Our Mission in the Community and the World


South Hayward Parish
An ecumenical organization of churches in the South Hayward area, South Hayward Parish assists local residents in issues involving renters' rights, food distribution, human rights advocacy, and combined seasonal worship, service and fellowship. South Hayward UMC has been a long-term active member of this organization, along with Westminster Hills Presbyterian Church, United Church of Hayward, Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church, and St Clements Catholic Church.
South Hayward Parish also offers the faith community opportunities for witness and advocacy in the areas of gay rights, peace vigils, vigils of caring for local victims of violence, immigrants' and workers rights', and joint Thanksgiving and Easter Sunrise services.
Funded via the Alameda County Food Bank and donations of the member churches, South Hayward ParishÕs weekly food pantry distribution program provides boxes of groceries to needy families.

Breakfast Bags
On the last Saturday of each month, volunteers from South Hayward UMC and the other South Hayward Parish churches gather to prepare 200 breakfast bags for distribution to the folks coming to the food pantry, as well as walking delivery to the day laborers who line both sides of several blocks of Tennyson Road, waiting for work.
This program, begun by South Hayward UMC, fits well with South Hayward Parish's food bank and advocacy programs, in service to the many immigrants living in the community.. The South Hayward UMC Missions Committee coordinates the church's volunteers in this rewarding service.

FESCO
The Family Emergency Shelter Coalition is a nonprofit organization comprised of over 30 churches and community members in the Hayward, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo and San Leandro area, serving homeless families with food, shelter, clothing, counseling and links to community resources. FESCO consists of a 24-bed family shelter, 4-units of transitional housing, and a multi-unit community living center. Initially offering emergency shelter to qualified homeless families, FESCO provides counseling in goal setting, money management, parenting and job and housing searches.
As a founding member of the coalition, South Hayward UMC offers its members opportunities to volunteer at the shelter, as well as fund raising in the spring Shelter Shuffle or the annual Dinner and Auction.

The Spiritual Image
 The Spiritual Image is a Filipino musical show choir ministry of South Hayward UMC, whose main goal is to express the gifts the Filipino culture brings to society and to the Church.  With over 30 active members, including youth and young adults, The Spiritual Image teaches the values of patience, fortitude, and love.  For the past 15 years, the group has been evangelizing through music across the United States and in third world countries, performing for upwards of thousands of people in dozens of venues.