Mission Partners
Supporting mission efforts everywhere!
DPC supports mission efforts locally, regionally, nationally, and worldwide that focus on basic human needs including food, water, shelter, education, and safety. This support has many facets, including the distribution of funds to numerous worthwhile organizations. As responsible stewards, the mission committee carefully investigates each organization that requests funding from DPC to assess that each organization is fiscally responsible and truly serves Christ and those in need. In addition, our congregation is committed to participating in a variety of mission activities that impact those in need, both locally and around the world.
A list of the organizations with which DPC currently partners can be found below.
Americans for Native Americans
Southwest United States
http://www.americansfornativeamericans.org/
DPC helps provide eyeglasses and food for children living on reservations in the Southwest. Each year, ANA and DPC host a trip to the Southwest, where church members and friends learn about the struggles and strengths of our Native American neighbors and volunteer at the Community Pantry in New Mexico, which serves one of the most food insecure areas in the country.
Bethel Presbyterian Church
Philadelphia, PA
Our congregation supports Bethel’s weekly meal program in Philadelphia. Volunteers are needed to help twice a month on Saturdays with Bethel’s Community Meal. The time commitment is from 11 a.m. (leaving Doylestown) until returning home about 5:30 p.m. If you would like to help, you can sign up for a Saturday that works for you here: https://bit.ly/DPC-BPC
Caring for Friends
Philadelphia Area
Each month, DPC hosts a meal-packing event to provide meals for shut-ins in our area.
Carversville Farm Foundation
https://www.carversvillefarm.org
Carversville Farm Foundation (CFF) is a 350 acre certified organic farm, located in Carversville, Pa. CFF grows top quality vegetables, grass fed beef, pastured poultry and seedlings – all for donation to Philadelphia area soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters and hospitals. Funded primarily by philanthropic founders, they also receive funding from a mix of corporate and individual support.
Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
The Christian Legal Clinic is a free legal aid organization that serves low-income people in Philadelphia, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Their mission is to do justice with the love of God by advocating for those in need in the Philadelphia area. They provide free legal consultations and representation at eight different clinic locations and two neighborhood law offices. They are funded primarily through individual donations and other churches/organizations.
Coalition to Shelter and Support the Homeless
Bucks County, PA
The Coalition to Shelter and Support the Homeless (CSSH) is an alliance of individuals and organizations assisting unsheltered adults in Central Bucks County. Year round, we support those in need through community meals and other outreach efforts – including securing needed identifications, providing gift cards for emergency meals, purchasing clothing for job interviews, offering financial support to access housing, and more. They help individuals make a plan to pursue housing, employment, mentally and physically healthier lifestyles, and generally fuller lives defined by safety and dignity.
Community Pantry
Gallup, New Mexico
http://thecommunitypantry.org/
DPC members give time to work in the Pantry in Gallup, NM twice a year – some members returning numerous times.
Doylestown Area FISH
Doylestown, PA
http://www.doylestownfish.org/
Doylestown Area Fish is a 100% volunteer driven organization that assists those who are unhoused or housing insecure. The goal of this organization is to reduce homelessness and housing insecurity in Central Bucks County. Funding for this program comes from individuals from the community, local churches and other charitable organizations. Please refer to the website for opportunities to give of your time.
Feed My Starving Children
Worldwide – Developing Nations
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is an organization that offers direct ways to get involved and do something about the crises of hunger in children who inhabit third world countries. Donations to the organization fund the ingredients that go into the meal packets. These packets contain ingredients developed by food science and nutrition professionals to supplement nutritional needs and reduce problems with malnutrition. Volunteers hand-pack the meals. The meals are then donated to FMSC food partners around the world. Funding sources come from individuals, churches, foundations and corporations.
Hunting Park Christian Academy
Philadelphia, PA
Hunting Park Christian Academy (HPCA) is located in Hunting Park area of Philadelphia where there is a high level of poverty. HPCA provides a safe, nurturing, Christian education to children in Pre-K through 8th grade. DPC members volunteer at the school and are members of their board. Scholarships have been provided through past capital campaigns at DPC. There is a school cleaning and maintenance day every August that DPC participates in to help get the school ready for students returning in the fall. Volunteers are also welcome to help out with different tasks during the school year.
Life Abundant
Bucks County, PA
https://www.lifeabundantinc.org/
Life Abundant is a prison ministry in Bucks County that provides support to prisoners and their families. This nonprofit organization assists inmates, ex-offenders and their families in developing Christian principles in their social, economic and spiritual lives and become productive members of society. During Advent, individuals in this organization have some of their needs met by our Giving Tree.
Meals on Wheels of Central Bucks County
Doylestown, PA
https://www.cbmealsonwheels.org/
Meals on Wheels provides homebound individuals in Central and Upper Bucks with meals in their homes regardless of their ability to pay. This allows many people to remain in their homes and out of assisted living.
NEXT Church
NEXT Church is a network of leaders (ordained and lay) across the PCUSA that seek to answer the question – What is next for the church? Its mission is to strengthen a vibrant and thriving PC(USA) that shares the Good News of Jesus Christ in ways that matter and have impact on God’s evolving world? Their focus is on how the church can be anti-racist and promote equal representation. This ties in with DPC’s Matthew 25 initiative.
Presbytery of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
DPC supports 7 mission initiatives in the Philadelphia area through our Presbytery.
Presbyterian Education Board
DPC provides full scholarships for 8 students to attend a Christian school in Pakistan, an opportunity which may enable them to lift their families out of poverty.
Rolling Harvest
Rolling Harvest collects donated produce from local farms and markets and distributes it to non-profit hunger-relief agencies, assuring that people who are food insecure have access to fresh produce that is often very expensive at the grocery store. Rolling Harvest partners with 43 farms and food producers. Volunteer opportunities to plant and harvest exist during the growing season.
VITA Education Services
Doylestown, PA
Vita offers free instruction in the community and in the Bucks County Correctional facilities to prepare adults to function effectively in their roles as family members, employees, and citizens. Vita offers classes in English as a second language, literacy and high school equivalency, and multifaceted decision programs. For youth ages 13 to 18 at the Bucks County Youth Center, programs are offered in cognitive behavioral skills as well as career exploration and employment. Most volunteer positions require a minimum age of 21. There is no direct DPC involvement with volunteer initiatives; however, there are opportunities available (please refer to the website above). To learn about the organization’s history, click here and to get a glimpse at what it means to volunteer, click here.
Ages: 21 and older
Welcoming the Stranger
Philadelphia, PA
https://www.welcomingthestranger.org/
Welcoming the Stranger is an educational non-profit that offers free classes in English as a Second Language (ESL), computer skills, and United States citizenship exam preparation to adult immigrants and refugees in the Philadelphia metro region. Founded in 1999, Welcoming the Stranger has taught over 5,700 students from 112 different countries. Financial support comes from individuals, places of worship, and local businesses, as well as grants from area foundations, which allows all programs to remain free of charge for students. DPC has been involved with sponsoring refugees from this program. DPC currently helps fund the salary of the program coordinator.