SEARCH (Service of the Emergency Aid Resource Center for the Homeless) is a non-profit organization providing resources to more than 2,000 homeless men, women and children each month. Begun in 1989 by the ecumenical congregations of the Emergency Aid Coalition, SEARCH gives the homeless opportunities to change their lives and enhance their dignity and self-worth through job training programs, health care, a transitional housing program, a mobile outreach unit, and the House of Tiny Treasures, Houston 's only day-care center for homeless children. South Main prepares and serves the daily meal at SEARCH every fourth Wednesday of the month from 7:30-11:30 a.m. We also make sandwiches to go out with the mobile outreach unit and contribute in many other ways. SEARCH is located a few blocks from the SMBC campus at 2505 Fannin Street.

Contact persons:
Jesse Daves 832-527-6953

Emergency Aid Coalition (EAC) - South Main is one of the founding churches that make up the Emergency Aid Coalition. The EAC ministers to families in need and to the homeless, hungry, and helpless through its many ministry arms which include a Food Pantry, Clothing Center, free sack lunch, Aid to Families office, and Operation ID. The first Sunday of each month is Food Pantry Collection Day, and a Clothing Drive is conducted once a quarter. In addition, EAC welcomes volunteers who can help make sandwiches for lunches, stock the Food Pantry shelves, help size, sort and stock clothes, and assist with other chores. The EAC ministries are located on Fannin Street .

Contact person:
Kay Walther 281-344-0738
walther@bvcpa.com

Blood Drive - Six Sundays a year, SMBC conducts a Blood Drive in the Activities Building from 8:00am-1:00pm. Donors are always needed. Volunteers can help by bringing homemade cookies and making reminder phone calls to previous donors.

Contact person:
Susan & Lloyd Culp 281-807-1330
slculp@aol.com

All-Church Mission Projects - Since 1992, a work team from South Main has traveled to Mexico to build churches, parsonages, and education spaces in Mexico to help people in various parts of Mexico in their ministries. In 2009, we went to Eagle Pass, TX and built a home that was destroyed in a tornado and worked in the community center just outside of town with the children and youth of the area. We are going back to Eagle Pass to do more construction work and community center projects with the people of Eagle Pass. The trip is designed to have a place of service for the entire family, from school-aged children up to our senior adults. We hope you will pray about joining us on our next trip,
March 16-20, 2011.

Contact person:
Erin Conaway 713-529-4167 ext 112
econaway@smbc.org

Shoes for Orphan Souls - Buckner Orphan Care International coordinates the Shoes project. Each August, South Mainers collect new shoes and socks that are distributed to needy children all over the world. TheWelcome Center becomes a shoe depot for thousands of shoes and boots. Buckner initiated this program in 1999, and it has grown exponentially each year as hundreds of thousands of children in Russia, Eastern Europe, Mexico and South America have been served.

Click here to learn more about the South Main Shoes for Orphan Souls Campaign

Contact Person:
Henry Hill 281-580-8803

Operación San Andrés Peru Missions - Operación San Andrés (OSA) exists to provide holistic aid to the indigent and underserved people of Collique, Peru, a shantytown on the outskirts of Lima. In addition to regular medical and dental care campaigns, OSA personnel in Peru provide continuous medical, educational, nutritional, and spiritual help to the poorest residents of Collique with an emphasis on assistance to children and their families.

For more information, visit the website www.operacionsanandres.org

Contact Person:
Luis Campos 713-464-8525

Manna - Every Sunday morning, from 8:00-9:30 a.m. we gather in the parking lot out by the tower on Main Street to join with our homeless neighbors. We share coffee, manna bags (zip locks with non-perishable food and some basic supplies), prayer requests and a Scripture meditation with one another. This is a sacred time of worship and fellowship with our brothers and sisters who are often not welcomed any other place in our community. Volunteers can help prepare the bags, coordinate supplies, or join us on Sunday mornings to share the fellowship and worship together.

Contact person:
Erin Conaway713-529-4167 ext 112
econaway@smbc.org

Sojourn House Apartments - People from all over the world travel to Houston to receive medical treatment at the Texas Medical Center. Sojourn House provides apartments to patients and their families who must make long-term stays in our city. Residents are charged a very reasonable daily rate, and South Main pays the utilities and phone. Our apartments are located at Brompton Court, a short drive from the Med Center, and Brompton supplies a shuttle service for residents/patients. Volunteers assist with checking in/checking out, collecting rent, and cleaning the units for the next residents. To check on availability of apartments, please call 713-524-2640 or visit the website: http://www.churchapartmentministry.org.

Volunteer Contact persons:
Ken & Lyn Hamilton, Paul & Karen Falls

Missions that Empower and Educate

SMILE is one of the longest-tenured ministries on our campus. The goal of SMILE is to offer internationals a place for friendship and instruction in conversational English and American culture. SMILE volunteers serve as English teachers, instructors in sewing, cooking, arts and crafts, and with clerical work. Through their efforts as friends and guides, the women and men who make up SMILE demonstrate the compassion and life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

Contact person:
Sherri Keeling 281-489-2803

"SMILE History: The First 40 Years" By: Jeanette Heard February 21, 2006 MP3 Download

The SMBC Women on Mission meet to learn and pray about missions and ministry throughout our city, state, nation and globe. This group helps to promote annual emphases for local, state and global missions and the South Main Missions Offering.

Contact persons:
Julia Townsend
W.M.U. Director, 713-729-4277

Alberta Vickrey
(Women On Mission) 713-468-5259

Buckner After School Program - Since 1998, SMBC has partnered with Buckner International to provide a safe and secure place for youth to gather after school. The After School Program is currently open to students attending the Houston Academy of International Studies on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 – 6:30 PM. Students are able to participate in fun activities such as basketball, soccer and video games. In addition, they have access to a computer lab and help with school work. Volunteers are needed to help sign students in, prepare and serve snacks, one-on-on tutoring or recreational activities.

Contact Person:
Chelsea Wade at cwade@buckner.org

Interfaith Ministries Congregation- to- Congregation (C2C) Project - South Main will be participating in the new Congregation-to-Congregation Project created by Interfaith Ministries. The goal is to have hubs of congregations increase awareness through events and complete service projects together. The first cycle of this project will take place over 8 months. Each hub has a council of leaders that will decide on events to participate in. Dinner Dialogues will begin the project and conclude the journey. Interfaith Ministries staff members will assist hub councils and facilitate interfaith dialogue. As a member of Hub 1 South Main members will join together with 11 other congregations including: Brith Shalom, Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, St.Phillip’s Presbyterian, and the Baha’i Center of Houston. This is an incredible opportunity to learn about different faiths and serve the community!

Contact Person:
Chelsea Wade at cwade@buckner.org