Sunday, May 30th we kicked off our new summer exercise program “Walking St. Louis.”

This summer we will challenge church members and friends to walk a cumulative total of 2500 miles as we simulate a walk all around the city of St. Louis.  Each step we take adds to our total miles, whether those “steps” come from walking, jogging, biking, gardening, swimming, basketball, or spending time on the treadmill.

Our simulated walk will take us to sights all over St. Louis. In particular, we’ll be stopping and learning a bit about many of the inner city ministry and volunteers sites where our Urban Mission Inn groups will be serving this summer.  Each week in worship we’ll announce how many miles we have walked together and highlight some of our virtual locations such as Food Outreach and Lydia’s House.

We will celebrate the completion of our summer exercise on Sunday Aug. 29 with an intergenerational gathering in the Fellowship Room at 9:30 AM.

Additionally, religious communities throughout St. Louis are collecting toiletries in March and April for brothers and sisters who are living with HIV and AIDS.  These items will be distributed through Food Outreach and Doorways — two organizations with which Union Avenue has long-established relationships.

Items needed include:  deodorant, foot care products, toothpaste/brushes, disposable razors, shaving cream/gel, chapstick, shampoo, bar soap, mouthwash, face/body lotion, hair care products, incontinence garments, nail care products, shower gel, sanitary napkins, tampons, bathroom tissue, facial tissue.

Items to be donated can be brought to Union Avenue.