Mission Committee at GPC (What We Do)
In answering Christ’s call, the mission committee engages the congregation in addressing the needs of vulnerable children and families, including those who have endured poverty, racism, and generations of neglect from our larger community, or who have been affected or displaced by violence and conflict.
Click here to read our full Mission and Values Statement.
Refugee Resettlement
“I was a stranger and you invited me in.” - Matthew 25:35
Help us welcome refugees. For decades, going back at least until 1956, when refugees from the Hungarian Uprising began to enter the United States, GPC has supported refugee families from all parts of the world. They have fled with little more than their clothes and some family treasures and need our support to set up their new apartments and to adjust to life in America. Over the last three years, we have resettled or are resettling eight families, all from Afghanistan.
GPC members have generously provided furniture, bedding, household items, internet, and laptops for several refugee families who arrived in Northern Virginia. In addition to setting up an apartment, we, as a family’s needs dictate, help with jobs, schooling and available services via the LSS Good Neighbor program.
Thank you to all who have made off-pledge and in-kind contributions for our recent resettlements. These donations will help families get settled into their new homes. There are still new refugee families resettling in the Northern Virginia area who need help establishing an apartment and otherwise become familiar with life here. With any resettlement, there is always a lot to do in a short period of time. We would love for you to join us. To join the refugee committee, please email Dwight Smith.
If you would like to make a financial contribution, click on the link below and select “Refugee Mission.”
Excel Academy
Support the Families at Excel Academy. GPC continues to nurture its decade-long partnership with Excel Academy, a girls’ school in Southeast D.C. with over 400 students, 82% of whom are classified as “At Risk” (those who qualify for government assistance, are classified as homeless, or who are under the care of the Child and Family Services Agency). We keep an emergency food pantry stocked with Costco groceries, purchase school uniforms and provide the occasional lunch and team-building workshop for school staff. In 2021 during the pandemic, GPC provided $135,000 for cash assistance and financial training to twenty families who were able to use the funds to repair a car, pay medical bills, pay rent to prevent eviction and buy food for their families. In 2022 we provided $2,000 in cash assistance to each of five additional families. The principal and staff reported that the conversations they were able to have with these families about these cash disbursements gave them a much deeper insight into the complications and difficulties they faced. In 2023 we will help pay for uniforms and after-school workshops for students to participate in a drumline corps in local parades and festivals. Now that the pandemicis waning, we look forward to being present in the school for PTA meetings, tutoring efforts, and in-person events. Contact Marianne Roos for more information or to join us in this rewarding effort to bring our two communities closer together.
Remember Niger
Remember Niger Coalition is dedicated to unifying people and mobilizing resources to expand quality educational opportunities in Niger, Africa. They work side by side with on-the-ground Nigerien partners to ensure that more children receive a high-quality education in Niger, the least developed country in the world. There are currently 13 schools in Niger that have been built with, and are being sustained by, significant support from Remember Niger. Over a dozen GPC families sponsor more than 30 children in the Remember Niger schools. Please join us in sponsoring a student!
In addition to individual member donations, GPC’s annual Mission Budget supports Remember Niger programs, including school construction, teacher training, special programs to encourage girls’ education, and schools for disabled students.
In the fall, please join us for our Rally for Niger, a fun run/walk that all are invited to.
Children of Uganda
Children of Uganda supports vulnerable children in Uganda by providing quality education and livelihood support to them and their families. COU runs several schools, at which most children board during the school year. GPC supports them primarily through sponsoring three children: Erdrine, an 11-year-old boy, Mariam, a 16-year-old girl, and Shamim, a 17-year-old girl.
Homelessness
We continue our mission to support our homeless community through our partnerships with Georgetown Ministry Center, the Saturday Suppers and Friendship Place. Each of these organizations meets a separate need in our community through offering shelter, supportive services, and/or meals.
Georgetown Ministry Center
The Georgetown Ministry Center (GMC) was created by several Georgetown churches over thirty years ago to form relationships with Georgetown’s homeless population. Besides offering a drop-in center with showers, laundry facilities, snacks and lunches, it helps its clients establish bank accounts, provides a mailing address, and assists with understanding the supportive services offered by organizations and the government.
GMC Extends. For many years, our congregation has hosted the Winter Shelter for up to 3 weeks during the coldest months. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Winter Shelter has been replaced by the GMC Extends Program. GMC Extends is an evening operation that allows our homeless neighbors to receive a warm meal, toiletries, and other necessary items to help them survive during the coldest months. In January 2023, our congregation prepared and dropped off individually packaged hot meals at GMC, located at 1041 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007. At this time, we do not know whether Winter Shelter will return in 2024. Please return to this webpage for updates.
To learn more about participating in GMC Extends, send an email to Veronique Dupont, the program coordinator for GPC.
Georgetown Saturday Suppers
Help serve a warm meal. For ten years GPC has partnered with other churches in Georgetown to offer a warm dinner on Saturday night. In rotation, each church provides the meal on a separate Saturday.
GPC members serve dinner to neighbors in need the last Saturday of every month. We meet at Mt. Zion UMC (1334 29th St, NW) and need 15-20 volunteers to bring food and serve our guests. The shift is from 4-6:15pm and duties include setting up tables, passing out food and cleaning up. To sign up, please visit our Sign Up Page or email info@gtownpres.org if you need help signing up. If you are unable to provide food or volunteer, monetary donations are greatly appreciated and can be given here: Support Georgetown Saturday Suppers.
Friendship Place
Friendship Place provides housing services for people and families experiencing homelessness in the DC region. Their community has needs that arise throughout the year. We will share updates and requests for donations here throughout the year. Visit the Friendship Place website to learn more.
Residents of the short term temporary housing facility for families, The Brooks, continue to need very basic items for their families as many have left their previous living circumstances with nothing.
Free Minds Book Club
Participate in a Virtual Write Night with the Free Minds Book Club. Free Minds Book Club creates community that transcends the boundaries of incarceration. Free Minds encourages people who are incarcerated to share their stories through poetry. Those of us “on the outside” can help by reading poetry and giving encouragement. When people are released, they are therefore released into a community they’re already built up - the Free Minds community.
With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever it is crucial that Free Minds members are able to share their voices and know they are not alone. While COVID-19 might have put a halt to our daily lives, they will not let it halt their monthly Write Night. It’s the same process, just virtual. All you need is a computer or tablet and an internet connection.
Mission Market
The Mission Market is an alternative gifts market held during the holiday season. Our mission partners are invited to sponsor a table at which they sell items related to their mission, in addition to offering donation certificates that may be given as gifts. It is a festive and fun event that provides an opportunity for fellowship, alternative holiday shopping, as well as learning about the various missions that GPC supports. Volunteers are always welcome to help with decorating and setup, table sales, holiday punch bunch, and clean-up.
