Welcome to the JUMP Website!

The Joint Urban Ministry Project, Inc., known as JUMP, is an interfaith ministry to assist individuals and families in crisis.

JUMP helps with emergency assistance, spiritual care, referrals, and advocacy for persons with low incomes. JUMP operates each weekday morning at First Congregational Church in Burlington, Vermont serving individuals and families in Chittenden County and occasionally those in nearby counties.

The Charlotte Congregational Church is one of the twenty-four Chittenden county churches that support this mission with money and volunteer support.

ABOUT JUMP

Mission Statement

The Joint Urban Ministry Project is an interfaith collaboration of over twenty Chittenden County congregations. The mission of JUMP is to promote the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of people by providing:

• Spiritual care [hospitality, supportive environment, referrals]
• Direct assistance to meet basic needs
• Advocacy
  
  

The JUMP Drop-In Center

To this end, JUMP operates a drop-in emergency assistance center located at First Congregational Church in downtown Burlington and open weekday mornings.

JUMP financial assistance includines help with food, medication, Laundromat use, transportation (gasoline and bus passes), identification (birth certificates and ID cards), and utilities.

JUMP offers thrift shop vouchers for quality used clothing and household goods. Clients may take with them food, toiletries, household products, and baby products, as available.

JUMP makes appropriate referrals to other organizations for additional assistance. JUMP also offers spiritual care, which involves meeting clients where they are, hearing their concerns, and talking about life’s bigger questions.

Clients often share stories of struggles with grief, illness, addiction, or isolation. JUMP is an important bridge linking people living in poverty to faith communities in Chittenden County.

History

Over 20 years ago, five downtown Burlington churches (College Street Congregational, First Baptist, First Congregational, First United Methodist, and the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul) began discussing the possibility of pooling resources as a way to respond more effectively to the increasing number of people coming to their doors seeking assistance. Leaders from these churches had a vision of providing practical help and consistent pastoral care, in a collaborative manner, with participating congregations referring people in need to their shared outreach ministry.

Meanwhile, Nathan Johnson, a member of Burlington’s First United Methodist Church, had been collecting and redeeming bottles and cans. He used these funds to establish a trust that would, upon his death, be distributed to help people in need. In 1988 the Nathan Johnson Trust provided $10,000 and the five participating congregations provided $6,000 to launch the pursuit of their vision. JUMP opened in July of that year in donated office space at First United Methodist Church.

Since then, both the JUMP budget and the number of people assisted has increased dramatically. For many years, JUMP operated under the auspices of Cathedral Square Corporation. In 2005 JUMP incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. JUMP is now housed in donated space at First Congregational Church and boasts more than 20 supporting congregations.

 

Core Values

Every Person: We respect the value and dignity of every human life, and work to make every interaction at JUMP one that is positive for all.

Interfaith: As an interfaith organization, we honor the faith journey of all JUMP clients, volunteers, staff, and Council members. We value diverse spiritual perspectives and work together to maintain a strong ministry.

Collaboration: JUMP collaborates with many denominations, congregations, and social service agencies to provide necessary financial and human resources.

Advocacy: We understand the importance of our services to each individual while recognizing that these services are not a solution to poverty in our community. Therefore, we tell JUMP's story in our congregations and in the wider community to encourage advocacy for systemic changes.

Team work: JUMP depends on the dedication and team work of its volunteers and staff to minister to the community.