OUR MISSION
Stabilizing families in crisis, providing food security for the hungry, and empowering the community to meet neighbors’ needs.
OUR HISTORY
UCOM's journey began in the summer of 1978 when members of the Jacksonville Ecumenical Right to Eat Advocacy Board met with five south-side churches, led by the Presbytery of St Augustine and South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, to expand the city's Meals-on-Wheels program in order to meet the real and practical needs of its citizens. On September 30, 1978 volunteers began delivering meals.
Over the next six months, volunteers went door-to-door asking neighbors what their needs were and developed strategies to meet those needs long-term. On May 22, 1979, the Southside/Pine Forest Network of Churches officially became UCOM.
Since then UCOM has:
- Grown from 12 partnering churches to 62 interfaith mission collaborations
- Expanded our Meals on Wheels program with Aging True's partnership
- Launched our Emergency Assistance Program
- Joined with Church World Service to initiate the first CROP walk in Jacksonville where funds raised help combat world hunger, both locally and internationally
- Started our Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Scholarship Program
- Launched our Summer Nutrition Program with Deerwood Rotary
- Expanded our Workforce/Scholarship program to include students working toward a business license
To learn more about the history of UCOM, former director Jim Crooks has written a detailed account called "The UCOM Story."
