Open Door Food Kitchen/Haven House

On the second Saturday of each month, different small groups from Ashland prepare and serve a noontime meal at the Open Door Food Kitchen in downtown St. Joseph as well as a dinner for the men at Haven House. The ODFK serves lunch daily at no charge, depending on churches and organizations of St. Joseph to help and support. Ashland's Sunday School classes, men's groups, women's group, chancel choir, and youth group all take turns providing the second Saturday meal at the Food Kitchen.

Annual Missions Auction

The annual basket auction is Ashland's primary fundraiser for missions. People donate items they've made or purchased, and in most cases put into baskets, to be auctioned the evening of the basket auction. People contribute to the success of the auction by providing auction items and/or bidding on the items, and delicious meal is also provided for the evening. Proceeds from the auction support missionaries in Mongolia and Nicaragua, a church in Mozambique, the PET project, as well as local agencies like Interserv.

Operation Christmas Child

Each year, we collect shoe boxes full of toys for boys and girls that will go from St. Joseph to places of need all around the world. The boxes also include the good news about God's love for each child shown by God's Son, Jesus Christ.

Faith in Action

Ashland is one of the local churches comprising Faith in Action, "Christian congregations working together to share the love of Jesus Christ by meeting the unmet needs of persons in our community through church volunteers." As part of Faith in Action, Ashland volunteers have done a variety of tasks around the community, from yard work, to home repairs, sidewalk repair, and helping families move.

Habitat for Humanity

This international organization is also active in St. Joseph, utilizing volunteers to build affordable homes for people who would be unable to afford a home otherwise.

Coleman Cupboard

Coleman Cupboard is a collaborative effort to serve the needs of families with children attending Coleman Elementary School. We collaborate with Mosaic Live Care Second Harvest, and Coleman staff to meet the nutritional needs of underserved families. The ministry strives to provide food for a family of 4 for a weekend.

The Nutrition Site

The Nutrition Site is an oasis in a food desert. We distribute donated food at no cost to those who use the service. We volunteer time to sort food and to vet those coming for service. This is another way Ashland strives to improve the lives of others in our community.

Volunteers in Mission

Volunteers in Mission trips, or VIM trips, give the opportunity for Ashland members to serve all over the country, being the literal hands and feet of Christ to those in need. Trips are scheduled at various times during the year. These trips might be domestic or foreign, but they are always about helping those in need, especially those you have been through devastating events like floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes. The work might be clean-up, building and repair, or other tasks to help people recover or carry on.

Mobile Meals

Many of Ashland's people serve the community on a weekly basis by delivering mobile meals to homebound residents of St. Joseph. Ashland has Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday routes, typically delivering  in the late morning.

Salvation Army School Supply Drive

Each July and August, Ashland collects school supplies as part of the community-wide Salvation Army School Supply drive. Donated supplies are blessed during worship and sent to children and families in need as they go back to school. 

Inter-Serv Calvin Center Food Pantry

Non-perishable food and other items are collected weekly in the marked containers for the food pantry. An Ashland volunteer delivers the items to the food pantry for distribution to needy people in the area.