OUR VALUES
OUR STORY
Since 2012, First Serve continues to be an annual day of service, held during the second Sunday in September led by First Congregational Church of Hudson. Over 500 First Serve volunteers work on projects located at partner organizations and residential sites in the North Hill Community of Akron. Projects are designed to support the work these organizations are doing in the community while at the same time providing opportunities for volunteers to be immersed in the neighborhood. First Serve’s year-round presence in North Hill provides volunteers the opportunity to continue their relationship with our partner organizations.
OUR TEAM
Sue Wimer
Sue’s passion for serving the Northeast Ohio community is truly inspiring. Whether leading volunteers in a North Hill service project or connecting organizations with vital resources, she is dedicated to making a meaningful impact. Through her work with community partners, Sue has built strong relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds, helping to strengthen and unite the community.
Sue and her family joined First Congregational Church of Hudson in 1993, during which time she was a kindergarten teacher in Hudson. In 2005, she joined the church staff as Director of Stewardship and Development, later becoming Director of Outreach Ministries and First Serve in 2012.
Sue lives in Akron with her husband, Derran. She enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, and, most of all, cherishing moments with her two grown sons, daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Amy Baldwin
Amy relocated to Ohio sixteen years ago, embracing the challenge of adapting to a new environment far from her southern roots and the warmth of blue skies. What she discovered, however, was a community that provided a perfect backdrop to raising a family and a rewarding professional environment that allows her to channel her passion for service.
With twelve years of dedicated experience in various roles within the First Congregational Church of Hudson, Amy began her current position as Co-Director of First Serve in 2023. Working alongside non-profit community and faith partners, Amy collaborates with Sue Wimer in organizing the First Serve Annual Day of Service. Amy is deeply committed to building connections with community partners and volunteers, particularly in the North Hill area of Akron.
Outside of her professional life, Amy enjoys spending quality time outdoors with her husband Brad and their three children. Being active by running with neighbors and going on family hikes in the local National Park fuels Amy’s desire to live within a well-connected and maintained community. Amy firmly believes that “Relationships build hope,” a principle that guides both her personal and professional endeavors.