Community Outreach:
The COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY provides food to eligible needy applicants in the Covington area. For many years the Food Pantry was housed by our church, and sponsored by the Newton County Ministers' Union. Recently it was moved and now it is housed next door to FaithWorks in a building that is owned by the City of Covington.
Consider making a donation of food, volunteering at the Pantry (receiving, shelving, packaging, distributing, shopping) or participating in the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for elderly and needy citizens. For more information about FPC's outreach and mission, please contact Rick Gunter at (678)342-3496.
Click here for a map to the Food Pantry
Check out this video of the demolition of the old Food Pantry on Brown Street.
NEWTON COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
First Presbyterian Church hosts regular meetings and works in conjunction with several other local churches to provide a Habitat for Humanity program for Newton County, Georgia. Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, works in partnership with people in need to improve the conditions in which they live. Habitat challenges people of compassion to provide the initial capital - through gifts and no-interest loans - to build or renovate simple, decent homes with the inadequately sheltered. Houses are sold at no profit, with no-interest mortgages repaid over a 15 to 25 year period. The house payments are recycled to build more houses through a local Fund for Humanity. All Habitat affiliate building programs are governed by a local, ecumenical Habitat committee or board of directors that sets up a nondiscriminatory family selection process. The committee or board also ensures that the houses are affordable and are sold at no profit and with no interest. Habitat relies heavily on volunteers for construction and administration in all its building. The work is a cooperative effort between volunteers and new home buyers who contribute labor to build their house. In seeking to build up both the tangible and the spiritual aspects of a community, Habitat proclaims the love of Christ in word and deed and aims always to glorify God.
FAITHWORKS
FaithWorks is an organization that was founded by a consortium of area churches in order to combine resources to assist needy Newton County residents with emergency financial resources for housing and/or utilities. FaithWorks is funded by churches, corporations, and individuals. You can help by volunteering to serve at the FaithWorks office, or by donating funds. "...so faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26)
Click here for a map to FaithWorks
Contact: 770-784-1884
For more information, see the FaithWorks website here.
CARE & COUNSELING CENTER
Counseling in the Christian pastoral tradition serves people of all faiths as well as those who profess no religious belief. The Care & Counseling Center of Georgia operates a satellite office at First Presbyterian Church as part of the CCCR of Rockdale & Newton Counties. The therapists at CCCRN understand that effective counseling respects the individual belies and spiritual values of each person.
FEES: CCCRN strives to provide affordable counseling to all those who seek it. A standard fee is charged for counseling services. The fee is discussed and agreed upon between a therapist and a client during the first consultationl.
APPOINTMENTS: Please call the confidential answering service at 770-922-3044 to make an appointment.
NEWTON COUNTY READS
This rewarding program needs tutors, program organizers, and administrative help to assist adults in Newton County improve their literacy skills through active volunteer tutoring. Newton County READS is also a local participant of the Georgia Certified Literate Community Program (CLCP). This statewide program's mission is "To mobilize every resource available to a community into an adult literacy campaign that functions within state certification guidelines and will result in a literate community within ten years."
CHRISTMAS MERRYMAKERS
Merry Makers share glad Christmas tidings through gifts and stockings for children in foster care and protective services and for adult nursing home residents. Everyone's participation is needed! – as an adopter or organizer.
The Arts Association in Newton County is a non-profit organization with the mission to encourage youth and adults in the community to participate in the arts, both as audience and as artists, and to present world-class artists to all the citizens of the metro Atlanta area. First Presbyterian Church of Covington supports the Arts Association through involvement of our membership at all levels within the organization, through participation in association events, and through the use of our church facilities for meetings and rehearsal activities.
EXERCISE GROUP
The First Presbyterian Exercise Group meets every Tuesday at 4:00 P.M. in the Fellowship Hall. Pam Stillerman brings her extensive background in this area to motivate and invigorate people of all ages. It is a good aerobic workout that is suitable for both beginners and those who are more advanced in exercise training. Those involved say they have fun and fellowship while improving their health. Come join us!
TOPS WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM
The "Take Off Pounds Sensibly" group at FPC meets each Wednesday morning at 9:00 A.M. in the Jubilee classroom. Members perform weigh-ins and establish a program with personal goals for weight loss. They recognize achievements and provide encouragement to each other on a regular basis.