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OAK LAWN UMC'S OUTREACH PROGRAM

As Oak Lawn UMC's outreach program, Dallas Responds is the mission arm of our ministry in the Dallas community. It is through this program that our words and beliefs are put into action. Our approach is entrepreneurial and inclusive of everyone in our community.

We are called by God to do good and practice justice, kindness, and love.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, held that loving and caring for our neighbors
is a spiritual practice that is just as important as worship and prayer.

NORTH TEXAS MIGRANT WELCOMING CENTER

We serve as a welcoming center for migrants here in Dallas, responding to the border crisis. We make sure they know they are safe, free, and welcome in this country. With the community's help, we are able to have clothing, food, a space to rest, travel arrangements assistance, medical assistance, a know-your-rights workshop, and transportation to the airport. 

 

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~Pastor Isabel Marquez 

Site Coordinator 

                                                                                                                                          

OVERNIGHT WARMING CENTER

As a warm hub for our unsheltered neighbors, our goal is to ensure that no lives are lost on the streets of Dallas during this winter due to freezing temperatures. We partner with the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management as a primary shelter to provide a warm place to sleep and provide food and clothing to our unsheltered neighbors. Once we reach a capacity of housing 80 individuals, we activate Austin Street Center and Fair Park. This initiative remains successful due to the collaboration with The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, the Stewpot, and Our Calling.  

~Pastor Ryan Wagner 

NEED SHELTER DURING FREEZE NIGHTS?
Please text the word SHELTER to 214-441-6647
to receive text messages when the shelter is open this winter. 

COMMUNITY MEALS & FOOD PANTRY

We offer hot lunch meals 3 days a week*! 

Lunch is served 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM from the church doors on the Oak Lawn Ave. side of the church (nearest Dickason Ave.) on the following days of the week:
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

The guidelines to participate are as follows:

All meals are done takeaway style
Individuals must leave church property after getting food
No tables, chairs, or congregating
One meal per person

 *Available while supplies last.

If you are in clothing or toiletry items, we would be happy to help!  Closet is open only once a month. 

 


HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Ways to SERVE and SUPPORT your neighbors:

Donation of New or Lightly-Used Item(s)
Accepted Monday-Thursday 9 am - 4 pm
3014 Oak Lawn Ave - Side Door off Parking Lot

Volunteer FAQ's
Additional training will occur on your first shift at the shelter.

 
*Please do not dump or leave items unattended.*

 

OUR MINISTRIES

Racial Justice

We are a pilot church for the UMC North Texas Conference’s new initiative Journey Towards Racial Justice (JTRJ). The Oak Lawn JTRJ team will work toward ending active and passive racism within and outside the walls of our church through vital conversations, intercultural competence, and institutional equity.

Learn more about this initiative here.

Activists Group

We maintain a #LetLoveContinue activist group that stays informed and seeks to update members on ways to peacefully protest and partner with the voices of those who are oppressed and on the margin. 

Join this group by texting the keyword Advocate to 214-441-6647.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

We want to acknowledge our community partners that keep this intiative and partnership alive to continue housing our neighbors in a time of need. 
Check us out on Facebook and Instagram.

IN THE NEWS

2023

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2022

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2018