OUTREACH
For us at First Pres, following the model Christ provided–being a servant to all–is the fulfillment of our calling. Serving each other and our community. Downtown and throughout the city. In order to carry out this calling we have many outreach programs.
Soup Kitchen
Since the 1980’s we have continuously provided hot soup, fresh sandwiches and desserts to all of our guests. The Soup Kitchen was started over 40 years ago to provide a hot meal on Sunday afternoons to the food insecure of Memphis. Back then, there was no organization in Memphis that offered a meal on Sundays. Our Soup Kitchen founder famously said, “well people are hungry on Sundays too!” And we started from there. First Presbyterian Church provides the facilities and the leadership while volunteers from around Memphis assist in welcoming our guests, serving a hot meal, and outfitting guests in the clothes closet. You don’t have to be Presbyterian to help in the Soup Kitchen; we value our partners in this ministry, no matter your faith, sexual orientation or age.
WE SERVE ALL
FOOD PANTRY
In partnership with Second Harvest and Trader Joe’s, First Pres is pleased to offer a weekly food pantry in conjunction with our Soup Kitchen and Clothes Closet on Sunday Afternoons. We can’t predict the food we will receive for the pantry, but we often receive bakery items, fresh produce, canned items, and some meat. Our food pantry is organized and run by church members and local volunteers.
Clothes Closet
On Sunday afternoons we continue to provide men’s and women’s seasonal work clothing for those in need. We expect the need to increase in the coming years and welcome contributions in kind from churches and organizations throughout the Mid South. As with the Soup Kitchen we welcome volunteers to help with the sorting and distribution of garments and accessories.
Birth Certificate Program
You probably haven’t thought about your birth certificate in years. You don’t need to. You are thoroughly documented with driver’s licenses, social security cards, utility bills and bank statements. Most of our guest are not. Their valid IDs have expired and they cannot begin to rebuild their identity without a certified birth certificate. On the first two Sundays of each month, we interview clients, process and pay for their birth certificate applications. This past year we interviewed 366 clients and processed applications to 22 states from Maine to California. Since many of our clients are in a residency transition, their birth certificates are returned to the church and we allow the clients to receive mail and use our church address for their correspondence.
More Outreach Opportunities
ROOM
IN THE INN
MIFA
THE
HOSPITALITY
HUB
Room in the Inn
First Presbyterian is proud to partner with the saints of Room In The Inn, a congregational shelter program that has been ministering to our unhoused neighbors in Downtown Memphis for over 15 years. Pickup takes place seven days a week in our Fellowship Hall from November 1st through March 31st.
MIFA
Volunteers from the congregation of First Presbyterian Church have assigned days and routes with the MIFA Meals on Wheels program. MIFA is a longterm ministry partner of First Pres, and once found its home in our church building during the early days. We continue to support MIFA’s work in Memphis through MIFA Community Days.
THE HOSPITALITY HUB
First Presbyterian Church is a founding member of The Hospitality HUB, and continues to support The Hospitality HUB at 146 Jefferson. Created by the Downtown Churches Association in 2007, The Hospitality HUB provides spiritual sanctuary for Memphis’ homeless and particularly to the newly homeless. The HUB connects its clients to resources that help them achieve physical, mental, spiritual and economic stability. The HUB provides counseling, processes birth certificate applications, interviews for state IDs and makes their own runs to the licensing bureau on the 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of each month.