Feeding the hungry
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Poverty Committee

We provide support and advocacy for people who are striving to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty at the local, national, and international levels by partnering with organizations that share our goals and values. With over 46 million Americans living in poverty, the need is apparent. Chair is Tom Kerr. View the Mission Activities page to see upcoming events.

Our broad committee efforts are focused upon these mission areas:

  • At-risk children and youth
  • Food Ministries
  • Employment
  • Shelter Grants

The committee’s current goals and activities reflect this commitment. For example;

  • At Valley View Presbyterian Church we are assisting them with minor capital improvements by providing funds and in-kind services. This augments our helping to staff the Food Pantry the first Saturday of every month where nearly 200 individual are provided with food and household items. To volunteer for the Food Pantry or help with repairs, please contact ELPC member & Poverty Committee chair .
  • Our food ministry includes two major food collection Sundays in collaboration with Christian Education and EECM. We also donate to Just Harvest, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the PCUSA Hunger Project (Bolivia) and Bread for the World.
  • For the past three years committee members have been mentoring children at Sojourner House (MOMS) in Garfield, a residential program for mothers in recovery and their children who were previously homeless. This year we are supporting the Pittsburgh School District’s “Be a 6th Grade Mentor” program. If you’d like to become a mentor, please contact ELPC member & Poverty Committee chair .
  • The Poverty Committee is responsible for distributing funds to allow EECM Shelter residents to purchase bus passes and cover other expenses related to their job search activities.
  • New to the committee this year is our mission service for the children of Haiti. We are partnering with an organization that is already involved in aiding the citizens of that nation. In conjunction with Christian Education, the “Lunch Bucket Brigade” campaign is collecting money to purchase school lunches for Haitian children by encouraging our kids (and their parents) to donate a quarter to buy a school lunch. If you’d like to help the Haitian task force, please contact Carolyn Russ .

Periodically the Poverty Committee will bring to your attention opportunities to be an advocate on behalf of an issue or cause related to our mission. In the recent past this has included supporting the renewal of the Earned Income Tax credit for the working poor, gun control, and advocating against cuts in Federal food and poverty programs.

The Director of Mission Ministries oversees the day-to-day operations; the Mission Board and four committees are dedicated members of the congregation who volunteer their time and energy. Please prayerfully consider becoming involved in or financially supporting these ministries.

For more information about ELPC’s mission ministries, contact The Rev. Patrice L. Fowler-Searcy, Director of Mission Ministries, or phone, (412) 441-3800 x30; or Kate Carlson, Administrative Assistant, by or phone, (412) 441-3800 x16.