Washington United Church of Christ

Washington UCC was founded in 1873. However, it wasn't until 1970 that Washington UCC became a mission church. As a mission church our primary focus has shifted from the worshiping congregation to community outreach and serving the people in our neighborhood, regardless of their faith.

Outreach programs were all established to meet needs in the neighborhood. As a result, most of the programs started out as informal ways to help our neighbors, but overtime became formal resources for people.

For example, Camp Cupboard and Closet, a choice pantry and free store started out as neighbors and people from other churches sharing their extra groceries and old clothes with others. Today Camp Cupboard and Closet is a formal resource with set operating hours for people in need. Washington is are a registered organization with the Freestore Foodbank and purchases food from there that is then available for shoppers.

Summer Program also began very informally when the pastor, Rev. Jim Egbert, noticed that the children in the neighborhood weren't eating breakfast over the summer. People at the church taught the children how to prepare breakfast foods. Kids were taught how to make breakfast at a level appropriate for their age, from making waffles to using an oven. Today, Summer Program is a formal program where each child enrolls for the summer and participates in programming led by paid staff members. Mission teams from supporting churches spend a week on campus assisting with Summer Program.

Washington UCC has evolved from a typical church to a community-focused organization with multiple growing outreach programs to serve people living in poverty.