Mission Activities
At South Park Presbyterian Church
| Tutoring Program Our Vision: To help each child understand that he/she is important and able to learn. Our Mission: Every child is important and we want to help them become all they can be. We believe that this community outreach underlines that belief. For 15 years it has been a blessing to help children learn to read and write. We work with 1st graders from Audubon School. They are picked up in our church van each Monday that school is in session, arriving at South Park Church at 3:15 and staying with us in the Ed. Center on the 2nd floor until 4:30 when they are driven home. A teacher rides along with the children and escorts each one to their door. During the tutoring time a nutritious snack is served. Our Director, Julie Hansen, provides a prepared packet of materials for each student at the beginning of the year. To begin each session, she reads a story and directs the children to a writing activity. The students then read individually with their tutors and work with supplemental materials. We applied for and received grants from the Day Foundation, Rausch Family Foundation and Bi-State Literacy Council. The money from these grants enable us to fund the entire program. To be a tutor you need no special training, just a desire to help the children. |
Director: * Julie Hansen, a 1st grade teacher at Audubon School Coordinators: * Peggy Lieblein * Patty Henneman Tutors include: * Carol Beane * May Carlson * Nancy Coin * Diane Each * Sallie Huntley * Kathy McQuady * Nancy Soseman * Bernice Swisher Substitute Tutors: * Pat Anderson * Elenora Benson * Kent Jones * JoAnn Love * Loretta McKamey * Betty Miller * Maxine Patterson * Bette Samuelson Van Drivers: * Bob Brown * Kent Jones * Don Samuelson |
| Drop-In Center Our Vision: A positive and encouraging place for young teens to spend time after school. Our Mission: To provide a safe, supervised, positive place for young teens to have fun after school. The Center has been open for 18 years to 7th and 8th grade students from Washington Junior High School every day that school is in session from 2:30 to 5:00pm. At the Center they can socialize with friends, have a healthy snack, get help with their homework and enjoy many different recreational activities. Students are encouraged to do their homework while at the Center and staff and volunteers offer assistance when needed. The Center has a computer lab with 4 computers. Other activities include pool (including tournaments), cooking, ping pong, foosball, shooting baskets, video games, weekly movies, card and board games, making jewelry and "hanging out" with friends. Occasional field trips are offered throughout the year, including the IMAX theater, the Rock Island Fitness Center, ice skating, roller skating, a hay rack ride and a River Hawks basketball game. To be eligible for field trips students earn points doing such things as cleaning up the Center, cooking for the group, improving grades, participating in service projects, etc. Service Projects in 2007 included an oral history project called "Connecting Generations" in conjunction with the Rock Island Library and the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cites, being part of the Rock Island Clean & Beautiful float in the Labor Day Parade, participating in the RICAB Clean Up Day amd making hundreds of paper hats for Earth Day. |
Program Directors: * Josh Kirchner * Cynthia Garcia Blacker Board Members: * Don Berg * Marilyn Kieffer * Rev. Ron Quay * Sue McDevitt * Wendy Smith Staff: * Sam Fulton Volunteers: * Rufus Greer * Wendy Smith * Sue McDevitt |
| Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) Our Vision: For people to live happy, productive and drug free. Our Mission: To provide a place where people can gather to support each other in living a drug free life. NA is a 12 step program for helping people to cope with their addictions and learn to live drug free. |
Gathering Times: * Fridays @ 10:30pm to Midnight * Saturdays @ 5:00 pm Down stairs in Room 101 |
| Prayer Chain Our Vision: For all in need to feel the presents of the Lord. Our Mission: To lift those in need to the Lord in prayer. We pray for members and non-members alike. Please contact a committee member if you would like us to pray for you. |
Members: * Pauline Van Eaton * Pat Anderson * Betty Kramer * Kay Pierceson * Sue Roberts * Linda Ullrick |
| Prayer Shawl Ministry As we knit the shawls we pray for the recipient that they will feel the Love and presence of Jesus Christ during their time of need. We meet on the 3rd Monday of the Month at 1:00 pm |
Presbyterian Women * Harriet Plutz * Cheryl Pople |
In the Quad Cities
| Meal Site Our Vision: By feeding God's people all may be nourished both physically and spiritually. Our Mission: To nourish those who lack the ways and means of feeding themselves and their families. |
Served on 3rd Wednesday each Month Contacts: * Jim Fisher * Sue Roberts * Marilyn Kieffer * Lori Kieffer-Garrison * Shirley Suarez |
| Food Pantry Food items are collected on the 3rd Sunday of every month and taken to the 2nd Baptist Church in Rock Island. Monetary donations go to Churches United for their Hunger Mission which supports 19 food pantries and 3 meal sites. In 2007 we had a "Peanut Butter Lady". During the school breaks when the children had no school lunches, several times a week she would go to the Food Pantry and personally hand out peanut butter and a fresh loaf of bread. |
Collected 3rd Sunday each Month Deacons: Community Needs Comm. |
| Crop Walk |
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| Habitat for Humanity |
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| Christian Family Care Center |
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| Church of Peace - Emergency Program |
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| Toys for Tots New toys are collected to be given as Christmas presents to children in the Quad City area. This is a national mission sponsored by the US Marine Corps |
Collected in December Deacons: Community Needs Comm. |
| Mitten Tree Mitten, scarfs and hats are collected or made from donated yarn for children who attend Rock Island schools. |
Collected in December Presbyterian Women |
| Christmas Baskets Each year we fill and deliver "Thinking of You Baskets". The baskets are filled with fruit, candies and homemade cookies. |
Delivered in early December Deacons: Community Needs Comm. |
In the World
| Blanket Sunday |
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One Great Hour of Sharing "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have" Hebrews 13:16a |
Collected on Palm Sunday |
| Pentecost Offering for Children at Risk, Youth and Young Adults This year's Offering them, "When you send forth your spirit" from Psalm 104:30 calls on us to push past our comfortable boundaries and offer our resources to make a difference in the lives of children, youth and young adults. Through the Pentecost Offering the church expresses a common commitment to provide hope for children at risk, Opportunities for youth and young adults to grow in their faith, and short term mission service options for young adults. The Pentecost Offering supports this mission work through the following ministries:
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Collected on May 11 |
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Thank Offering The Offering will be providing - clean water in Uganda and Kenya - vocational education for orphaned children in Peru - Farm animals to provide food and income for widows and their children - Dental care for low income families - enhanced quality of life for persons living in nursing homes - seeds and plants for food and income plus training in agricultural methods. These are only a few of the uses of this mission money. We encourage you to join the Presbyterian Women in giving to the Thank Offering to provide funding for next years mission projects. |
Collected on the 2nd Sunday in November Presbyterian Women |
| World Peacemaking Offering |
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| Christmas Joy Offering |
Collected in December Stewardship Committee |
| Heifer International Project The children of the congregation saved and collected change to be put in a jar each week during Advent. After Christmas the money was counted. Then the children decided what animals to buy from the Heifer International Project for families in need. They purchased a Milk Menagerie, a Flock of Hope, a Trio of Rabbits and a Hive of Bees |
Collected in December |