Latrobe Street Mission is a homeless shelter located in nearby Parkersburg, West Virginia which provides emergency housing, meals, clothing, and counseling for anyone in need. Two hundred dollars a month goes from the church’s Mission Commission budget to support this project, and periodically children collect supplemental supplies, as in Vacation Bible School projects.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events.

To fight food insecurity, GoPacks provides students with nutritious foods during school weekends and breaks, while working to increase families’ resources and support networks.

GoPacks takes a two step approach to fight food insecurity:

1. Provide access to consistent, nutritious food.

2. Help build up a family’s resources and support networks

so that it doesn’t face food insecurity in the future.

Poverty goes beyond financial resources. For a family to break out of poverty, it must build up many resources; including those in education, job and life skills, health, and support networks. That is why GoPacks partners with local community groups to offer multiple ways for families to increase their resources.

Food insecurity and poverty are complex problems. Consequently, their solutions are also complex, and take time to effect change.

First Presbyterian Church piloted the GoPacks elementary program at Washington Elementary School in the spring of 2015.   Since then GoPacks has become a stand alone nonprofit, operating three programs servicing children, preschool age through 12th grade, and their families.

If you or your business would like to learn more about the GoPacks program or how you can become involved please contact the program’s Director, Heather Warner.

Email: Heather.Warner@GoPacks4kids.org

We receive four special offerings during the year that are used by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to support ministry locally, nationally, and globally.

The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is received during Holy Week on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. An early church tradition tied Easter to the lunar calendar. Its observance ranges from March 22 to April 25. The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering is used for refugee ministry, disaster relief, and the self -development of people.

The Pentecost Offering is received on Pentecost Sunday, which is seven weeks after Easter. It is used for training and support of young adult volunteers, youth ministries, and child advocacy. Churches keep 40% of this offering for local ministry. In 2014, the Mission Commission designated our portion to the Summer Backpack Program.

The Peace and Global Witness Offering, formerly known as the Peacemaking Offering, is received on the first Sunday of October, which is also World Communion Sunday. The denomination uses this offering to address areas of injustice. The church keeps 25% of this offering for local ministry. In 2014, we designated our portion to support EVE, Inc. which seeks to end domestic violence.

The Joy Gift Offering is received in December, normally the Sunday before Christmas. This offering supports retired church workers and racial-ethnic colleges associated with the denomination.

Mid-Ohio Valley Interfaith is an initiative that seeks to find unity, support, and dialogue among all faith communities. A number of programs have been created through this effort since its inception in 2016. The need for inclusive and unified support among religious and spiritual groups is imperative. Together we are able to ensure that all people can have a seat at the table. (Our Pastor is a member of this initiative.)