How FirstPres Church has helped neighbors in need of food and shelter

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In December 2016, someone come by the FirstPres office on a rainy afternoon asking if we could help them. 

With thankfulness, this “Neighbor in Need” received a blanket that we had and went on their way.  But we could not shake the feeling that we had to do better. There were and still are people in this community that need help. That event started FirstPres on this journey of learning how to love and serve our all of our Neighbors in Need. 

Currently we have five programs here at the church to serve the houseless.

  • Every Sunday we serve breakfast from 6:30 am – 8:30 am. There are made to order omelets, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and more. This past Sunday we served 118 people.
  • On the second and forth Sunday of the month from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, we provide hot showers, a meal, and clothing for 30 people. 
  • Our “Park Out Program” provides safe overnight parking for up to six cars in our parking lot. 
  • From December to April, we hosted a winter shelter so that our houseless friends could sleep in the gym and get out of the cold and rain.  The community helped us provide warm dinners for 92 nights, putting a roof over 2,671 heads for the season. 
FirstPres hosted a warming shelter this past winter.
FirstPres hosted a warming shelter this past winter.
  • Our next endeavor is putting six “Tiny Homes” in our parking lot as transitional housing for individuals.  We are in the final stages of approval and hope to start the infrastructure work in September so that we can have residents in place in November. 
Mockup of a “Tiny Home” that will be installed at FirstPres

In the coming days we will be looking towards the community to help make all of this happen with donations of time and goods. 

Hi Pastor Jake! Wonderful to see the Lord is using you mightily😇
We’re working on housing down here too! Chk it out. Faith Community YIGBY Housing Plan – Yes In God’s Back Yard http://www.yigby.org
You are a blessing!
Monica

My name is Glenna , and I go to First Pres, I’ve been going regularly since 2008. This church has come alive since Pastor Jake has come on board. This church has put on some Jesus like lenses . Helping people you see in your community. That so desperately need shelter and food. We can’t save the world ,we can start with one person or family for that matter atta time. Love to be apart of such a Loving church. First Pres is how all churches should be.

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