Gainesville Community Ministry (GCM)

Gainesville Community Ministry (GCM) provides emergency help to those who are in crisis or lack life’s basic necessities. 

Website: http://www.betterday.org/

Contact: (352) 372-8162, (352) 372-8131, gcmone@bellsouth.net, 238 SW 4^th Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32601

What they do: In addition to providing emergency assistance, GCM provides education and support for people to help them end the cycle of despair and poverty in their lives. 

What YOU can do to help: Volunteers are needed in the following areas:

Food Pantry: stock shelves, put together food bags, unload donations, hand food out to clients (3-hour shift each week)

S.T.E.P.S Coach: help people work through crisis situations, develop action plans, hold clients accountable for working on goals (3-hour sift each week)

Interview Rooms: talk to clients in crisis who are seeking GCM services, enter their information into a computer, provide information about GCM services (3-hr shift each week)

Thrift Shops: process donations, keep shop tidy, help customers, stock shelves

    Downtown Thrift Shop (352) 372-8125

    34^th Street Thrift Shop: (352) 378-3654

Substitute Volunteer: perform different duties depending on who calls in sick or is out on vacation (3-hr shift each week)

Delivery and Pick-up: deliver and pick-up clothes, furniture, and food with a truck or van (anytime between 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mon-Sat.

Dental Clinic: clinic receptionist, dentist, coordinators, and interviewers are needed! (one full day every month)

Administration: data entry, answering phones, mailings (3-hour shift each week)

Marketing/Public Relations: send e-mails, create displays, maintain scrapbooks, produce brochures and newsletters, and write press releases

Bible Study/STEPS Instructor: Lead a class in one of many subject areas (one evening each week for 1-2 hours)

Donations of food, household items, and clothing can be dropped off:

      10am-5pm Mon-Sat at 1108 N Main St. Thrift Shop,

         (352) 372-8125

      10am-5pm Mon-Sat at 5001 NW 34^th St. Thrift Shop,

        (352) 378-3654

Donations of food can be dropped off:

9am-2pm Mon-Fri at the Food Pantry, 238 SW 4th Ave,    Gainesville, FL, 32601, (352) 372-8162

Project 5000 Program

Fill a box with the food specified below to feed a family of 4 for 2 days here in Gainesville:

2 cans meat, 2 cans vegetables, 2 cans fruit, 2 cans soup, 2 boxes macaroni and cheese or soup, 1 lb dry beans or 1 can baked beans, 1 box hot cereal, 1 pkg, powdered milk, 1 can evaporated milk, 1 box dried soup mix, 1 jar peanut butter, 1 small bottle dish detergent (optional), personal care items like toothbrushes, soap, shampoo (optional)

Holiday Food Boxes during November and December each year:

Fill a box with the food specified below for a family in need during Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Gift certificates for meat ($5) or canned meat, 1 flour (2 lb), 1 sugar (2 lb), 1 canned fruit, 1 dry milk envelope, 1 peanut butter, 1 rice (1 lb), 1 can evaporated milk, 1 stuffing mix, 1 can pumpkin pie filling, 1 box Jell-o (large)

Personal Care Bags

Fill a gallon clear Zip-loc bag with the travel-size personal care items listed below for the homeless in Gainesville or those needing disaster relief.

1 standard hand towel, 1 standard wash cloth, 1 bottle liquid soap, 1 deodorant, 1 razor/blades, 1 shaving cream, 1 shampoo, 1 toothbrush, 1 toothpaste, 1 comb, 1 large scrunchy

Donations of feminine products, men’s underwear, socks, diapers, and ladies’ underwear are also needed.