuses on disaster response and humanitarian relief worldwide. We assist by purchasing supplies and assembling hygiene kits and menstrual hygiene kits for those experiencing natural disasters.
To learn more, contact: Kristin Harney at kesharney@outlook.com
Food Insecurity Response
As a congregation, we are responding to the food insecurity needs that are arising from the loss of SNAP benefits. Several of our missional partners are working in the community to address these needs. Below are some ways that you can help:
Click here to give funds for gift cards. Please put “food insecurity” in the memo. You can also purchase $25 Kroger or Walmart gift cards for distribution to those in need through Dream Streets and Village at Glencliff. Drop them in the Sunday collection plate.
Click here for an Amazon wishlist for snack bag items for Dream Streets.
Click here to volunteer to help load food from the store onto the Dream Streets truck. (You must be able to repeatedly pick up and move 50+ pound boxes.)
Click here for more Dream Streets service opportunities that include food distribution seven days a week.
Click here for info about donating items for our next Salt and Light Food Pantry collection.
For more information, please contact Melissa Vickroy at melissaowilson@gmail.com or Steve Stone Jr. at steve@bellemeadeumc.org.
The vision of Belle Meade United Methodist Church is to share the love of God and neighbor through Spiritual Growth, Missional Living, and Community Partnership.
The people of Belle Meade UMC are actively engaged in service in our community through ongoing support of and volunteerism with established agencies and organizations who serve the poor, hungry and homeless. In addition to service and volunteering, special communion offerings are designated to financially support an agency or organization committed to serving others.
If you would like to get involved in our church missions, please contact Melissa Vickroy.
Active Church Mission Areas
Educational Outreach & Community Partnerships
United4Hope HG Hill Middle School Partnership
Leader: Melissa Vickroy, melissaowilson@gmail.com
Partnership to provide ongoing Tutoring, Donations, and General School-wide Support
Last Minute School Supply Store — Leaders: Melissa Vickroy/Margaret Jordan
Hill Holiday Event for Students — Leader: Bea Thompson
Food Distribution — Leader: Melissa Vickroy
Student Tutoring — Leader: Lynn Kauffman
Nashville Diaper Connection
Leader: Apryl Evans, aprylce@yahoo.com
Provides diapers to thousands of babies each month through community partners, corporations, churches, and schools.
Salt & Light Pantry
Leader: Skip Wild, pupperwild@gmail.com
A partnership with MNPD's West Precinct to address the nutritional needs of families in our community through ongoing collections & food drives. We currently collect items the second Wednesday of each month from 11 AM - 1 PM via a drive through collection at the church. If you can’t drop food off on Wednesday, please bring your items to The Upper Room Sunday School Class, Room 219, the Sunday before our collection, and we will make sure it gets to MNPD.
Items they collect: Shelf stable foods (canned meats, vegetables and fruits), boxed food (cereals, snacks, pastas, macaroni and cheese), bottled water, beverages, personal hygiene items (soap, tooth paste, laundry detergent) baby food, infant formula and diapers, blankets, clothes, socks and other warm clothing, used laptops or tablets that have been wiped clean
Creation Care Team
Leader: Michelle Scopel, earthgirlmichelle@gmail.com
Congregational "Green Team" tasked with creating onsite and community recycling and educational events around environmental stewardship.
Village @ Glencliff
Leader: Dawne Martin, dawne.m.martin@gmail.com
A medical respite community of 12 tiny homes created to provide people experiencing homelessness with dignified and hospitable places for recovery after a hospitalization. Provides volunteers to help on campus with gardening, cleanup events, and donation drives.
Dream Streets
Leader: Julie Kropski, julie.kropski@gmail.com
Dream Streets’ mission is to protect and empower individuals living in distress. We partner with Dream Streets to support their after-school and mobile food programs, to organize community-building events for residents at their transitional housing facility, and to provide supplies for families transitioning to stable housing.
UMC Outreach
United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR)
Offering financial & volunteer support for ongoing relief efforts in disaster areas.
United Women in Faith
Leader: Lynn Kauffman, lynnkauffman@bellsouth.net
UWF currently has four active circles of women meeting at BMUMC, and each is involved in missional projects.
Advocacy & Equity
Sensory Easter and Sensory Santa
Leader: Rev. Gracie Dugan, gracie@bellemeadeumc.org
These events are designed specifically for children with sensory processing disorders and other special needs, providing a safe space for them to experience the joy of Christmas and Easter on their own terms.
Community Advocacy
Leader: Alex Aust, ahaust13@gmail.com
We believe we must lend our voices to support our community and take action to create change. Efforts are organized by our Church Council and by passionate church members to advocate for gun safety, racial justice, and support for our immigrant neighbors. We also attend and support Nashville Pride, Nashville Juneteenth, and various interfaith events.
Belinda Butler Childcare Assistance Fund
Leader: Kate Moore, kjmoore139@gmail.com
This fund provides need-based tuition assistance at BMCC to families who otherwise would not be able to access stable and high-quality child care. Recipients include teen parents who are seeking to further their education.
Other Service Opportunities
Worship Without Walls: Sunday, April 27, 2025 (next year’s is scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026)
A church-wide, intergenerational service event the Sunday after Easter, where we serve in the community as an act of worship in place of our typical Sunday morning service.
Merry Missions: Sunday, December 7, 2025
Hands-on service opportunities throughout the Advent season, kicked off by a church-wide, intergenerational service event and lunch.