Serve the World
Build God's World. It's one of our core values. We believe that we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, striving to create a more just, compassionate world. We choose to focus our efforts on a handful of mission partners where we can make an impact. A few of our partner organizations are listed below.
Table to Table Tuesdays Project
Every Tuesday we are helping to pack hundreds of bags of grocery for free distribution to our neighbors in need (about 1,200 bags per week on average!)
Anyone needing the groceries is welcome to come, no questions asked. The distribution begins every Tuesday at noon, at the First Baptist Church of Englewood, 351 W. Englewood Ave (on the Englewood/Teaneck border).
Want to help? Come down to First Baptist Church, 351 W. Englewood Ave, any Tuesday starting at 10 am (the time commitment is from 10 am until about 12:30 or 1:00). Please register in advance by visiting www.dcvyp.org and answering the Covid questionnaire.
Questions? Please email Pastor Rich.
Center for Food Action (learn more)
The Center for Food Action (CFA) is a lifeline for thousands of families in over 100 towns in northern New Jersey, giving nearly 5,000 seven-day food packages per month, along with assistance for those facing eviction or the loss of utility service.
Share Boundlessly. It's also one of our core values. As we do with all of our mission partners, FPC supports CFA with both monetary and non-monetary help. We collect non-perishable food items monthly - we call it Food to First on the First Sunday of every month. We are also providing significant help with their newly-created organic garden (left).
Jan Hus Presbyterian Church
(learn more) Urban Outreach Center
The Urban Outreach Center at 351 E 74TH ST in Manhattan is the premier social services center of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and Neighborhood House. Their purpose is to provide a complete range of resources to support the full worth and dignity of every person. The Urban Outreach Center’s programs and services are a lifeline for the most vulnerable populations from all five boroughs of New York City, providing material and spiritual comfort and a warm, compassionate environment.
FPC supports this worthy ministry with funds, clothing drives, and occasionally assisting with their Tuesday night dinner (right) that serves over 100 homeless guests weekly. Funds from FPC enabled them to open a shower facility for the homeless persons in their neighborhood.
Habitat for Humanity
of Bergen County (learn more)
Habitat for Humanity is one of the premier volunteer-driven organizations in the United States. Working closely with the Bergen County affiliate, FPC participates both locally (we have assisted with projects in Garfield and Bergenfield [left]), and have also sent volunteers on the Habitat "Global Village" trips to places like Montana and New Mexico.
Cuba Initiative
Our reconnection with Cuba began in 2010 when one of our members visited Cuba and the First Presbyterian Church of La Habana. Since then numerous members of our congregation have made multiple mission visits to Cuba and our friendships have grown to include Central Presbyterian Church in City of Matanzas, El Fuerte Presbyterian Church, and Juan G. Hall Presbyterian Church in the City of Cardenas. Our sister churches there are doing amazing outreach work with programs serving specific niches in their communities. These programs include meal and laundry programs for older seniors and weekend youth music programs.
Our members have also attended events at The Evangelical Theological Seminary (“SET”) in Matanzas. SET, founded in 1946, prepares ministers for the Cuban churches that include the longtime PC(USA) partner church, the Presbyterian Reformed Church of Cuba. Our relationship with the Presbyterian Church in Cuba dates back at least to the 1950s. We look forward to continuing our heritage of supporting our brothers and sisters of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba.
For information on how to get involved, please contact Andres "Andy" Bello.
