Programs & Events

News from the Kitchen and Pantry

On July 20, the Community Kitchen and the Binghamton Lions Club treated our guests to a full chicken barbecue. We rented a tent and placed it in the front church yard with tables and chairs. This was the first time our diners were able to sit together and eat since the start of lockdown. Take-home meals were also available. The meal was: ½ chicken, salt potatoes, baked beans, rolls and butter, fruit punch or water, and peach cobbler. All the food was purchased from donations and the Community Kitchen budget. The Binghamton Lions Club grilled the chickens at the Town of Binghamton Fire Company BBQ Pit. We managed to serve 224 dinners. This event was a big success and our diners stopped to thank us for doing this.

The volunteers and staff of the Community Meal and Pantry are always looking for special ways to serve our community. On June 15 we invited the Broome County Health Department to come and do a vaccination clinic during the meal. We got donations to be able to offer a raffle to those getting vaccinated and those who were already vaccinated. Alex’s Café donated 10 free lunch meals. A private donor gave four $50 Visa gift cards. The church bought gift cards from the Spotlight Restaurant. We spent $100 and the manager of Spotlight gave us four $30 gift cards. This event was also a success and much appreciated.


Food Pantry wish list:

We have some ongoing needs for the pantry:

  • T-shirts to be made into grocery bags — torn/stained are okay

  • Reusable grocery bags

  • Microwaveable meals

And we can always use non-perishable food items that have *not* passed their expiration dates.

To make a donation, contact the church office or email Sherry at meal@upcbgm.org. Thanks!

Our “Zoom room”

Modern technology is marvelous! Thanks to the Zoom meetings system, we can gather virtually even when it’s difficult to be together in person. We’ve used our “Zoom room” for worship but also for prayer groups, book studies, hymn sings, and social times.

You can join our meetings and worship services online via your computer, tablet, or mobile device by going to https://upcbgm.org/zoom. If you’ve never used Zoom before, you’ll be prompted to download the Zoom meetings app, which will ask for permission to use your microphone and your camera. We use our “Personal Meeting ID” for worship and most of our programs, so they’re always in the same familiar place.

You can also call in over the phone, if you don’t have a microphone on your device or you can’t join online. To join as a phone call:

  • dial 1-646-558-8656

  • then enter our Meeting ID: 865 274 8433 #

  • press # again, then enter the passcode: 42456 #

If you have questions or need help using Zoom, feel free to call the church office for assistance.

Zoom Cocktail hour: Friday evenings, 5–6pm

Bring your own beverage, “Zoom in”, and join the fun as we catch up on the events of the week and share how we’re doing. It’s a great way to keep in touch while it remains complicated to be together in person.

Sewing Group: Wednesdays, 10am–1pm

The Sewing Group meets every week in the Upper Lounge on the 2nd floor, working to create crib-size or lap quilts, decorative pillows, and walker “carry bags,” as well as knitted hats, sweaters, mittens, scarves, and baby items. Anyone interested is encouraged to join them on Wednesday mornings starting at 10am. No special sewing skills are needed for cutting squares, design layout, pinning, tying, setting the table for lunch, or heating water for tea. Sewing machine and hand hemming skills are a plus.

Our donations are given to:

Charities including

  • Mom’s House

  • the YWCA

  • Rescue Mission

  • Birthright

  • Meals on Wheels

  • Camp Sunshine (for children with terminal cancer)

Care facilities including

  • Willow Point

  • Fairview Good Shepherd

  • United Methodist Homes (Elizabeth Church & St. Louise Manor)

  • Hilltop

  • Bridgewater

  • Absolute Care

as well as our homebound members, and guests in need who come to our UPC lobby. Any newborns in our congregation receive a quilt gift.

At noon, those who can’t join them in person are welcome to “Zoom in” for their lunchtime social hour. Everyone is welcome; bring your lunch and enjoy the company.