First Presbyterian Church has a rich history of being involved in the downtown community of St. Joseph. Many of our past and present members have helped create the tapestry of social service organizations that are in existence today. These organizations respond to the needs of the poor, the shut-ins, the disenfranchised, or others; helping supply the basics of life around food, clothing, housing, and shelter.
A few examples are the Open Door food kitchen, the Little Free food pantry, Meals on Wheels, and even the establishment of the bus system that serves all over St. Joseph. We are also a Hunger Action Congregation.
First Presbyterian St Joseph has worked hard in several ways to be conscious of our carbon footprint and work to be good stewards of God's earth. Several years ago, we had solar panels installed on the roof of our north building. We have saved money on our energy bills and have reduced our energy consumption. No church would be complete without coffee hour. We serve fair-trade organic coffee from Equal Exchange which is a company the PCUSA works with to pay fair wages to workers and provide organic coffee. The coffee is served in compostable paper cups and we often use compostable plates and drink cups for church meals. We continue to look for other ways to use more sustainable and environmentally friendly products.
First Presbyterian St. Joseph has been recognized as a Hunger Action Congregation for the past 3 years. Congregations must be participating in at least one activity in each of the following areas in order to be a HAC. These areas include: alleviating hunger by providing and/or sharing food in a dignified way with an eye to long-term structural solutions, development assistance that addresses the root causes of hunger and poverty through equitable and sustainable development, educating about about systemic causes of hunger, leading towards faithful action that is informed and led by directly affected people and partner groups, lifestyle integrity by adopting sustainable personal and corporate lifestyles to restore justice and protect all of God’s creation, corporate and public policy witness by advocating and campaigning for changes in policies and practices to end hunger and its causes, promote self-development, and care for creation and incorporating into worship prayer, education, and preaching about ending hunger and its causes. We have done activities in every category and continue to work to end hunger. For more information see the PCUSA National website.
We are always thinking and talking about other ways we can serve people in our local community, respond to national situations needing a response, and even projects that are international in scope and need a helping hand on a worldwide basis.
Little Free Pantry
Each day we contribute to the Little Free Pantry outside of the church on the grounds to help those who are hungry. The little sign reads: Take what you need. Leave some to share. Know that we are praying for you!
If you have some non-perishable foods you can share please feel free to place your items in the Little Free Pantry to help those in need.
Meals on Wheels
A knock at the door might not seem like a big deal to many of us. But, to a homebound senior, it could signal the arrival of the only person they might see all day or all week long. It brings hope. It brings health. It brings the nutrition and care that will completely make their day. A knock from Meals on Wheels means nourishment for the body and soul.
Every knock delivers the food, compassion and care that our aging neighbors urgently need. Together, we can deliver food and hope through the Power of a Knock. To learn more about this wonderful organization go to: mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
Open Door Food Kitchen
The Open Door Food Kitchen is located at 615 S. 8th Street. They continue to serve lunch to patrons seven days a week, 365 days a year. The staff and volunteers are currently serving 250-325 hot, nutritious meals every single day.
The mission of the Open Door Kitchen is to build a better community by feeding the hungry in St. Joseph. Hunger has many faces - the working poor, women and children, senior citizens, veterans, and the homeless.
Kitchen Closet ministry
The kitchen closet ministry allows families who are working with a local agency to obtain a referral to come shop for donated items to aid them in preparing a meal in their new home. Once you get keys to your new residence and obtain your referral letter, call Terresa in the office at 816-232-3358 and set an appointment when you will have a ride, bring a box or a strong bag as some of the kitchen items can get heavy. You will be allowed to shop for kitchen items to get you started until you get on your feet. This helps give a leg up on those who are starting or restarting life on their own.
InterServ
First Presbyterian Church supports the ministry of InterServ on an ongoing basis. InterServ actively responds to the needs of the community by developing programs and services relevant to the needs of people. InterServ stands as a beacon of hope, providing comprehensive social services that reach vulnerable populations throughout Northwest Missouri.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re interested in learning more about these ministries and becoming involved in any of the many ways we serve, please fill out your contact information and click submit, and one of our leaders will get back to you and discuss ways you can serve with us. You are also welcome to give us a call at (816) 232-3358. Thank you.