Social Concerns Ministry
Social Concerns encompasses our outreach for local missions. Here are some of the programs in which we are currently involved:

Adopt a Social Worker (Alliance for the Care of Abused Children, ACAC)
This is a new program where we work with a local social worker to provide for the needs of underprivileged children. Various members of the congregation sponsor individual children and support them throughout the year.

Hunger Banks
In Old Testament tradition, farmers harvesting their fields would not pick them clean, but would leave some "gleanings" for the poor. Today we give thanks to God for His daily provision and set aside the "left-overs," the remaining change from our pockets, to feed the poor and the hungry. The Hunger Banks fund our ministry to the hungry and the homeless.

Handy "Handouts" We've all faced the dilemma of how to respond to someone who is asking for a handout or who "will work for food." The Social Concerns Commission wants to help you respond in good conscience. We've assembled nourishing lunches of non-perishable foods that you can keep in your car or desk drawer, ready to meet a need. With astute shopping, we're able to sell you three complete lunches for $4.00.

San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission
Every Thursday night we cook food and serve it to guests of the Valley Rescue Mission at their North Hollywood location. Contact Nella Wilson at 661-297-4224 to get involved.

The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission reaches out to all areas of the Valley, from North Hollywood to Chatsworth, and from Pacoima to Woodland Hills. It is an outreach ministry of the Rescue Mission Alliance, a non-profit, privately funded faith based Christian organization-providing food, clothing, professional counseling, vocational training and follow-up support to anyone with a desire to improve their life. Life-essential services and drug and alcohol recovery is available now. Shelter and Food facilities through the Rescue Centers program is providing over 2,500 nights of shelter and 5,000 meals per month.

Clothing & Toiletries Still Needed
First Pres. is still committed to supporting the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission as it aids temporarily homeless men, women, and children. In addition to our continuing to prepare and serve dinner at the Rescue Mission, there is an ongoing need for gently used clothing and sample/travel-size toiletries. These items are delivered to the Rescue Mission every Thursday. When available, please bring such items in bags marked “Rescue Mission” to the church office.

Rachel Dunne Memorial Adopt-A-Family Project (Operated by the Deacons)
Each year the Deacon Welfare Committee organizes a Christmas gift basket program, which is now called the “Rachel Dunne Memorial Adopt-a-Family Program.” In 2005, the Welfare Committee wanted to acknowledge Rachel Dunne for her many years of faithful involvement and outreach to our extended community in need. This program has touched not only the hearts of the families we “adopt” but each year touches the hearts of those who deliver these “Christmas baskets” to the families. Our lives are truly blessed with more abundance than we often recognize and possibly even take for granted. Many of these families live in converted garages or share small homes. To our standards of adequate habitat, these families show us how they are truly blessed each day just to have what they have and are so overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving for what they receive.

Each year this program gives us the opportunity to give back what God has given us. The opportunity to extend Jesus’ hand of mercy and love to those who are less fortunate is shown to us in the words Jesus gave to us in Matthew 25:34-40, “...Come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing...Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

This past Christmas marked the 19th Anniversary of this ministry and outreach. We adopted 26 families that included a total of 83 children. We obtained the names of these families from two of the local elementary schools that are located in the poorer neighborhoods, from MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity), and from personal requests from our own church family who wished to help a family enduring hardship during the Christmas season. We provided each of these families with enough food for Christmas dinner, plus food staple items, clothing and toys for each child, and in some cases special household items, such as towels, blankets, small appliances, etc. These “baskets” were personally delivered by over 20 faithful servants organized in five caravans to 18 families on Saturday, December 15th. Grateful thanks are also extended to our bilingual folks for assisting with communication in Spanish. This year we give a special thank you to Jennifer Chipello who taught her group Christmas songs in Spanish, and also said a prayer for each family in Spanish. Any Spanish speakers that are available to help in this way next year would be greatly appreciated!

The success of this program comes from the overwhelming love and generosity of our church family that includes small groups, the Weekday School, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and many other individuals who give God the glory while helping those in need. Our heartfelt warmth and gratitude for your witness, support and service to help make a difference in the lives of these families. May God bless you and keep you in health and happiness.

Get Involved
Want to help us share God's love by meeting needs in the broader community? Are you interested in improving our neighborhoods? Concerned about crime, cultural understanding, or other leading issues of our times? The Social Concerns Commission is the place for you! We meet the second Tuesday of each month, at 6:30 pm in the Choir Room.