Guided by the Presbyterian World Mission framework of hands-on, empowered partnership and advocacy, the FPCY mission commission works in partnership within and beyond our church to create mission opportunities for our congregation and the local community. Two major focal areas are addressing hunger and addressing mental health.
We create mission opportunities that are designed not just to help those in need, but also to improve ourselves and deepen our understanding of people, society and the world. To quote Jesuit Priest Father Greg Boyle, “We don’t go to the margins to make a difference. We go to the margins so that the folks at the margins make us different.”
Please visit our volunteering page, and take advantage of this opportunity to be “made different”.
Addressing Hunger
Pantry. Two Saturday mornings per month, our Pantry provides food and other essential supplies to between 150 and 250 families in our area. Many of our clientele work hard, yet do not earn enough to support their families without some assistance. We see the number of families who rely on us as symptoms of a fundamental failure of our society, and are seeking to use our relationships with Feeding Westchester and other pantries in our area to understand underlying causes and pursue potential solutions.
Garden of Hope. We are active participants in the Garden of Hope, an organization that spans many local faith communities and secular organizations. Collectively, the Garden raises several tons of produce annually and donates it to our pantry and others in the area. In 2021, we are moving to a new location granted to us by the town of Yorktown, where we hope to use the garden as a forum for educating the local community about organic gardening practices and good environmental stewardship.
Jan Peek House. On the fourth Saturday of each month, 3 or more families deliver and serve home-cooked meals to 35-40 people at Jan Peek House, a supportive shelter located in Peekskill that is run by CHHOP (Caring for the Hungry & Homeless in Peekskill). This takes 2-3 hours and can be a great opportunity for fellowship with other members of our church community while making an important contribution to our local community. You can sign up here.
Noontime Meal. On the Tuesday before the second Wednesday of each month, we deliver enough food to make lunches for over 100 people at the Peekskill Salvation Army. This takes only an hour to do, and has a big impact. You can sign up here.
Hunger Action Congregation. Under our leadership, representatives from all of our church’s commissions are conducting a comprehensive analysis of our efforts pertaining to hunger and food justice. The purpose is to identify new opportunities to expand our ministry and obtain certification as a Hunger Action Congregation.
Other Mission Activities
Green Team. Our church has a strong commitment to being sustainable in all of our activities. Learn more about our Green Team.
Mission Trips. Conditions permitting, we organize domestic and international mission trips in alternate years through organizations such as DOOR, Bridges to Community, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.