Churches United in Ministry (CHUM)
CHUM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services agency in Duluth, MN sponsored and governed by an interfaith coalition of 40 faith communities. CHUM serves low-income, homeless, hungry, isolated, or otherwise marginalized community members. They offer emergency food, shelter, advocacy, support, and street outreach throughout Duluth.
Stabilization Services
The entry point for the Stabilization Services is the CHUM Center.
- Emergency Shelter for individuals or families
- Housing Advocacy services
- Income Evaluation and Employment Services
- Nurse Clinic
- Street Case Management
Distributive Services
- Solicits, receives, inventories and distributes food and household items that have been donated
CHUM Emergency Food Shelf
- The food shelf provides a five-day food order for people without food or the resources to buy food and advocacy services connecting people to community resources (e.g. shelter, medical care, children’s services, employment, clothing, and emergency monies). Staff, along with approximately 100 volunteers, distribute 260,000 pounds of food annually. An average of 570 households receive emergency food each month; roughly 35% of those fed are children
- Food Shelf locations: Lakeside Food Shelf 1814 N. 51st Ave. E, East Food Shelf 120 N. 1st Ave West , and West Food Shelf, 4831 Grand Ave, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
- Hours of operation at these locations are subject to change so please visit CHUM website for the latest hours. Click Here
- Questions regarding Food Shelf call 218-727-2391
CHUM2GO
- CHUM2GO is a food shelf program intended to increase food access and promote food security in Duluth. The program is specifically intended to reduce barriers for people who may otherwise have a difficult time visiting the food shelf locations in person, such as families with young children, elderly, people with health complications, or people without reliable transportation.
- Deliveries will be made on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday and Thursdays of the month
- Please visit the CHUM2GO Delivery Request Form or call the food shelf delivery line at 218-727-2391 and select option 4
- Filling out the form does not guarantee you will receive delivery. Only 30 households that complete the form will be randomly selected for each delivery date
- If you have questions about the program or are interested in volunteering, please email us at chum2go@chumduluth.org
Outreach and Organizing
- Advocacy at the state and local levels
- Expose more individuals to the issues of poverty in the community
- Encourage policy makers to respond to the needs or communities
Volunteering
CHUM volunteers provide essential services to our clients and increase and enhance the services we are able to provide. Simply put, CHUM couldn’t do what it does now without the hundreds of volunteers that support and carry out our mission every year.
Examples of Volunteer Opportunities Include
- Assisting people at the food shelf picking out food for their families.
- Preparing a meal and bringing it to and serving it at CHUM Center or the Steve O’Neil Apartments.
- Guiding the ushers and greeters and CHUM Church Worship Service on the 2nd Sunday of the month.
- Serving rhubarb snow cones at the CHUM Rhubarb Festival
- Annual Food/Fund Drives, October, March, and May
Please Consider The Following
- How much time do you have available?
- What motivates you to volunteer?
- What are your interests and passions?
- What skills do you have that might benefit CHUM?
- What skills would you like to develop, and what would you like to learn?
To learn more about volunteering with CHUM, please contact CHUM at (218) 720-6521 or send us an email.
A volunteer application can be completed and mailed to CHUM at 102 West 2nd Street, Duluth, MN 55802. You will be contacted regarding volunteer opportunities that meet your skills.