First Pres Kirkwood Mission Page

Wise words for all of us.

Shout out to Sharon Croissant for her efforts on behalf of St. Joseph Housing Initiative! Sharon and Stan Croissant are also the founders of our 1st Pres Adult Mission Trip tradition....and so much more!

https://www.facebook.com/100071151887564/posts/368881332160260/?mibextid=CDWPTG

Super Volunteer Power! Sharon Croissant has been a super SJHI Volunteer since 2020. She grew up on the South Side, and loves our mission. Not only did she get involved, she recruited lots of her friends and community. She has given generous service in many ways, from helping out at fence builds, to home cleans, to being an SJHI Ambassador at a community event. Here, she had the enviable job of stripping the plastic off a new fridge! SJHI is so grateful to Sharon. To get involved as an SJHI Volunteer, reach out to Annie Purcell: [email protected]

We're headed home from our five day mission trip to Dawson Springs KY, days that just flew by. Tim and Marcy Sheaffer of The Call to Build (www.thecalltobuild.org) kept all 13 of us busy on four different homes. Three were nearly ready for their owners to move in, the fourth was under roof and moving along. Most of us learned new skills and we all felt the significance of helping families devastated by the 2021 tornado to resume their lives in a new home. Thank you to First Pres Kirkwood for sending us, Hanson United Methodist Church for hosting us and the Sheaffers for providing their patience and outstanding job site leadership.

Day two...metal working and painting...painting...painting more siding. There are nearly 400 boards!

Our first day of work in Dawson Springs, KY is done. Habitat is building new houses for former renters whose homes were destroyed in the December 2021 tornado. More details in the captions.

Adult Mission Trip Announcement!

Mission Committee members are arranging a second mission trip to Dawson Springs, Kentucky from May 14-20, 2023 to help rebuild homes after a catastrophic tornado in 2021. A group from First Pres worked in the area last fall. You might not recall the specifics of the storm, as there have been so many disasters of all kinds. To refresh your memory, in December, 2021, a violent, long-track tornado moved through Western Kentucky, causing catastrophic damage and taking 57 lives. Residents are still in the rebuilding phase.

This area is about a 3-hour drive from St. Louis, which means it's convenient even if you can only come for part of the week. We will be working with The Call to Build and they promise there will be plenty of work for all skill levels.

Our housing hosts are the congregation from Hanson United Methodist Church, Madisonville, KY. We will be staying in their church, and they are generously providing housing free of charge, as well as lunches. We will share a dinner with them one evening during the week.

We will host an Informational Meeting on Sunday, March 26 at 10:00 in the Fireplace Room. At this meeting, we will share trip details and answer any questions you may have.

If you're interested, just pencil in that week. Please let one of the trip leaders know if you have questions and/or if you plan to join us so that we can count noses. Thanks so much.

Liz McCane ([email protected])
Georgina Sikorski ([email protected])
Linda Jarrett ([email protected])
Lucy Tidwell ([email protected])

P.D.A. Clean-up Buckets

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been mobilized to help in Kentucky and other areas affected by recent tornadoes. There is an urgent need for “Clean-up Buckets”, which are given out to assist homeowners. The Mission Committee will be collecting supplies for buckets during February. Please bring a complete bucket or some of the supplies listed below. To assemble a complete Emergency Clean-up Bucket you will need:

• One five-gallon bucket with re-sealable lid
• Four scouring pads
• Seven sponges, assorted sizes
• One scrub brush
• Package of 18 cleaning towels (reusable, like Easy Wipes®)
• One 50 oz. (or two 25 oz) bottles liquid laundry detergent
• One 12 oz. bottle of liquid concentrated household cleaner (like Lysol®)
• One 24-28 oz. bottle liquid disinfectant dish soap (like Dawn®)
• One package of 48-50 clothespins
• Clothesline, two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.
• Five dust masks
• Two pairs heavy-duty dishwashing gloves (no latex)
• One pair work gloves
• 24-28 count roll of heavy-duty trash bags (30-45 gallon, remove from carton)
• One 6-9 oz. bottle of insect repellent (pump, drops or lotion, not aerosol)

All liquids must be in unopened plastic bottles, and be sure to send only new materials (buckets can be reused, if clean and in good condition). Buckets and loose items can be brought to a collection area near the Welcome Center each Sunday in February. When the building is closed, buckets and items can be left in or near a labeled tote under the awning at the Jefferson St. entrance. Follow this link to watch a short video about packing a bucket: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UxIKgSZRWQ

If you would rather contribute money for this collection, the approximate cost of the bucket, items and shipping is $78. Checks can be sent to the church office with “Clean-up Buckets” in the memo line.

Many are wondering how our congregation can help with tornado recovery efforts in Western Kentucky and elsewhere. Here's an article from PDA that discusses the current situation. First Pres Kirkwood is already on the list to send a team of volunteers, as soon as a host site is opened. We are usually housed in local churches; most of them have been damaged or destroyed, so be patient, this will take some time. Read the article to learn how you can help in the interim.

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/western-kentucky-churches-begin-tornado-recovery/?fbclid=IwAR2nYR_biBM37DUpUmhgkbtSqBFtWRxwrAzRMWCNJK0vc_lWwIhGsJyz-54

Western Kentucky churches begin tornado recovery | Presbyterian Mission Agency Davis Mills looked down at the painting in a box in the back parking lot of First Presbyterian Church in Mayfield, Kentucky, late Saturday afternoon and said, “That’s what it used to look like.”

First Pres Vegetable Garden

Calling all gardeners! We need your help in planting our vegetable garden this spring. Our garden is located on the church grounds. This summer it will be filled with yummy vegetables, which we donate to local food banks. If you are interested in getting your hands dirty, while helping others, please contact Julie Nesvig, at [email protected].

Room At The Inn (RATI)

Room at the Inn provides immediate, temporary shelter to homeless women and families in the St. Louis region. In addition, RATI works with them to create an individualized plan back to self-sufficiency, including referrals to other human services agencies. Then RATI mentors them to improve their chances for success.
Due to the pandemic, RATI is changing their mission model, from housing needy families in local churches (First Pres was a long-time host for these families) and will now be expanding their existing facilities. At this time of transition, RATI is looking for volunteers.

Drivers for Head Start Transportation throughout the week

Looking for a great opportunity to serve? Are you available Thurs, and Fri – 8:15 am to help transport our children and parents to Head Start? Drivers will pick up parents and children and transport them to Head Start in our Room van. Requirement: Driver's License Time commitment 8:15 – 9:15 am.

Drivers for afternoon – Thurs, and Friday – 12:30 pm. Drivers will pick up parents at the shelter and transport them to Head Start to pick up children. Drivers will transport parents and children back to the shelter. Time commitment 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm.

Reading Buddies for the afternoon to read to preschool children

Do you love sharing a good children's book with a preschooler? Room is promoting early literacy by inviting volunteers to share their time reading to our preschoolers. We want to help our children have a love for reading. The books and after reading activities are provided. Thurs afternoon from 1:30 - 3 pm or from 3 - 4:30 pm. is available for readers.

For more information, please contact Tim Morrison at [email protected]
or go to www.roomstl.org. Thank you.

ST. JOSEPH HOUSING INITIATIVE

The Mission Committee is partnering with the St. Joseph Housing Initiative to bring affordable housing to South St. Louis. We will be assisting with rehabbing of existing homes.

On May 1st, at 9 AM join community neighbors and SJHI volunteers for a morning of SPRING CLEANING! Our plan is to sweep and to clean two south St. Louis alleys. Our job is to pick up trash from sidewalks & street, rake up & dispose of winter yard waste, collect and prepare bulk trash for pickup. SJHI will obtain cleaning supplies (brooms, rakes, shovels, bags, etc.) from Brightside (or bring your own!). To join the First Pres team, please contact Sharon Croissant: [email protected].

"Faith in Action”
Mission Trip to Omaha, NE
October 17-23, 2021

One year ago we were planning an adult mission trip to Omaha to assist homeowners affected by record-breaking flooding. COVID lockdowns brought an extended halt to mission trips everywhere. We are now able to resume our work, and the need remains urgent. Millions of people have been affected by flooding, which the New York Times has called "The Great Flood of 2019", and the worst disaster in Nebraska history. The tiny community of King Lake, on the Elkhorn River, was inundated in 2019. Many properties have been vacated, but other residents are trying to rebuild their homes and lives with very limited resources.

Kirkwood Pres volunteers have worked in many disaster areas and are eager to resume our work. Members of our team will be staying at the NE Presbyterian Church of the Cross (a PDA host site), and working with “Omaha Rapid Response” to rebuild homes. We’re looking for volunteers to join us. Omaha is 7 hours from Kirkwood, an easy day's drive, and volunteers can come for all or part of the week. All participants will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID, and we will follow all local and CDC guidelines.

An informational meeting will be scheduled in late summer. If you have questions about the trip, please contact Liz McCane ([email protected]).

We are gearing up for the 2021 Alternative Gift Market! This year we will return to an in-person market at church on Sundays Dec. 5 and 12, 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. If you prefer not to visit the market at church, you are welcome to participate virtually.

The annual Alternative Gift Market, sponsored by the Mission Committee, will be available to you at any time during the holiday season by visiting the websites of the vendors listed below to benefit local and international charities and fair trade. You can send a donation directly to the organizations or send a check to the church office with a note that it is for a particular organization. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Heifer Project
Help end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their
communities. www.heifer.org.

Kirk Care
Kirk Care’s mission is to feed the hungry living within the Kirkwood R-7 District boundaries. www.kirkcare.org

Kwasha Kids:
Kwasha-Kids was founded in 2013 with the purpose of providing an education for the underserved children in
Solwezi, Zambia. There is an emphasis placed on girls who have less of an opportunity for education. Karen Raborn and Mary Ann Shaw usually spend their weekends with us for the alternative gift market. While we won’t be able to shop their beautiful crafts and other items, we hope that you will still support them in their mission. The students are back at Kwasha Molya Community School. However, with a current enrollment of 455 students,
and in the middle of a pandemic, there is a shortage of meals. $20 will feed a student for the entire year! They need desks and supplies as well. Any donation is appreciated! They now have a website if you would like more information or to make a donation. You can also mail a check to the church office with a note that it is for Kwasha Kids. Kwasha Kids will be sending a beautiful handmade mask, made from Authentic Kente fabric to anyone who
makes a donation. www.kwasha-kids.org

Lydia’s House
Lydia’s House works in faith to end domestic violence by being a place of healing and a voice of hope for abused women and their children. www.lydiashouse.org

More Than Coffee:
More Than Coffee (MTC) is a local coffee shop in Manchester, Missouri. The unique thing about MTC is their ministry to help physically and mentally challenged individuals become trained in the workplace. Anytime you stop by for a coffee, snack, or even lunch, you help support that ministry. Last year, MTC brought baked goods, coffee (both ground and whole bean), and chocolate covered espresso beans to the market. You can swing by and
support this local coffee shop or make a donation on their website.
www.morethancoffee.net

Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services: Farmington Children’s Home
We will certainly miss the delicious treats provided by the women’s circles in our church, but you are still able to support the Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. PCHAS in Farmington began as an orphanage in 1914 and by the 1970s evolved to provide residential treatment for teenagers recovering from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. PCHAS is fully committed to Christ-centered care for children and families in need. They have both
residential and community-based programs and emphasize preventive services that break cycles of abuse and neglect. www.pchas.org

Project Peanut Butter
The children in our church look forward to the annual tradition of assembling cookie mixes to sell at the alternative gift market to raise money for Project Peanut Butter. They will be assembling cookie mixes for sale, and also taking donations. Local doctors created Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food that is an energy-dense, peanut butter like paste that saves the lives of severely malnourished children.
www.projectpeanutbutter.org

Room at the Inn
Room at the Inn is a temporary, emergency shelter program for homeless women and families. Our church has been involved with RATI for many years. www.roomstl.org

Zee Bee Market:
Zee Bee Market is a local, ethical retail store that sells socially and environmentally conscious gifts from around the world. They sell a collection of handcrafted, Fair Trade and sustainably produced gifts and treats. This is a wonderful store with two locations, one on South Grand and one in Maplewood. They are pleased to offer free shipping on all orders over $60 and also offer safe, contactless, Curbside Pickup. www.zeebeemarket.com

Zee Bee Market - Handmade - Fair Trade - Sustainably Beautiful Zee Bee Market sells quality, handcrafted, Fair Trade and sustainably produced gifts from around the world, plus organic coffee, chocolate, tea and other treats. Shop our two St. Louis area stores: 3211 South Grand Blvd., 63118 & 7270 Manchester Rd., 63143 Order anytime at zeebeemarket.com

The Mission Committee is sponsoring a school supplies drive for Kirkwood students. Items the students need include:

• Reusable water bottles (the drinking fountains are turned off)
• Notebooks, Crayons, Mechanical Pencils
• Pencil Cases/boxes with supplies such as pencils, scissors, erasers,
glue sticks
• Small whiteboards

Healthy Snacks
• Animal crackers & Cheez-its
• Pretzel graham crackers (plain, no flavored)

We will be collecting donations now through November 30. Please bring your donations to the back entrance of the church, on Mondays and Wednesdays. For more information, please contact [email protected].

ST PATRICK CENTER CASSEROLE PROGRAM

The St Patrick Center Casserole program is a community-wide effort to provide a nutritional meal to people who are homeless and impoverished. We join with other church groups and thousands of volunteers to donate casseroles that are reheated and served piping hot to those in need. We continue, during the pandemic, to provide casseroles.

As you can imagine, the need for food for individuals and families in the community has risen during this pandemic time. We continue to collect foods for KirkCare on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9am-12pm at the door off the Jefferson parking lot under the awning of the entrance. There you will find a tote container for the collection. While canned and boxed food is still needed, there is a particular need for toilet paper, personal care items, and infant care items at this time. You may also send a check to KirkCare at PO Box 220652, Kirkwood, MO 63122.

St. Joseph Housing Initiative has a new fence at one of their homes, thanks to volunteers from First Pres! Thank you, Sharon Croissant, for organizing this project.