Sample Operation Inasmuch Projects

Backyard Bible Club
Gathering of children from a neighborhood for games, entertainment (e.g. puppets), and Bible story.  Excellent project for teenagers.

Sewing Projects
Blankets for homeless persons.  Turbans for cancer patients.  Walker bags for nursing home patients.  Stuffed animals to be given by police to abused children.

Home Repairs
Plumbing, electrical, roofing, painting, repair of windows, porches, steps, rotting exteriors, etc.  Specialized skills required by some but not all participants.  Needs identified by local community agencies or elderly church members.

Wheelchair Ramps
Construction of wheelchair ramp either in partnership with local agency that provides this service to elderly and/or disabled persons or as a stand-alone project by the church.  Some building codes applicable.

Homebound Visitation
Personal visits with all persons in the church’s homebound ministry.  It is helpful for visitors to take something to leave with homebound persons, e.g. flower, small gift, etc.

Life books for Foster children
Assembly of notebooks to be given to foster children by local Department of Social Services in which the children will keep pictures, notes, letters, newspaper clippings, or other items that will help them retain significant memories.

Yard work for Elderly/Disabled Persons
Seasonal, light clean up and maintenance for persons unable to do or provide for themselves.

Blood Pressure Check-Ups
Multiple, public locations—malls, grocery stores, shopping centers, fire stations, etc.  It is helpful to include an appropriate handout that provides hints for good health and/or low-key spiritual guidance.

Affirmation of Public Servants
Deliver appropriate expressions of gratitude and concern (cookies, Bible or other literature, flowers, etc.) to local police, fire, emergency, and health personnel.

Packaging of Foods at Food Bank
Division of large quantities of non-perishable food items (potatoes, cheese, etc.) into smaller quantities to be distributed by local food bank.

Mountain of Potatoes
Obtain a truck load of potatoes or other local, surplus agricultural product and have volunteers package them in smaller quantities to be distributed locally.

Firewood Cutting and Delivery
            Cut firewood and deliver to persons identified by local agencies who heat with wood.

Care for Care-Givers
Prepare and deliver a 30-day devotional guide to encourage persons who work in the challenging environment of nursing homes, retirement homes, and/or hospitals.

Lunch Preparation and Delivery
            Prepare and deliver light lunch for all volunteers.

Baby Shower for Maternity Home
            Conduct a baby shower for expectant mothers at local maternity home.

Assembly Projects
Assembly of packages such as hygiene kits for homeless persons, Easter baskets for children of poverty, stuffed animals for abused children, etc. usually conducted in church facilities and distributed at a later date.

Clothing/Food Collection
Collection of clothing and/or non-perishable food items to be delivered to local agencies for distribution or for church’s Clothes Closet or Food Bank.

Love Lunches
            Preparation and distribution of lunches at local Salvation Army or homeless shelter.

Smoke Alarms
Installation of smoke alarms in low-income housing in partnership with local agency or fire prevention program.

Rest Stop Ministry
Provide coffee and/or soft drinks, local information, and friendly greeting at area highway welcome station or rest stop.

Ministry Training
Train persons willing to become involved in local caring ministries such as Hospice, Contact, Adult Literacy, Teen Mentoring, etc.

Garden Project
            Plant a garden for low-income family and provide know-how for continued care.

Letter Writing for Prisoners
Write letters to local or area prisoners and correctional staff encouraging them and offering appropriate spiritual guidance.  Note: Be sure to follow guidelines for such letters required by local correctional institutions.

Block Party
Provide lunch, entertainment and basic services at housing project or in an area where other projects are concentrated (several home repair projects).  Usually local agencies will provide limited services or information concerning their services.  This project can be conducted at a church near a depressed neighborhood as an outreach into that neighborhood.

Nursing Homes Ministry
Using music personnel, provide entertaining and inspirational program at local nursing homes.

Vaccination/Health Clinic
Using health professionals, offer vaccinations and health screenings in neighborhoods where these services are not available.  If a mobile health facility such as a medical/dental bus is available, it may be the center of such a project.

Child Care
Provide child care in church facilities for families of young children to facilitate their participation in other projects.

Blood Drive
            Conduct a blood drive in conjunction with local Blood Assurance agency.

Prayer Project
Two to do prayer projects:  (1) have volunteers pray before and during Operation Inasmuch for its effectiveness, and (2) set up a Prayer Tent in a Neighborhood (usually in conjunction with other projects in the same neighborhood) to receive requests from locals.