Community Ministries Newsletter: June
June 11th, 2025
The newsletter is back! We are excited to bring back this monthly update with the latest edition of the Community Ministries newsletter! Community Ministries is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta dedicated to serving those experiencing homelessness and those in transition in Midtown Atlanta and beyond. Every month, Community Ministries can expect to serve over 200 of our neighbors through social services, feeding ministries, the Clothing Corner, the Hygiene Closet, and the Mailroom.
Continue reading for several upcoming volunteer events, an update on Community Ministries services, and a chance to meet our summer interns!
Updated Services & Schedule
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve both our services and the volunteer experience, Community Ministries has made the following updates:
Effective immediately, Community Ministries will no longer distribute sandwich bags to our neighbors. Instead, we are inviting volunteers who previously made sandwiches to help by assembling Hygiene Kits or shopping for our Food Market (Food Pantry). To sign up for either of these opportunities and learn more, please use the links below:
New Midday Closure: Community Ministries will now close daily from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM, Monday through Thursday. For an updated schedule please refer to the lis of services and times below.
As a reminder a full list of our most up to date volunteer opportunities can be found here!
We appreciate your flexibility and support as we continue to find the best ways to serve our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Director of Operations for Community Ministries Jacob Ivey at jivey@firstpresatl.org.
New Community Ministries Services Schedule:
Sundays-
Sunday Prayer Breakfast – 6:30am – 7:45am
Mail Room & Fellowship – 8:00am -11:00am
Mondays-
Social Services – Sign Up @ 10:00am – 10:00am-12:00pm
Clothing Corner – Sign Up @ 12:45pm - 1:00pm-3:00pm
Hygiene Closet – 12:45pm – 3:00 pm
Mail Room – 12:45pm - 3:00pm
Tuesdays-
Social Services – Sign Up @ 10:00am – 10:00am-12:00pm
Mail Room – 12:45pm-3:00pm
Food Market – 12:45pm – 3:00pm
Wednesdays-
Social Services – Sign Up @ 10:00am – 10:00am-12:00pm
Mail Room – 12:45pm - 3:00pm
Men’s Showers – Sign Up @ 12:45pm – 4:00pm – 6:00pm
*SEASONAL* Haircuts - Sign Up @ 12:45pm – 6:00pm-8:00pm
Thursdays-
Social Services – Sign Up @ 10:00am – 10:00am-12:00pm
Clothing Corner – Sign Up @ 12:45pm - 1:00pm-3:00pm
Hygiene Closet – 12:45pm – 3:00 pm
Mail Room – 12:45pm - 3:00pm
Community Ministries by the Numbers - May
Social Service Appointments: 173
Shower Appointments: 63
Clothing Corner Appointments: 243
Total Unique Individual Neighbors Served: 269
Average Appointments Per Month Per Neighbor: 2
Women’s Transformation Center Update
The Women’s Transformation Center (WTC) is officially full as all eight rooms are in use! Living in the WTC allows women to focus on working towards their education or career training as residents participate in weekly case management sessions with Olivia and begin to save thirty percent of their paycheck. Furthermore, the WTC has partnered with the Samaritan Counseling Center, which provides therapy to all residents of the WTC.
Thank you to everyone who has donated their time and finances. This could not have been possible without your continuous support!
Respect, Dignity, and Connection: Why Community Ministries Matters
by Wyly Wickland
In my eyes, one of the many benefits of Community Ministries is the opportunity for church staff and volunteers to truly connect with our local community, especially through the lens of our neighbors. With this in mind, for this week's newsletter, I had the opportunity to sit down with B, a longtime neighbor and friend of Community Ministries, to discuss both B’s journey and what makes Community Ministries so valuable. B has been attending both the breakfast and the services offered by the Church for years, recalling meeting the late Rev. Charles Black on one of their first visits to First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Since those first visits, B has seen Community Ministries as it has changed throughout the years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and BLM protests of 2020. B reflected on their experiences during that period, and the hardship associated with it, a hardship that many of us can relate to in some regard. B shared that during this time, the Community Ministries space served as a rare respite, a place where it truly felt that those in need were treated with respect and empathy, a place that acted without the “hate” that the rest of the world seemed to run on. One of the things that B stated to be most proud of themself for was their “love for humanity,” and despite the struggle occurring throughout the world during this period, Community Ministries was able to act as a reminder for B that their love for humanity was not misguided, that there were still “good things left”.
When asked about what separated Community Ministries from other programs that work with the unhoused population in Atlanta, B immediately expressed their gratitude for the Church’s social workers, reflecting on times when out of state, B was still able to keep in touch with staff and continue getting the support they needed. According to B, it was the rapport that they had been able to establish with the social workers of First Presbyterian Church, as well as other staff members, that kept bringing them back. Treating neighbors with dignity and respect is a cornerstone of Community Ministries, and B’s words just go to show how meaningful it is to those who use our services. The respect and dignity given to people such as B is part of what makes the work of Community Ministries so meaningful, an aspect that is only possible due to the hyper-locality of the program itself and its deep ties to the local community of the Church and the surrounding area.
When faced with the issues and problems of our society, it is easy to turn a blind eye and pass a cold shoulder to those living in harsher conditions than ourselves. Yet, it is those brave few who are willing to look a problem in the eye and actively fight to make a difference who are the ones capable of enabling real change. Community Ministries gives us an opportunity to do so, an opportunity to give those such as B the aid, respect, and love they deserve, that all of God’s children deserve.
Wyly Wickland is a current student at Emerson College and an intern with Community Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta Contact him at wyly.wickland@gmail.com
Introducing Our Summer Undergraduate Interns
Gavin - Gavin Allvine is a long-time church member and a rising Junior at Colorado College (College, not University). Gavin is serving the church committee this summer as an intern in Community Ministries and looks forward to serving the church’s community of neighbors and aiding them throughout their journey. In his free time, Gavin enjoys art, reading, and all things bird-related.
Wyly - Wyly Wickland is a rising Junior at Emerson College majoring in Business of Creative Enterprise, and a longtime member of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Wyly will be serving Community Ministries this summer as an intern and looks forward to aiding members of the local community and getting acquainted with First Presbyterian Church as a whole. In his free time, Wyly enjoys music, literature, and spending time with family.
Ben - Ben Council recently graduated from Chamblee High School and is a rising Freshman at Davidson College. Ben has been a lifelong member of FPC and will study in the Pre-Ministry program at Davidson with plans to pursue a career in ministry. Ben is excited to be serving his church community this summer as an intern with Community Ministries and looks forward to experiencing the many ways that God is at work in the church community. In his free time, Ben enjoys playing a variety of instruments, climbing, reading, and spending time outdoors backpacking, golfing, and working in his garden.
Volunteer Opportunities
Food Market
Since its opening in September, Community Ministries is thrilled to invite the entire congregation to volunteer in the newly renovated Venable Food Market! Volunteers in the Food Market assist with sorting and stocking shelves, helping our neighbors select groceries, and bagging items for our neighbors. Shifts are available. If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up here.
Footcare
Footcare services offered by Community Ministries are some of the most cherished services we offer. This essential service supports our neighbors, many of whom rely on walking as their primary mode of transportation. Our Foot Care volunteers provide non-clinical care, helping to keep our neighbors' feet clean, healthy, and comfortable. If you’re interested in volunteering with Foot Care, please contact Jacob Ivey at jivey@firstpresatl.org.
Hygiene Closet
Community Ministries ensures that our neighbors have the necessary items for proper hygiene as part of our diverse services. Volunteers have the opportunity to brighten someone's day by participating in the hygiene closet, distributing hygiene items, and creating “hygiene kits” to be given out to our neighbors as needed throughout the week. Hygiene closet volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring our neighbors receive their requested items while also maintaining cleanliness and order in the hygiene closet. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here
Donations
Information on ways in which you can donate to Community Ministries can be seen below. Donation receipts for tax-deduction purposes can be obtained upon request.
Clothing Closet: Community Ministries is in constant need of clothing, both new and used, as well as shoes, for both men and women of all sizes. Donations can be dropped off in the Smith Building Lobby during the times listed below:
Sunday's between 8:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hygiene Closet: Donations for all Hygiene Items can be purchased from our Amazon Wish List. Click here to be taken to that Wish List.
Food Market: Community Ministries is actively conducting a food drive to restock the shelves of the Venable Food Market. Your contribution to this effort will make a significant impact on the lives of those in need right here in Midtown. Click here to see more information, including a list of needed food items