Mission and Outreach

Mission and outreach

For more than 65 years, FCC hosted a yearly Barn Sale. People came from everywhere to shop for merchandise that ranged from large pieces of furniture to earrings! This was a major fundraiser for our Church’s mission work to help those outside our Church. We also hosted a Fall Tag Sale which was on a much smaller scale, but it also brought in funds to help us help others. All items that were not sold were given away on the last day, enabling those who could not afford to pay for items they needed, to obtain them.

With the pandemic, we changed to hosting a “Yard Sellers” event. People from the wider community bring items they want to sell and we host them on our property, enabling people to have one large place to shop for treasures. While the funds we raise are much less, we have found that it is popular with the community and is much less work for our volunteers. As time passes, we will continue to re-evaluate and see what works. The above picture is from one of our Yard Sales.

The Emergency Shelter Partnership

The Emergency Shelter Partnership (ESP) at FCC began when one of our members, the moderator at the time, was struggling between his role as a consensus builder and an advocator. He was haunted by a bible passage, “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” (Matt. 25, vs.35). He asked himself, “How does one advocate when you are not an advocator?” Fortunately, other people in the church were willing to propose a project. We became part of the Emergency Shelter Partnership. For more than a decade, we are still part of the partnership. With the help of friends, we do provide wonderful dinners.

We’ve given a lot. But, we have received equally. To see the people working in the kitchen, sharing stories of “the night that …” makes it obvious that joy is shared. The work that goes on is multi-generational and ecumenical. Being part of the Emergency Shelter Partnership is a shared blessing, shared among the homeless, the workers and the church.

Disaster Relief

We maintain a separate Disaster Relief Fund for humanitarian purposes. We replenish it through special offerings and fundraising events.

Hands-On Opportunities

The first Sunday of every month, we bring canned goods and other needed items for Luke’s Pantry. Luke’s Pantry was started many years ago when one of our youth asked why we only collected food during the holidays; why weren’t we doing it more often? That question has engendered the donation of thousands of pounds of needed items to the Community Center of Northern Westchester’s Food Pantry since its inception.

Over the course of the year, we sponsor projects such as collecting food/gifts during holidays for area families that are in need. We also provide school supplies for and organize clothing drives for the Community Center of Northern Westchester. We house and feed the local Homeless population through the Emergency Shelter Project in conjunction with other religious institutions. We have also provided opportunities for those who are in need to shop for free at our Tag Sale and Barn Sale.

Our Deacon’s Fund, for which funds are collected on the first Sunday of every month, provides financial assistance to assist members, friends, or neighbors who have a current financial problem which might be overcome or diminished by caring financial help. We provide food cards, payment directly to vendors for rent, electricity, etc., from this Fund.

Advocacy Initiative

We strive to become aware of the social conditions behind the benevolences we support through education and discourse because we believe advocacy is the impetus for social change in a democracy.

Firewood Ministry

Several years ago, one of our members began to chop up wood from trees that had been cut down in order to not have the wood go to waste. Over the years, this work has grown and is now a ministry of our Church. Some of our young people have taken a liking to this physical work and have invited others to join them. Firewood is available on an honor-system. Since the funds raised go towards our benevolences, we are hopeful that people will be generous with their donations. The woodpile is available 24-hours a day to come and pick up wood for fireplaces or fire pits. Special thanks goes to Westchester Tree Life for their ongoing supply of tree trunks for us to chop! If you would like to join in helping with this ministry, please call the Church office.