SAPUCC has a decades-long ministry (going back to 1983!) of cooking and serving supper through the Loaves & Fishes program of the Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul. Our signature meal of taco hotdish, fruit, bread and dessert has been served to thousands of guests who are homeless or food insecure.

In 2021 during the pandemic, we wanted to engage in a big-impact endeavor during a time of economic and racial inequities affecting our country.

So we partnered up with Falcon Heights UCC and launched a campaign to relieve the burden, shame and anxiety of people who have long-standing debt. Our collaboration brought in over $28,000, which we donated directly to RIP Medical Debt, an organization that purchases old, long-standing medical debt for pennies on the dollar.

The impact? Our combined contributions eliminated $2.8 MILLION DOLLARS of medical debt, for over 2,000 households in five states-- Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Georgia. Thanks be to God!

Women's Advocates is the oldest shelter in Minnesota for women and their children escaping domestic violence. Women’s Advocates provides shelter and services to an average of 50 women and children daily, conducts crisis interventions and safety referrals via the crisis line daily, and educates students and professionals about domestic abuse awareness, prevention and services. During the holiday season, SAPUCC collects gifts for the women and their children. We've also donated Target gift cards for the women to be able to purchase gifts for their children on their own.

Kids (age 5 and up) and adults get the chance to hand-pack nutritious meals specifically designed to assist in reversing and preventing malnutrition around the world. Volunteers measure, weigh and pack servings of rice, soy protein, dried vegetables, and vitamin-packed flavoring. It's a fun, high-energy, big-impact kind of hands-on service to others. FMSC has locations in Coon Rapids and Eagan.

Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, Mississippi (2017) - This mission site is a jewel of the UCC. SAPUCCers spent one week rehabbing a house; serving meals at a local shelter; staffing the Back Bay food shelf; and hosting people at the drop-in center where they are able to take a shower, do their laundry, search for jobs and socialize. We learned about local history and culture, including the devastation effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Habitat for Humanity, Duluth (2012) - A group of SAPUCC adults and youth assisted with home repairs after Duluth experienced significant flooding and landslides.

The Seafarers Center, Duluth (2018) - Our high school youth organized clothes, cleaned, delivered donations of hats, gloves, and toiletries, and they even mowed the lawn! The Seafarers Center offers free support to the crew members of the ships when they port there.

Settled (2022) - Our youth joined with St. Paul's UCC, Falcon Heights UCC, UCC New Brighton to help build a tiny home through a partnership with Settled. The group raised $35,000 for the work. Our youth have also spent time learning about homelessness and discerning what about their faith calls them to do this work.

Diapers are so expensive, especially for parents and caregivers struggling to meet their monthly bills. From time to time, SAPUCC collects children's diapers -- piles of them -- and donates them to the Diaper Bank of Minnesota, located on University Avenue in St. Paul. The Diaper Bank works with agencies throughout the Twin Cities to provide diapers to families in need.