🫵 We Have a Spot Saved for You on Our Day of Service!

BE A FIRST SERVE SUPERHERO

First Serve Needs YOU!

We have more Day of Service projects requested this year than ever before, so we're looking for more Project Leaders! Please email Amy Baldwin at abaldwin@hudsonucc.org if you're interested in being a First Serve superhero!

Registration for our Day of Service is fast-approaching. For those who want to volunteer on our Day of Service on September 13, please make sure to visit the First Serve website on August 1 to sign up for the project of your choice. Be an early bird to ensure you get the spot you want!

As always, we thank you for your support. 💙💚🤍

First Serve Website

JOIN THE RACE FOR FIRST SERVE

Runners are stepping up to support First Serve's mission at the Akron Marathon taking place Saturday, September 26. For the third year, we are proud to participate in the Akron Marathon as a Blue Line Charity Partner.

There are three ways to fundraise as a runner on race day: 1) Join a relay team of five runners, each running a leg of the half marathon 2) run or walk as an individual or 3) register your kids for the Kids' Fun Run!

We are also looking for water station volunteers to help hydrate runners on the day of the race. New this year, volunteers also have the opportunity to fundraise!

Whether you walk, run or volunteer, you can make a difference for First Serve!

Kids' Fun Run Sept. 25

Volunteer | Sept. 26 | Code: FIRSTSERVE

GIVING & SERVING OPPORTUNITIES

North High School Needs

Food Shortages

Food insecurity has become more prevalent in the past year. Currently the pantry at North High School is not able to meet the needs due to shortages at the Akron Canton Food Bank. Please consider donating the following items or funds to help us purchase food for the students, families and staff. Donations can be dropped off at FCCH or at North High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 – 1:30.

2lb bags of white rice (plain)
Peanut butter
Jelly (no glass jars)
Oil (48 oz plastic bottle)
Ramen (Halal if possible)

Back to School Hygiene Giveaway

Help welcome our students back to North at our annual hygiene product giveaway during Open House on August 25. Please sign up for assisting with set up and distribution.

The pantry and clothing room will be open this summer!

Please consider signing up to work the pantry on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Clothing Room Volunteers can pick their days and times (anytime - Mon-Friday from 8-4:30). Questions? Please contact Kris Stoehr.

Friendship Field Day for Students with Disabilities

Help North High School students with disabilities enjoy a Friendship Field Day on August 14 from 10 am - 1:30 pm. This event includes sport activities, haircuts and lunch. Please sign up here, and/or contact Dianne Falasco at dianne_falasco@yahoo.com for additional information.

Bike Shop

The Bike Shop, located in the parking lot at 915 North Main, is really taking off! This ministry, in partnership with South Street Ministries, 915 North Main Community Connection Center and First Serve, serves kids and adults every Thursday, teaching them how to refurbish used bicycles that they can then own in order to get to work, school, or enjoy for recreation. Please consider signing up to volunteer (no experience necessary!). Questions? Contact Bruce Hahn at 330-256-6087.

Volunteer at Bike Shop

Clothing Room at 915 North Main

The Clothing Room at 915 North Main has been run by Trinity UCC and First Serve volunteers on Tuesdays for quite some time; but now, it will be open on Thursdays as well!

The Peter Maurin Center serves hot meals at 915 North Main on Thursdays. They have agreed to run point on organizing volunteers to work in the Clothing Room on Thursdays so neighbors can shop for clean, gently used clothing and shoes after enjoying a free lunch.

If you're interested in volunteering on one or more Thursdays each month from 10:30 am to 12:45 pm, please email Jill Burke at annieb1011@gmail.com.

MORE GOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Bike Shop Container Becomes a Work of Art

The Bike Shop at 915 North Main Community Connection Center has been a HUGE hit! And now, thanks to partnership with and a grant from South Street Ministries, the container housing all of the bikes and supplies for The Bike Shop has become a work of art for the North Hill Community to enjoy.

Over the last few weeks, the container was transformed into public art by professional muralist Grace Nestor, Lilly Usner from South Street Ministries, and a few students from North High School.

More Summer Fun in North Hill for Soccer Lovers

In our last newsletter, we told you about a World Cup Watch Party that will take place at North Hill People's Park on Saturday, July 18. We're still looking for folks to help from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. Please email Laura Hnat at laura.hnat@tpl.org to help out or, if you'd just like to come and watch a soccer match with our North Hill neighbors, you can RSVP here.

In other soccer-related news, Tony Bouquot once again helped make more soccer available to North Hill residents by working to donate a set of soccer goals for Patterson Park! First Serve is so grateful for Tony's leadership and commitment to making this donation possible.

Big Thanks to Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn

As part of Faith Lutheran Church's VBS program, the church collected 101 pairs of shoes, 517 pairs of underwear and 779 pairs of socks for children in need!

Reverend Sarah Courtney, Director of Children's Ministry at Faith Lutheran explained that they tied the request for donations into their VBS theme by asking families to imagine how they feel when they forget to pack something important for a trip...and then imagine what it must feel like to move to another country with limited resources or access to essentials. The result was a tidal wave of donations that First Serve will happily distribute to North Hill families in need.

SAVE THE DATE

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