During March our 200th anniversary celebration focuses on Outreach. Member Tamara Slaughter will share stories of service to our community and the world.
You won’t be surprised that First Presbyterian Church created or helped bring three life-changing entities to our community. Take a look!
After the economic crash of 2008, many people lost their livelihoods. Several church members saw the need and started FPC Jobs. They met faithfully twice a week in Memorial Building helping job seekers polish resumes, practice interview skills, and network, and solicited the asked the congregation to share job openings they heard about. Coffee, donuts, and a brief devotional broke the ice and encouraged camaraderie. Over 350 “graduates” found positions and got back on their career path! The group has since become its own entity, Triad Career Network, Inc., and continues to assist people seeking jobs.
Another work-related organization is StepUp Greensboro, an offshoot of StepUp Ministry founded in Raleigh. Church members helped start the local program. Programming includes job skills, finance, budgeting, goal setting, and job search strategies. Character Development groups meet weekly for speakers, mentoring, motivation, and skill building. The Life Skills program is a life-changing, 36-week Tuesday evening commitment that includes all these and a savings plan that matches weekly participant $10 contributions. At graduation, the recipient receives a certificate, a complete interview outfit, a wealth of skills and contacts, and a $700 nest egg for which they helped save and budget. StepUp now operates from the Shetler Building. Many FPC members are actively involved on the Board, as resume reviewers, as practice interviewers, as clothing consultants when participants put together interview outfits in the professional attire “closet” housed in the former church library, and as mentors.
In 2012, a Raleigh-based group called Wheels4Hope approached FPC. They were interested in expanding their program of accepting donated vehicles, making sure they ran well, and selling them for $500 to those in need. Our church liked the program and, with three other churches contributing, set up in Greensboro complete with a building that had six automotive repair bays and a manager. Ceremonies to give the cars away — most often to single mothers — include blessings, thanks, and usually tears. What a difference reliable transportation made to these families! While no longer part of our church’s outreach, Wheels4Hope still operates in Greensboro.
Serving our community in these important ways is part of what we do.
