Outreach
Common Good Café For videos of previous Common Good Café events: 
All events begin at 7pm
The Common Good Café is a conversational café where we practice the art of civil, civic conversation. We join together and listen to a presenter, followed by small group conversation, and a time of Q&A. The focus of the Common Good Café is to serve as a discussion place where we can advance our commitment to engaging the political, environmental, and cultural issues of our time. Each café ends with a call to ACTION. After all, there is no sense learning stuff if we don’t do anything with what we’ve learned. We live in a time that demands that we speak truth to power and peace to war, and this all starts with the conversation. We’re located at University Temple United Methodist Church in the U District. There is free validated parking at University Bookstore.
For a full schedule of speakers, Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CommonGoodCafe or Join our group page on Meetup at www.meetup.com/Common-Good-Cafe.
Thrift Store
Open every Friday from 2-5 PM, the University Temple Thrift Store provides clothes, house wares, linens, small appliances, books and miscellaneous items at minimal prices (or free if indicated), in a safe, caring environment where mutual respect and dignity are highly valued. We welcome new volunteers and donations! Have questions? Please contact the church office at (206) 632-5163 or via email at office@utemple.org.
Friday Feast
Following the Thrift Store, we host Friday Feast at 6pm, which is a free meal for everyone. Volunteers are always welcome! If you have questions, contact the church office at (206) 632-5163 or via email at office@utemple.org.
Roots (Rising Out of the Shadows)
University Temple houses Roots, which is a young adult shelter. Roots delivers critical services to homeless young adults and other low-income persons, advocates for policies that foster dignity and long-term solutions, and works toward building community partnerships. If you’d like to be involved, please visit their website, rootsinfo.org.
Teen Feed
Every Saturday night, U Temple hosts Teen Feed, a free meal program for homeless youth. Teen Feed works with the community to offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth as they meet their future off the streets. The Teen Feed Meal Program serves a hot, nutritious meal every night of the year in various University District faith community facilities. Here at U Temple, we host it on Saturday nights. If you’re interested in volunteering, see their website for more information.
Needle Exchange Program
Four days a week, we host the Needle Exchange Program, ran by the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance. The Needle Exchange works to fight the spread of infectious disease and educate the community about safer drug use. They offer safe disposal of used needles, access to new needles and clean supplies, referrals to other pertinent services such as detox and treatment options, and now free Hepatitis C testing and vein care. The Needle Exchange runs thanks to donations from the community. If you would like to donate financially or with your time, please visit their website.
Urban Rest Stop
The Urban Rest Stop provides a clean, safe and welcoming facility where individuals and families can come and use restrooms, shower and laundry facilities. All services are provided at no cost to patrons. There are two Urban Rest Stop locations in Seattle, one being downtown, and one being here at U Temple. The University District Urban Rest Stop is open Tuesday-Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm. For more information, please visit their website.
United Methodist Women (UMW)
United Methodist Women at U Temple is part of a global body of women who put their hearts and hands together toward creating a supportive fellowship and participating in global and local ministries through the church to improve the lives of women, children and youth. We have activities throughout the year ranging from retreats, multiple fundraisers and planning the annual Giving Thanks Banquet for the church. There are a myriad of ways to get involved including many small groups. Please contact Janet Lower (jmlower@yahoo.com) or Molly Shaw (mollyshaw54@gmail.com) – we would love to have you join us!
Maasai Environmental Resources Coalition (MERC)
The Temple also reaches out globally through the Maasai Environmental Resources Coalition (MERC) in Kenya and through the support of malaria research in Ghana. MERC has been a primary mission of University Temple for more than a decade. Founded through the efforts of U Temple member Meitamei Dapash, it is a coalition of grassroots organizations in Maasailand, East Africa. MERC advocates for the Maasai in their effort to preserve the unique ecosystem of land, rivers, wildlife and community which people from around the world visit on safari. MERC and UTemple work to support a movement toward a sustainable environment, to help an indigenous culture survive, and to work toward human rights and justice.