Pasadena
Presbyterian Church
ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PPC members and friends have "adopted" Jefferson Elementary School in the Pasadena Unified School District by offering their time to work one-on-one helping children learn to read. Volunteers sign up to tutor one or more children for an hour or two a week during school hours. Reading materials and guidelines for working with the children are provided by the school's Reading Specialist. Other volunteers work with children on reading and math in an after-school program and in a recently added Saturday morning program. Many of these students come from families where Spanish, Armenian or some other language is spoken at home. Jefferson Elementary is located on Villa Avenue between Hill and Allen. Volunteers report great satisfaction in developing relationships with these young learners, and test scores have shown that students who had tutors improved one or more grade levels in their reading ability in just one school year. Volunteers are invited to sign up on the church patio.
An annual event at PPC offers opportunities to buy and give alternative gifts for
people in need around the world. Particular gift options are chosen because
they bring healing to the sick, build self reliance, establish bridges of peace, feed
hungry people and protect our endangered environment. The Alternative Gift Market was
started at PPC in 1980 by then PPC member Harriet Pritchard as a lesson to youth Sunday
School classes to give gifts of love in the name of others as an alternative way of giving
at Christmastime. The organization has grown so that thousands of churches nationwide
hold their own Alternative Christmas Markets. Where it started at PPC, it is still a
much anticipated event each November. BREAD FOR THE WORLD
Bread For The World (BFW) is a nonpartisan Christian
citizen’s movement that works to end hunger. There are over 45,000 members nationwide
from all denominations. BFW members have been influencing U.S. policy by contacting
congressional representatives, senators and the president about timely issues since 1994.
Members can see their concerns translated into policies that benefit millions of hungry
people all over the world. The Western Regional Headquarters for BFW is housed at PPC. PPC
is a BFW Covenant Church. A Covenant Church learns about the causes of and the solutions
to hunger, especially the role of public policy, helps the hungry in our own community,
participates in the work of the BFW movement and encourages all PPC members to join BFW
and participate in the letter writing campaigns. EL CALVARIO
COMMUNITY CENTER
The purpose of El Calvario Community Center is to enable
the community to identify its need and then provide opportunities, resources, leadership
and facilities to help the people deal effectively with these problems in order to bring
about positive changes in their lives. Programs at El Calvario include: preschool,
tutoring, and other education classes; scholarships, athletics and camps; prenatal
clinics; counseling; clubs and neighborhood and community education; and immigration and
legalization classes.
FRIENDS IN DEED Friends In Deed, sponsored by the Ecumenical Council of Churches, can provide emergency groceries for people from Pasadena, Altadena and other surrounding communities on a referral basis. Non-emergency groceries, as available, and clothing for adults and children are also offered. All is offered at no charge subject to certain restrictions. The first Sunday of every month the PPC congregation is encourage to bring canned goods to donate for Friends In Deed. LA CASA DE SAN
GABRIEL La Casa exists to serve the multi-cultural community of San Gabriel and its surrounding areas for nearly 50 years. Its purpose is to encourage and support individuals and families in need. Through the provision of direct human services, advocacy, and referrals, La Casa seeks to enhance the educational and economical well being of the people it serves. PPC volunteers are currently trying to get a Bible study started for young people and their parents at La Casa. Work parties to help maintain La Casa is another mission volunteer opportunity for PPC members. PPC serves La Casa through financial donations through the Presbytery, the Board of Deacons, and the Presbyterian Women. PROGRAMS AT LA CASA DE SAN GABRIEL
MEALS ON WHEELS
Meals On Wheels provides meals on weekdays to shut-in elderly adults. The first Meals
On Wheels west of the Mississippi was started at PPC in 1960. The meals continue to be
made in the kitchen at PPC. Volunteers from PPC help deliver the meals to
their designated recipients. New volunteers are always welcomed.
PROJECT ANGEL
The Project Angel program provides needy mothers at County USC Medical
Center with bathtub layettes filled with infants necessities. PPC members (individuals,
families, small groups, Sunday School classes, etc.) volunteer to sponsor a bathtub
layette or to put one together. At the Family Christmas Eve service, the bathtub layettes
are presented as part of the offering for the Project Angel program and later delivered to
hospital. ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS
(AA) Several group meetings are available throughout the week at different times of the day at PPC for persons seeking help in overcoming problems with other people going through the same addiction experiences. The church office can provide information on meeting times for any of these groups. Alcoholics Anonymous Schedule There is an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at PPC every morning at 6:00
a.m. in South Hall. UNION STATION Union Station provides shelter for parents with children and single men
and women (up to 60 days). Intake hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Showers are
available from 2-4 p.m. Substance abuse recovery assistance, counseling, health screening,
information and referral services provide. Prepared meals are served daily. A team from
PPC cooks and serves at least once meal a month at Union Station under their
Adopt-a-Meal program. For
information about services or volunteer opportunities, call (626)449-4596. |
