CHURCH ON THE CAPE UMC
A community church in Cape Porpoise, Maine
Alternative Christmas Fair 2022
The Alternative Christmas Fair is held each year in December following the worship service. This year, we are moving the event online making it easy to support the organizations that are important to you while giving a truly unique gift.
​
“Shoppers” make donations to a variety of community ministries as a way to present family and friends with an alternative to material gift-giving by supporting these much-needed programs.
​
Already know which programs you want to support? Click here to make your selection.
Bon Appetit
Bon Appetit is a weekly dinner program in Biddeford. Clients arrive for a free nutritional dinner and companionship. During the summer, between 40-50 people are served daily, with the numbers increasing during winter months. The program has seen a dramatic rise in the numbers of children coming in family units. Additional funding is always needed to supplement the work of Bon Appetit. The Church on the Cape faith family regularly volunteers to serve the meal on the third Wednesday of the month. Donate now
Caring Unlimited
Domestic violence is the most recurrent incident reported to the police in Kennebunkport, according to local police. Caring Unlimited is our answer to violence in the community. This organization offers hope to families in danger through 24-hour hotline aid, legal advisors, support groups staffed by kid-workers, a donation center, temporary and transitional housing. Donate now
Community Outreach Services
In response to community needs, twelve churches of various faiths have joined together to support the Church Community Outreach Services . In addition to its primary function of providing emergency food needs, this outreach has broadened its scope to encompass fuel assistance, a voucher program with Hannaford in Kennebunk, a school snack program, and a special needs program. Donate now
Grace Street Ministry
This outreach ministry offers a consistent, compassionate, pastoral presence to the homeless and marginalized in downtown Portland, Maine. They work to relieve suffering, to address the spiritual needs in this ever-shifting community, and to decrease the prejudice between the housed and the homeless through preaching, education, and experience. Our faith family collects socks annually for Grace Street Ministry. Donate now
Habitat for Humanity
For over 20 years, Habitat for Humanity in York County has been helping low-income families obtain affordable housing. The three legs of support for this program are land, volunteers and funds. The Church on the Cape has been an ever-increasing and vital part of this Christian outreach through our gifts, our prayers, and our participation. Gifts made to Habitat will help meet the objective of increasing the number of much needed homes built each year from a historical average of one per year to a targeted 2 to 3 homes per year.
Kennebunkport Public Health Emergency Fuel Assistance
This program provides for fuel need requests during the winter. The fuel needs were funded solely by donations and no one is denied assistance. The Public Health Department meets every emergency request immediately. We are expecting a drastic increase in the number of families who will need assistance this winter. The rising costs for fuel, food and housing will greatly strain the very tight budgets of our seniors and working low-income families. Donate now
York County Shelter Programs
This program is committed to end homelessness and assist people to reach their fullest potential by providing access to various levels of housing, personal growth opportunities, and community resources. They operate a live-in shelter in Alfred, as well as assistance to complete GED’s or job training. In addition, an extremely active food pantry supplies thousands of boxes to those in need, including holiday baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Donate now
Seeds of Hope
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center in Biddeford, Maine is a drop-in center open Tuesday through Friday that offers hospitality to all who pass through their door. The collection of our efforts strives to support those who are struggling, care for those in need, advocacy for those who have been silenced, companionship for those who are alone and compassionate love for all. They serve an expanded continental breakfast/lunch four days a wee serving 70-90 per day; offer free new/gently used clothing and operate a Career Resource Center assisting in job search. Donate now
Pastor Ruth Merriam Missions Fund
"Go, be the hands, feet, and heart of Christ!" Through ‘Partners in Development’ (see below) and other organizations, we now have channels through which we can effectively serve the poor. We can help at their medical clinics, we can work at construction sites, we teach English to the village children, we can help install water filters. And who is better equipped to offer their physical strength and energy than members of our community. What do they, in turn, gain from the experience?
Said one teen: "I have kept the feeling that I am not ENTITLED to anything…even seemingly small things – like wearing shoes or having running water.…I want to make my advantages worthwhile, and to use them for something outside of my own self-interest." In the spirit of Pastor Ruth’s lifetime of service, this fund will help sponsor those who wish to serve on life-changing mission trips. Donate now
Partners in Development
Partners In Development is a Christian service organization has been working to improve conditions for the most desperately poor in Haiti and Guatemala. Each year, volunteers from our church visit these missions. Recently, a group of teens from our church and the high school have committed their energies to the Guatemalan mission. Donate now
Welcoming Immigrants: Our New Neighbors
​
As we all watched the humanitarian crisis unfold in Afghanistan it was heart-wrenching to see what lengths the human spirit will go to in the pursuit of finding peace. Sadly, this wasn’t new to us. We have been resettling refugees in Maine for more than 40 years and know that we will collectively prepare to welcome the next generation of new Mainers. Your donations will help to:
¨ Outfit a family with clothing, boots, and a warm coat;
¨ Create “Welcome Home” baskets with clean bedding, towels, and
housekeeping essentials;
¨ Conduct cultural trainings; and
¨ Offer interpreting services to towns, businesses and schools
​