Noel Neighborhood Ministries is a large program serving many of the community’s various needs. Upper Room Class members lend their backs, minds and talents in the support of Noel University and the Food Pantry .
Noel University: One of the services of the Noel Neighborhood Ministries is Noel University. Noel University, now active for 6 years, tutors to elementary school students. While the University does not take over 7 or 8 children, all from Creswell School, they attempt to have one on one working with reading, math and spelling. Upper Room members have, and are, serving as teachers. Bob Thomas not only serves as a tutor to the students but has, and is, driving the church bus each Wednesday to pick up children at Creswell. This is just one of the many activities in which the members of the Upper Room participate.
Food Pantry: The Food Pantry is just one of the many programs of the Noel Neighborhood Ministries. This program serves over 9,000 families yearly, families from every corner of the city. There are a number of jobs that have to be performed in order to provide food for the needy: unloading the food truck on Wednesdays, storing and stacking the groceries; greeting those that come for food; and working the computers to verify the eligibility of those seeking free food. Upper Roomers have, and are now, providing the personnel for each of these jobs.
This program is now over 15 years old and has provided over one million pounds of food to the underprivileged. Not only has the Upper Room provided many workers for this program through the years, but it has also provided financial assistance. Since its existence it is likely that this mission has served over 100,000 families!