Skip to main content

Serve Your Neighbors

Real love takes the form of concrete action. Jesus didn’t just sit around and talk about loving people. He went out and fed people who were hungry, healed people who were sick, and welcomed people who had been rejected. It might not seem revolutionary, but it’s active love like this that changes the world for the better.

At Hillside Community Church, we believe that following Jesus means rolling up our sleeves and making a tangible difference in the lives of those around us. Whether it’s preparing meals for the hungry, gathering supplies for those in need, or standing alongside the marginalized, we seek to embody God’s love in everything we do. Service is more than a task—it’s a way of life that deepens our faith, strengthens our community, and brings hope to the world.

You’ll find opportunities for all ages and abilities to get involved, from hands-on projects to advocacy efforts. Explore the ways you can join us in putting love into action by learning more about our regular service opportunities below. Together, let’s be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs love.

Service Opportunities

Micro Food Pantry

Everyday

Hillside Community Church’s micro food pantry, located at 144 North Street in Medford, is open 24/7 for anyone to give or receive food donations, addressing the critical issue of food insecurity that affects 1 in 9 Medford residents. This small act of loving our neighbors has grown into a citywide movement, with 17 micro food pantries now installed across Medford, ensuring greater access to food for those in need.

Learn More

Cooking for the Friday Cafe

2nd Thursdays @ 6:30-8:30p

Hillside Community Church is a proud supporter of the Friday Café, a welcoming space where housed and unhoused neighbors can connect in a low-key, judgment-free setting. Open every Friday from 1–5 pm, the Café fosters community and care. Hillside groups volunteer almost every week and cook for the program monthly. Volunteers of all ages are welcome — no cooking skills needed — and we even provide pizza as a thank-you for your time. Join us in making a difference!

Learn More

Homeless Street Outreach

Monthly on a Sunday, 12-2:30p

Hillside Community Church’s homeless outreach ministry serves our unhoused neighbors in Cambridge, MA, by providing essential items with care and compassion. We collect socks, hats, snacks, and water to distribute directly to those in need. This simple act of kindness offers warmth and sustenance while building connections with our neighbors. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join us in collecting and distributing these items—together, we can make a tangible difference in our community.

Learn More

Sunday Morning Volunteering

Sundays @ 10:30a

At Hillside Community Church, each and every person has a role to play our life together. In particular, we are always on the lookout for greeters, scripture readers, and coffee-hour-putter-onners to help us pull off Sundays without a hitch. Also, if you come armed with music or theater skills that can help us up our game, we’d love to have you involved shaping our Sunday morning experience.

Learn More

am2pm

Annually in Late June

AM2PM is a one-week, immersive community service program for middle and high school students that combines hands-on service with deep learning and reflection. From morning to evening (a.m. to p.m. – see what we did there?), participants engage in meaningful service projects and thought-provoking conversations with local leaders to explore the “why” behind the work.

Learn More

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Annually in November

Hillside Community Church’s annual Thanksgiving food drive is a cherished tradition that brings the community together to help neighbors in need. What began with Sunday School students collecting donations with a wagon has grown into a large-scale effort involving scores of volunteers. Each year, we distribute 1,500 bags throughout the neighborhood, gathering enough food to support over 200 individuals and families seeking assistance. It’s a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together to care for one another.

Learn More