Update

Several members of the Mission Committee met with the director of Starting Strong and their board president.  We discussed the application Starting Strong is writing to become our “pilot program” at FPC.  Our goal is to have transformational impact in the community, draw closer to each other and be transformed ourselves.  Starting Strong is a very small organization and they are building their infrastructure to handle growth well.  This is taking time, and we appreciate their thoroughness and careful deliberation on how to do their ministry well.  They are still working on the application and hope to submit it to us in June.  We hope to be partnering with them both financially and with our members volunteering very soon. We continue to look for other opportunities in the community to support.

We will keep you up to date.  If you have any questions, please contact Ellen.

Please check out all the incredible ways that you and your family could get involved in hands-on mission opportunities this summer!

Market Street Food Pantry 

The food pantry really needs volunteers on Saturdays.  The times are 8:30 – 11:30 am.  The director tells us that they could use people to stock shelves and to help customers.  Easy tasks, short amount of time, huge impact.  Can you help?  If interested, please contact Ellen.

 Sharing the Harvest

FPC will continue our commitment to collecting produce and other items from the local farmer’s market and sharing it all with the Salvation Army.  This is a very easy way to have hands-on mission and teach our children about food insecurity.  We need people every Saturday, June-August.  It takes about 1 ½ hours.  Could you pick one Saturday and join this long-standing ministry at FPC?  Please use this link to sign up!  If this is your first time, Ellen will contact you with instructions.  THANK YOU!

Make it stand out

On June 29, FPC families all over Granville, will be having a “stand” in their yards to raise money for the children in Haiti. Families might sell baked goods, lemonade, pet treats or popsicles!!  Come and find out.   All proceeds will go to Healing Arts Mission of Haiti, a ministry FPC has been supporting for many years.  The money will be earmarked for the education program.  Education is “hope” for children growing up in the chaos of their home country.  Please support our families and H.A.M. by shopping at the various stands.  You will be provided a map with all the locations and hours of operation.  Thank you, FPC families!

Drop-In Center at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Newark

We are looking for men and women who could check guests in, offer a meal and a place to rest.  The hours are 9:30 – 2:30 (you can do 2-hour shifts) on Tues./Wed./Thurs.  Guests attend who have no place for shelter.  They can get out of the weather, charge their phones and have a mailing address.  If you have an extra two hours, every week or so, and are interested please contact Ellen .

 FPC members continue to serve meals every week at the Salvation Army and every other week at Second Presbyterian, Newark.  We thank God for their ministries.

Blessing Box Summer Needs

As the seasons change, so do the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Please see the list of summer items we can use to supply the Blessing Box with your donations. Thank you!    

• Protein bars, pop tarts, cheese/peanut butter crackers

• Single packs of tuna or chicken

• Jerky, spam, 

• Dried fruit, nuts/seeds

• Single-serve (w/pop-up lids) cans: veggies, fruit, ravioli, beans

• Pudding cups, rice cakes

• Diapers, wipes

• Ball caps; sunscreen(for sun) 

• Drinks: Water/Gatorade

“Of all the churches that I reached out to, you were the only ones that offered to help me with cookies!!”

  - From the Village Network which supports Foster Families

Our church said “yes” when asked to bake 42 dozen cookies. Families with young children along with other FPC members didn’t hesitate when asked to make cookies for a Foster Family Picnic. Twenty-two foster families enjoyed your homemade baked goods and had enough to take a dozen home!  Thank you, FPC!

2nd Annual Fostering Further Car Show

Saturday, May 18th, from 10 am to 3 pm

Join us for the 2nd Annual Fostering Further Car Show hosted by Terry Sellars and the volunteers from the Newark Eagles on behalf of Fostering Further. All proceeds will benefit local foster youth. It will be held at the Newark Eagles building at 52 Forry St. from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, May 18th. There will be door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, food and awards.

Collaboration and Land Design

Working in partnership with Watkins High School students, 1500 Trees is collaborating with the Southwest Licking County School District to complete a landscape design for the new high school. 1500 Trees will be planting trees in honor of Karen Chakoian and her 24 years of ministry at First Presbyterian.

To learn more please check out the 1500 Trees webpage: https://www.1500trees.org/chakoian-legacy-trees

Thank you FPC…

For ALL the donations made to the Denison effort to support CRIS, helping refugees in Columbus.  Jeremy, the director from CRIS loaded his van and it was filled to the max. Leah, from Denison, was stunned and thrilled with the generosity.

Got Clutter? 

Bring any household goods (excluding bed mattresses, springs, frames,  & headboards) to the church parking lot Friday, Saturday, or Sunday until 3 pm.  May 3, 4, 5.

A truck from St. Vincent de Paul will be in our lot to collect your treasures. If you can not lift your items into the truck, there will be a parking space next to the truck to leave your donations. An employee from St. Vincent will come every few hours to load those items. This is a low donation time of year for St. Vincent, which serves our neighbors experiencing poverty. We are partnering with them to increase donations!  If you have any questions, please call Mel Fraley at 740-920-4372.

Bradford Pear “Bounty” Program – Partnering with Pollinator Pathway, 1500 Trees will help replace invasive Bradford Pear trees located in Public Spaces in Licking County. You can find out more info on the website for 1500 Trees, here.

What else is 1500 trees doing, you ask?  Watch for exciting news of the Chakoian Legacy Trees in future newsletters!

Hope Landing is an apartment community that houses young adults aging out of Foster Care.

We support one of the apartments with rent assistance, cleaning and restocking when empty.

The young man living in the apartment that FPC supports is moving out.  He is beginning his next step towards independence.  Between May 31 and June 15, we agreed to clean and restock the apartment to make ready for the next young adult. If you are interested in this one-time, 3-4 hour commitment, please let Ellen know.

1500 Trees Grad Grove

We are Granville High School students committed to creating a common space at GHS to commemorate graduates with trees in their honor. (GHS AP Environment students: Teresa Collins, Izzi Fuller, Lilly Kronk, Ava Rose Pastis with James Reding in partnership with 1500 TREES.)

 The Grad Grove is an approximately 3 acre alumni forest at GHS to be planted with diverse, native trees. Beginning in the spring of 2024, students will begin clearing the land for initial plantings with the goal of adding 300 trees to the campus. With your support, the Grad Grove will provide conservation, education and a lasting legacy for the community. Celebrate your Granville High School graduate by donating a tree in their honor. 

 Accepting Donations Now :  1500trees.org/grad-grove

Stay tuned next week to learn about the Tree Bounty/Pollinator Pathway

40 gift cards delivered to Starting Strong!

Yesterday, we met with Starting Strong to discuss our partnership going forward.  At this meeting we delivered 40 gift cards for their graduating seniors!  Once again, our congregation responded with notes of encouragement and celebratory gift cards.  We thank God for your generosity!

April 21 is the last day to return your graduation gift cards for young people who are aging out of foster care.

There is a collection basket in the office. If the office is locked, just slip your card under the door. This is a wonderful way to commend graduates who might not have other celebrations for their accomplishments.  Thank you!

Thank you to all who have contributed clothing for refugees in Columbus.

The bins are filling up. Please look in your closet this week or next to see if you’d like to donate items you never wear anymore. April 28 is the last day to donate!

The Drop-In Center needs volunteers for 2 hours shifts.

The shifts are from 10 – 12:30 pm and 12:30 – 2:30 pm. The center must close if there are not enough volunteers. The center provides a meal, a place to receive mail and charge a phone, but most of all a place to rest when you are homeless. This might be a way to serve your neighbor.

Would you like to know more?  Contact Ellen at eclark@granpres.org.  This might be a way to serve your neighbor.

FPC collected $3142.00 for this year’s OGHS Offering!

Your generosity will touch lives through the Presbyterian Disaster Relief, Hunger Program and Self-Development of People.

100% of your donation will be sent to Presbyterian Mission Agency. Thank you!

Graduation 2024!

Starting Strong, an organization supporting teens who age out of Foster Care, has 13 graduates this year! 

These young adults, once they graduate, will no longer be supported by Foster Care. They are basically on their own. The fact that they graduate from high school is a positive step for their future. Let’s help them celebrate their accomplishments. Most of these graduates will not have a celebration like we are accustomed to. Our church is collecting gift cards for each graduate, to help them get started on their own. Come to Heritage Hall, find the “Giving Tree”, and see what this is all about. Cards are requested by April 21.  Thank you to Wonderful Wednesday for getting the tree ready for us all.

CRIS (Columbus Refugee and Immigration Services)

in conjunction with Denison University is collecting gently used clothing and accessories for the month of April. 

FPC is participating with collection bins in Heritage Hall .  We hope you’ll take this opportunity to donate items you no longer need. Please bring all donations by April 28.  Thank You!!

Spring warmth is fast approaching!

The Coat Drive continues through Sunday, April 7th. We are receiving all sizes, for all ages. Thank You! Thank You! To all who have given!

Did you know?  1500 Trees has new projects about to launch!

1. Grad Grove – Granville High School students have committed to creating a common space at GHS to commemorate graduates with trees planted in their honor. Our own Ava Rose Pastis and Izzi Fuller are working with Jim Redding, a GHS AP Environment teacher, and partnering with 1500 Trees.

2. Chakoian Legacy Trees – Working in partnership with Watkins High School students, 1500 Trees is collaborating with the Southwest Licking County School District to complete a landscape design for the new high school. 1500 Trees will be planting trees in honor of Karen Chakoian and her 24 years of ministry at First Presbyterian.

3. Bradford Pear “Bounty” Program – Partnering with Pollinator Pathway, 1500 Trees will help replace invasive Bradford Pear trees located in public spaces in Licking County.

4. Candlelight Walking Tour - 1500 Trees and the Granville Chamber of Commerce will continue to provide live trees instead of cut ones during the 2024 Candlelight Walking Tour.

On April 21, Earth Day, we will hear more from 1500 Trees and this incredible ministry. You won’t want to miss it!