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
