WAYNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Alternative
Faith In Action Partners for 2024
This year ’ s featured partners represent urban , local and global gift choices
Global Choices
God’s Precious Children (Liberia) | GROW ESL
Philadelphia Choices
The Common Place | Mitchell Elementary School
West Kensington Ministry | Sherwood Christian Outreach Center
Local Choices
Baker Industries | Interfaith Hospitality Network
Great Valley Food Cupboard | Gemma Services
Recent Hurricane Relief Efforts
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Each year Wayne Presbyterian Church offers the Alternative Gift Ministry during the Advent Season as a way to respond to a variety of special needs of partners supported by Wayne Presbyterian Church's Mission Outreach. Monetary donations are made to mission partners you select via the online form. Donations are tax deductible.
Please know we appreciate your generosity and your support during this Advent Season! On behalf of our mission partners, Thank you!
Lani Fabere | Faith In Action Committee
MITCHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Alternative Gifts
DEADLINE TO ORDER IS DECEMBER 15, 2023
Why do we call it Alternative Gifts?
Typically, at Christmastime, we give material gifts to special people in our lives. The concept of ‘Alternative Gifts’ is as an alternative to giving a material gift, you give a card describing a donation you made helping to support a mission partner You donate to Wayne Presbyterian Church on behalf of a mission partner, and you give the card to the special people in your life letting them know of the donation.
Who do most people give Alternative Gifts to?
We have heard many wonderful stories of families that have made it a tradition to give Alternative Gifts to loved ones that have moved away from the Wayne area. Teachers, Doctors, Nurses, Caregivers, First Responders, and neighbors are great choices
How do I order?
Visit our website or use the QR code.
As you choose your selections, the form automatically totals your donation amount and displays the billing information at the bottom of the form. Once you click on 'Submit' you cannot make any changes to your order. You will receive a detailed receipt of noting your itemized selections via email.
As with all online credit card transactions , the church pays a fee for each transaction. This year, we are offering the option for you to offset this credit card processing fee , allowing the mission partner to receive 100% of your donation
Gift Card Facts
Your gift cards will be ready for you to pick up in the c submit your order. The cards will be located on a clea vestibule as you enter the church from the parking lot. vestibule are not locked You may enter this vestibule at a
What do the cards look like?
Cards are note-card sized. The front is a beautifully stylized picture of our church, and the back describes the mission partner and how your donation helps this mission partner advance their ministry.
GLOBAL GIFT CHOICES
GROW ESL works to bring hope to the many immigrants and refugees who are living in nearby neighborhoods of Northeast Philadelphia GROW ESL is a "word and deed" ministry that teaches English as a English as a second language, along with life-skills, to help immigrants thrive in their new community. Volunteer teachers share the Gospel and pray for students in every class while offering their love and friendship.
WPC volunteers help GROW ESL at Conversation Cafes which are held throughout the year and give the students and opportunity to practice speaking English in a small group setting.
Conversation
Cafe Pass
WAYS TO GIVE
Tuition Assistance | Donation of your choice
Founded in 2000 by former Wayne Presbyterian Church leaders Andrew and Sarah Hotstetter, God’s Precious Children is a Christian ministry focused on improving the education system in Bong County, Liberia. Through school construction, teacher training,
Tuition Assistance | Donation of your choice and educational scholarships, rural students living in poverty can access quality education The majority of the almost 200 students come from families who are living on just a few dollars a day. Since it’s inception, this small organization has helped thousands of Liberian children reach their educational goals including high school graduation and even college
WAYS TO GIVE
The Common Place, is a sacred space established by Wayne Presbyterian Church in 2013 which seeks to offer holistic care to the children and families of Southwest Philadelphia Located at the corner of 58th Street and Chester Avenue, it is home to various organizations that come together working to meet educational and social support needs.
Through its arts-based after school enrichment program, social services and community events, the Common Place serves as a cornerstone of safety and support for the surrounding community.
WAYS TO GIVE Scholarship for After School Program
Computer Sponsorship | Headphone Sponsorship | Garden Bed Sponsorship | Donate Food Pantry Items | Donation of your choice
Our longtime partner, Mitchell School, is a public K-8 school in the Kingsessing area of SW Philadelphia with a student population of over 300 children In recent years Mitchell has risen academically but still has huge needs for their students WPC has a strong volunteer program there.
The Student Activities Fund provides funding for various programs such as field trips and celebrations. The Chess Team, who won the Philadelphia City Tournament and placed 2nd in the state last year, also has funding needs for costs involved in travel to out of town competitions.
WAYS TO GIVE Student Activities Fund
Chess Team Fund | Donation of your choice
MITCHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
‘Sherwood’ has been an important partner of WPC for 30 years, serving as a community meeting place, a soup kitchen (where many WPC volunteers have given their time and talents), and a daycare. The daycare, located in the historic church, continues to operate
1 9 9 9
despite the space deteriorating over the years. Sherwood Christian Outreach Center currently needs emergency assistance to install a new roof so they can worship and continue their work in a safe and healthy environment. The repair process has begun, but additional funds are needed to proceed and complete the work.
WAYS TO GIVE
Construction Funds | Donation of your choice
Located in North Philadelphia with a predominantly immigrant community, West Kensington Ministry provides a safe space and creative programs for children and youth who who live in a neighborhood with high levels of hunger and poverty. They offer mentoring programs, recording, and silk-screening studios, open mic nights, and various opportunities to engage the creative arts in efforts to minister alongside children, youth, and adults in their neighborhood Most recently, they have engaged in helping refugees who have been
transported to the Philadelphia area with just the clothes on their backs. To make a direct impact, sturdy and solid boots and shoes for asylum seekers are a despera d especially during the winter.
LOCAL GIFT CHOICES
WAYS TO GIVE
Cold Weather Accessories Fund
Shoes & Boots Fund
Donation of your choice
Gemma Services promotes hope and healing through mental health services, education, and specialized support for vulnerable and at-risk kids, teens and families Select children, ages 6-14, have the opportunity to live in residence at The Martin Luther School in Plymouth Meeting, PA and receive counseling while continuing their education.
WAYS TO GIVE
Donation of your choice | Amaszon Gift Card
Family Promise of the Main Line (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network of the Main Line) is the leading national organization addressing family homelessness while providing
shelter and support to families who are experiencing a temporary crisis in housing. Since 1997, Wayne Presbyterian Church and other faith organizations on the Main Line host guest families for seven days, four to five times a year
WAYS TO GIVE
Donation of your choice
Visa Gift Card | Wawa Gift Card |Uber Gift Card
LOCAL
Baker Industries is a 501c3 nonprofit workforce development development program with locations in Malvern and Philadelphia Since 1980, Baker has employed and found outside employment for the disabled, recovering substance abusers, parolees and the homeless who are often sidelined
based on their challenges At Baker, employees receive a regular hourly wage and the opportunity to engage in workshops, social events, support groups and more designed to help them build the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace. Each year, dozens progress to a good job in the regular economy.
WAYS TO GIVE
Donation of your choice | Amazon Gift Card | Transportation Fund
Gre ides food and basic household supp y the Wayne and Great Valley areas. Their mission is to treat all who come for help with dignity and to respect meeting their food insecurities with care, concern and compassion.
WAYS TO GIVE
Shopping Bag Gift Card | Grocery Store Gift Card | Donation of your choice
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the emergency and refugee program of the PC(USA). They are currently still responding to the devastation left behind by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton in October that affected Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26th as a very dangerous category 4 hurricane, with Milton following the same destructive path not 2 weeks later With the storm surge, wind damage, and flooding concerns that needed immediate attention it is crucial to have the necessary resources to support the many communities that have been affected. earlier.
PDA is currently working with FLAPDAN (Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network) and Presbytery leadership to assess the needs while responding to the immediate needs of both Helene and Milton
Your gift will enable the denomination to support all the congregations and communities in the path of the storm while also bringing hope and encouragement. To learn more, visit PCUSA.org.
If you wish to support a Wayne Presbyterian Faith In Action Partner not featured this year, use the option “Your Choice” on the order form
TO LEARN MORE OR PLACE YOUR ORDER USE THE QR CODE OR VISIT US AT WWW.WAYNEPRES.ORG
DEADLINE TO ORDER IS DECEMBER 15, 2023
