Local Mission Focus

A core element of our faith is to reflect God’s love – to love one another, including the humble, hungry, handicapped and hurt among us. We are commanded -– “Do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” We of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) have a rich array of opportunities to reach out and love those in need.  

Contact Local Missions at lmission@wpc-alex.org

CHESS

Westminster supports a number of local organizations serving the needs of our community.  The Local Mission Committee has organized the services these organizations provide under the acronym CHESS for Children, Hunger, Education, Shelter, and Self-Sufficiency.  During the months of January and February,  the Local Missions focus is on Education.  Many of the local organizations supported by Westminster include some type of education for the people they serve, including Guest House, George Mason Tutoring, ALIVE!, Bag Lunch Program, and Carpenter’s Shelter.  Westminster supports all of these programs financially, and many of its members contribute their time and talents to them as volunteers.  If you would like to know more about these programs, or would like to be a volunteer, please contact localmission@wpc-alex.org.
 

 ALIVE!

Westminster joins with 40 other congregations in Alexandria and Arlington to support ALIVE! Inc. (Alexandrians InVolved Ecumenically). Our involvement in this multi-faceted, ecumenical, volunteer-driven social services program began in 1969. Food, furniture, and housewares are supplied to anyone in need and emergency monetary assistance is provided for rent, utilities, doctor bills, and transportation. Temporary shelter is provided at the ALIVE! House and childcare for low-income working families is provided at the Child Development Center. Contact: Margie Carpenter 703-892-8164 www.alive-inc.org

ALIVE! sponsors the Last Saturday Food Distribution Program, which distributes bags of food at three locations in Alexandria to 6000 households that depend on monthly social security and other support checks. Volunteers are needed to unload trucks at Cora Kelly Elementary on Friday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and to distribute food at the three locations on the last Saturday of each month from 8:30 a.m. – noon. Contact: Louise Anderson 703-820-3568

To donate food place donations in the baskets located next to the education wing entryway or in Fellowship Hall. Needs include: canned soups; canned fruit and vegetables; jelly; canned tuna and meat; cereal; and one pound bags of rice. Contact: Margie Carpenter 703-892-8164

The Furniture Program collects donated beds, dressers, tables, chairs and other basic household necessities and distributes to recipients who have just left a shelter or abusive relationship, graduated from a program that promotes self-sufficiency, or recently immigrated to this country. To donate furniture, call 703-837-9300 (option 3) or go to www.alive-inc.org to arrange a pick-up. ALIVE! collects only in Alexandria or Fairlington east of 395.

 Arlington Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless (AACH)

AACH provides shelter, counseling, and employment training for homeless families to assist them in rebuilding their lives. Volunteers are needed for telephone answering, transportation, child care, and furniture delivery/pick-up. Contact: Priscilla Goodwin, or 703-549-6139.  www.aachhomeless.org

Bag Lunch Program

Sandwiches and Servers for Bag Lunch Program – Westminster works with other local churches to serve lunch daily at a church in Old Town. We can always use more help! Westminster serves about four days each month, but even if you only can serve one or two days a year, you can make a difference. To make sandwiches, use whole wheat bread, turkey or other deli meat, and cheese, no condiments. Please be generous with the meat and cheese as this often is the only meal of the day for our guests. No peanut butter please. Cut each sandwich in half and seal individually in a sandwich bag, label each bag by type (e.g., T, H, RB), then pack the sandwiches back into the bread bag. Label the outer bag with your name and date and place on the top shelf in the freezer in the Fellowship Hall kitchen. It is best to check in before making sandwiches to see what is needed. If you can make sandwiches or help serve, please contact Kathy Stenzel 703-683-4516.

Bag Lunch Soup – Clients of the Bag Lunch program enjoy soup during the winter months. In November and February, the Soup Group meets to prepare Westminster’s Turkey Chili supply in the Westminster kitchen. Contact: Louise Anderson,  or 703-820-3568.
 

Carpenter’s Shelter

Carpenter’s Shelter is Alexandria’s shelter for homeless families, with many children currently in residence. Carpenter’s mission is to break the cycle of homelessness in our community. Westminster Members prepare and serve dinner on the first Monday of the month. Other needs for children include tutoring, chaperoning trips and providing school supplies. Contact for serving dinner: Marti Klein,  or 703-979-1023. Contact for Carpenter’s Shelter programs: Rita Grazda, 703-837-1735. www.carpentersshelter.org

George Mason Tutoring

Volunteers from Westminster tutor elementary school students next door to Westminster on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Tutors work with one or two children to assist them with homework and other school assignments. Contact: Elizabeth O’Brien,  or 703-684-3980
 

Guest House

Guest House provides housing and services for women coming out of jail or prison who need support to transition successfully back into their lives and communities. The program at Guest House is designed to empower the women by providing the tools necessary to achieve self-sufficiency, including housing, food, counseling, and assistance with employment, medical, legal, and social services. For volunteer opportunities or supplies and services needed contact: Debra Livingston, 703-931-3530.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels delivers two meals a day to homebound people in Alexandria five days a week. Volunteers are needed two hours on the third Tuesday morning of each month. Contact: Ede Thomas, or 703-836-7727. www.mowaa.org

Rebuilding Together Alexandria

Rebuilding Together is a nationwide effort that repairs the homes of homeowners who cannot do it themselves. Westminster, along with other organizations and faith communities, help repair/refurbish homes each year on the last Saturday in April. To volunteer contact: Eric Weiss,  or 703-960-0978. www.rebuildingtogetheralexandria.org

Additional Organizations Supported by WPC

Westminster also provides financial support to: Child and Family Network Center; Senior Services of Alexandria; Good News Jail Ministry; and Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services.