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P.U.N.C.H.People Uniting Neighbors and Churches |
P.U.N.C.H. People Uniting Neighbors and Churches
P.U.N.C.H. began in 2006, when five Hilltop-area churches came together with a shared vision of serving their neighbors. Today, seven churches work together through P.U.N.C.H. to strengthen and support the Hilltop community:
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
First Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church
Sacred Heart Cathedral
St. John’s United Methodist Church
Third Missionary Baptist Church
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Faith in Action. Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
St. John’s is proud to work alongside our P.U.N.C.H. partners throughout the year. Our involvement includes providing volunteers, food, financial support, supplies, and space for community events and service projects.
St. John’s partners with P.U.N.C.H. to serve and connect with our Hilltop neighbors through a variety of community events and outreach opportunities. We help host and support Trunk or Treat by providing candy, volunteers, and decorated trunks; contribute food, donations, and volunteers for the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner; collect supplies and provide volunteers for the Blessing Box Drive; support the Community Easter Egg Hunt through financial contributions, prizes, and volunteers; and participate in the Foster Graduate Celebration, sponsoring a local foster student and helping provide practical items as they transition into life after high school. Through these efforts, St. John’s is proud to share our time, resources, and hospitality while working alongside our P.U.N.C.H. partners to make a positive difference in the Hilltop community.
Get Involved- There’s a Place for You!
You don’t have to do everything. Just start somewhere.
Help decorate a trunk.
Prepare a Thanksgiving meal.
Donate needed supplies.
Volunteer at a community event.
Support a graduating foster student.
Welcome a neighbor.
When churches work together, small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Click here for more information about P.U.N.C.H and to be directed to their website.
Examples of Community events that St. John's helps support
Thanksgiving Dinner
Each year, a free neighborhood Thanksgiving dinner is served at First Baptist Church for the homeless and anyone who wishes to join us. The dinner is served from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., or until the food is gone.
Every church in PUNCH provides food, of which St. John's UMC provides food supplies, the warming station day of and volunteers. Volunteers are needed for Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, and the morning of Thanksgiving at St. John's in the Fellowship Hall kitchen.
Monetary donations are appreciated for food purchases. Please make any checks payable to St. John's United Methodist Church (not to PUNCH),
and note on the check "For Thanksgiving Dinner."
If you have questions about the event, please contact us by calling the church office (563) 324-5278 or email [email protected]
The Blessing Box Drive
Typically held in the Spring, St. John's helps with PUNCH and other partners by collecting items at the church leading up the the drive that takes place at KWQC TV 6 news station on Brady St. volunteers then help carry and sort items from donors that drop supplies that day.
Let us know if you would like to volunteer this day!
Email office [email protected]
2026 Blessing Box Drive will be held Earth Day from 8am-5pm.