Volunteer / Mission / Mentoring Opportunities
Serving our community as disciples of Jesus Christ
Are you looking for ways to serve by volunteering your time and resources?
Our church is a vital congregation, attending to our community by providing assistance to those in need. You do not need to travel far distances abroad or to hard-hit areas in America to make a difference. The needs in Rochester and surrounding area are great and so are the opportunities to serve.
We welcome participation from non-members as well as members, anything from Cooking for Cameron to mission trips to Kenya.
Below are highlights of a few of many organizations and activities supported by our church and members. Check out the other “Mission and Outreach” pages on the website for other volunteer opportunities.
Habitat for Humanity
Cameron Community Ministries 48 Cameron St. Rochester, NY
Cooking For Cameron - Second Monday and Fourth Wednesday of each month (9-11 am)
Our church sends teams of 3-4 people with a designated lead person, to prepare meals in Cameron’s kitchen. Occasionally we prepare food in our church kitchen instead. While we prepare the luncheon meal, we catch up with Cameron staff on the latest news and with one another. They love the help, sharing their kitchen and seeing what we concoct. We love the camaraderie and personal connection and putting our own spin on the cooking!
Mentoring, Tutoring, Teaching, Gardening, Construction – do you have a skill or training you can share? Contact us to explore opportunities! Call 585-586-5688.
Family Promise of Greater Rochester (formerly RAIHN)
Family Promise of Greater Rochester (FPGROC, formerly RAIHN) assists families at risk of or experiencing homelessness to achieve sustainable independence by providing person-centered, holistic services in collaboration with the greater community.
Prior to Covid-19, on a rotating schedule, we hosted and fed overnight guests at the church. This pandemic has affected how Family Promise has been able to help families experiencing homelessness. Since March of 2020, families were placed in a motel and are now sheltered in apartments. As of January 2022, the organization decided NOT to return to the congregational model of shelter.
As volunteers, our efforts have changed from providing sleeping accommodations at the church, cooking meals, and interacting with the families to supporting the organization with monetary donations, gift cards, and delivered meals on our assigned rotation dates. Your donations are welcomed! Watch for announcements of our next scheduled rotation.
We've Got Your Backpack
This local program is how we are addressing some of the 20+ million children in the U. S. that are at risk of hunger. Many children, particularly in the city, receive free or cost-reduced meals while attending school during the week. On weekends, however, an alarming number of those kids have little or no food. This program helps to meet their needs by giving backpacks to the kids to help supply their weekend meal requirements. Members collect the bags each week from the student's school and replenish the supplies in time to meet that weekend's needs. FPC members raise the funds and donate the food needed to stuff as many as 60 bags each week. Wegmans Supermarkets and FoodLink are valuable partners to the success of this mission.
Bite-Sized Ministry Opportunities
There are many opportunities for us to "Walk the Talk". Sometimes the contribution of a small amount of time, one time, makes a great contribution for what is needed. Here are a few we'd like to highlight.
Drivers - Elderberry Express
Elderberry Express provides transportation to doctors, adult day care facilities, banks, beauty salons, and grocery shopping. Additionally, some of our members need help coming to worship from one of the Senior Living Centers in Pittsford and the Rochester area. They are able, but just don't drive. If you would like to join FPC members and could drive some time, contact the church office at 586-5688.
Cookie Baking
Presbyterians like to eat! If you would like to share your home-made treats for memorial receptions, music concerts, or meals given to those undergoing life's transitions, please feel free to place your goodies in the freezer labeled for your preferred destination.
Landscaping
What is the Landscape Crew and who serves on it?
The care of the church grounds, including the memorial garden, is undertaken by the “Landscape Crew” of about 20 interested church members. Participation is on an individual basis with some members helping monthly, others a couple times a season, and some one time only. There are plenty of opportunities to help.
How often does the Landscape Crew meet?
The crew meets once a month, usually mid-month, for one and a half to two hours maximum from May through October. There is always a scheduled rain date.
What does the Landscape Crew do?
From the street, the first impression of our church must be a welcoming physical appearance. It tells the community we care. Routine lawn care is assigned to our Sexton and the Landscape Crew tends the gardens, trees, and overall landscaping. This includes planning and mulching the gardens, weeding, caring for plantings, watering, and tree maintenance. The Crew provides an opportunity for members of FPC to develop friendships and to provide service to FPC. Digging in the dirt and communing with nature are another way to serve God’s work at Pittsford Pres.
What is the yearly timeline?
April – assess the property for broken tree limbs, evaluate plantings, draw up plans.
May – winter cleanup, first weeding, planting, pruning, watering, and mulching.
May through October – routine garden care including weeding, watering, replanting, improving.
October – raking, preparing the flower beds for the winter.
How can I become involved in the Landscape Crew?
Additional volunteers are needed throughout the year, especially for the Memorial Garden. Look for opportunities in our church communications – The Good News, the Bulletin, and weekly news updates. Contact the church office at (585) 586-5688 or connect@pittsfordpres.org
Anyone is welcome to help any time or multiple times.
Bring your own garden tools.
Snacks and drinks are provided.
Other Volunteer & Mentoring Opportunities in Rochester and Surrounding Communities
You and our church can make an impact on our community by serving other organizations not specifically supported by our Mission and Outreach. Check out these organizations and who the First Presbyterian contact is.
HOPE INITIATIVES
Breaking the cycle of dependency through serving others, developing skills, and thinking differently.
https://www.makinghopepossible.com/leadership
First Presbyterian Contact: Luis Martinez
Mary’s Place: A welcoming community for refugee empowerment
To reach out in love, hope, and service to refugees of all faiths and nationalities, particularly those in the Maplewood/Edgerton neighborhood.
http://www.marysplaceoutreach.org/home/about-us/
First Presbyterian Contact: Luis Martinez
Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services
Collaborating to provide services and opportunities to ensure assimilation of refugees into our society by providing assistance as they strive to be self-sustaining neighbors while still maintaining their own cultural heritage.
https://www.rochesterrefugeeservices.org/
First Presbyterian Contact: Luis Martinez
Saint’s Place - Welcoming the Stranger
Our Mission - Provide incoming and existing refugees with needed clothing. All arriving refugees are given a warm winter coat, hat, gloves, and boots to prepare them for our harsh winters.
https://saintsplace.org/welcoming-the-stranger
First Presbyterian Contact: Luis Martinez
CHAMPP
East High School students who participated in Fitness Science trials, have advanced physically and academically thanks to the program’s unique combination of athletic training, nutrition, and mindset skill development. Leaders of the initiative include Michael Maloney, MD (Res ’97), Calvin Cole, PhD, research assistant professor, and Shaun Nelms (EdD ’13, MS ’04), Associate Professor, East High Educational Partnership Organization superintendent, and William & Sheila Konar, Director of the Center for Urban Education Success at East High School.
CHAMPP is looking for volunteers to help expand the program city wide. Volunteers are needed to act as mentors and life coaches for Student Athletes.
No website available at this time.
First Presbyterian Contacts: Dick Burton and Dan Harrison
Little Helpers
Little Helpers has been helping children help others since December 2010. The family volunteer group organizes monthly service projects for children of all ages.
The program is designed to help young people understand the value of volunteering, recognize the blessings in their lives, broaden their community perspective, and feel the sense of accomplishment received from lending a helping hand. The ultimate goal of the program is to raise confident children who see giving back to the community as a normal aspect of their lives.
Little Helpers was created in Memphis, but today has chapters across the country including in Rochester, NY; Mooresville/Charlotte, NC; Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; Las Vegas; Virginia Beach, VA, and even Dublin, Ireland.
Little Helpers' main purpose is to give to those in need regardless of where they might live, work, play, or study. Sometimes needs are found in areas like the neighborhoods where we live and sometimes where we don't.
The parents of all the Little Helpers are asked to participate anytime they can. But if they are uncomfortable with anything about any of the events, they may sit out and join in the next time.
All kindness projects are 100% volunteer events. Little Helpers is not responsible for a family's health and safety. This means parents take 100% responsibility for the health and safety of their children during volunteer events.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/littlehelpersofrochester
First Presbyterian Contact: Tanya Van Dorn
For any of the above - either contact the First Presbyterian contact person, use the Contact>General Communication tab under Contact, send an email to reachout@pittsfordpres.org or call the church office at (585) 586-5688. Someone will get back to you, promptly!