Singing Choir Visiting Nursing Homes
Bailey Manor is a residential facility caring for those in the grips of Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. The residents live in the secure facility with round-the-clock care. On the first Sunday of each month, the Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church heads to Bailey Manor immediately after Sunday worship. The choir sings for and with the residents, most of whom are unable to attend their own church services. Through this ministry, the choir helps bring back memories for the residents as they sing old favorites and enjoy fellowship with other residents and the choir members.
Cafe' 25-35
During the summer months, First Presbyterian Church purchases food, and volunteers help cook and serve hot lunches to children ranging from ages 6 to 16 in conjunction with the Enrichment Program of the Fayetteville Housing Authority. This program has been in existance since 2006. During the first year, we provided lunch one day a week to the children. During 2007, we provided lunch 2 days a week, providing a total of 500 lunches.
Basketball Community Outreach Program
Two afternoons a week after school, Todd Jenkins, one of the pastors of First Presbyterian Church, mentors to the community youth for several hours in a basketball program. Since 2005, kids ranging in ages from 12-28, have been flocking to the church's community center to play basketball. With adult supervision, the kids govern themselves, choose their own teams and call their own fouls and infractions. In the process of having fun, they learn how to function as a community, compete with integrity and respect each other as well as other people's property. The program has grown over the last two years from 10 kids to as many as 70 each day. Snacks are also provided by the church for all participants as well as observers.
Living Waters for the World
In April, 2008, a team of seven members travelled to Guastatoya, Guatemala, in order to oversee construction and health and hygiene education for a water filtration system in a part of the country where safe drinking, cooking, and cleaning water is otherwise not readily available/affordable. Two members of the congregation attended Living Waters for the World's training & education program, "Clean Water U", during the spring of 2007 in order to help train other members for the project.
This past April, a team of six returned to Guastatoya to do a "one-year check-up" on the system and its operation. They also travelled to El Jute, a nearby town, and negotiated a covenant for another water filtration system installation. Plans are underway to return in November, 2009 for that installation, in partnership with First Presbyterian Church, Pulaski, TN.
http://livingwatersfortheworld.org
10,000 Villages
Every November, First Presbyterian Church hosts an unique fair trade shopping event that benefits artisians from more than 30 developing countries. 10,000 Villages provides them income by marketing their handicrafts and by telling their stories.
Angel Tree
This annual Christmas event allows members of the congregation to provide Christmas gifts for local children who might not receive gifts otherwise.
Good Samaritan
First Presbyterian Church provides peanut butter, money and volunteer workers to help provide food and financial assitance for citizens who are senior and/or families with a low income.
Love Baskets
When a member of the First Presbyterian Church congregation is hospitalized, the congregation delivers a Love Basket containing food, gifts and books to help that member heal.
Reality Store
The Reality Store is a learning opportunity on money management for 8th grade students at Flintville Junior High in Flintville, Tennessee. Each student chooses a career and must make financial choices in order to live within their budget. Volunteers from First Presbyterian Church help students with this learning experience.
Financial Assistance Provided
First Presbyterian Church provides financial assistance for many programs. Some of these programs are: Nickel-A-Meal; Junior's House (assist abused children); One Great Hour of Sharing; Presbyterian Disaster Relief Program; Hunger Program; Program in Economics (assists third-world countries) and Joy Gift Offering. Every Sunday, the members who attend Sunday School contribute money to support missionaries, with the present recipient family living in Madagascar, Africa.