Mission & Outreach

Community Dinners with Second Presbyterian Church, Newark: Every Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. there is a free Community Dinner open to all for sit-down or take-out meals. First Presbyterian Church hosts this meal every second and fourth Monday. For volunteers, plan to serve from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to ensure everything runs smoothly!
Contacts: Liz Tietz, Deb Hibler, Leda Rutledge

Y Healthy Kids Network Backpack Program: Striving to provide nutricious, easy-to-prepare food to local students on weekends, this program provides nearly 420 backpacks full of food to students each week. This program exists to address food insecurity and support children’s health. Members from First Presbyterian Church serve nearly every other month.

Share the Harvest: Each Saturday morning during the months of June through August, volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of Granville collect unsold fresh produce and other food items from the Granville Farmers Markets and distribute them to the Drop-In Center. To learn more, call the church office at 740-587-0178.
Volunteer with Share the Harvest Here

First Presbyterian Church of Newark Blessing Box: In hopes of offering blessings to those in need, First Presbyterian Church of Granville is partnering with First Presbyterian Church of Newark to stock a blessing box with snacks, drinks, and necessary supplies. This stocking takes place weekly.
Volunteer with the Blessing Box Here
Contacts: The Mautz Family

Rise Against Hunger: A program that helps underserved people worldwide achieve food security and resilience through nutrition, education and economic empowerment, fueled by a global movement of volunteers and partners. Each year, First Presbyterian Church participates a food-packaging event with Second Presbyterian Church of Newark.

Center for New Beginnings: The Center for New Beginnings Shelter & Services provides a safe place for women and their children as they seek freedom from domestic violence.  The shelter is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and has state-of-the-art security to protect them from the violent past they have left behind.  While at New Beginnings, they are provided the resources and skills needed to build a new life:  individual and family counseling, weekly support groups, and child advocacy. There are educational programs for the community plus a 24 Hour Crisis Phone Line. 
Contacts: Steve and Sally Stilwell

Drop In Center: First Presbyterian Church supports the Holy Trinity Lutheran Drop In Center for individuals to seek refuge. Not only do we help sustain a calm place to find rest, but we also help stock the center with necessary supplies, as well as education for the community on why centers like this are important.
Contact: Greg Bossart

Whole Living Recovery: A safe haven for women and men fighting addiction, the goal of Whole Living Recovery is to offer safe, community based housing during early recovery so that each resident can have time to take care of themselves, support each other and prepare for the future. Safe and sober housing bridges the gap between everyday life and treatment options available within the community. While participating in the program, our residents will be doing the work to develop the spiritual, emotional, and physical practices essential to a full life of vibrant, sustainable recovery from addiction.
Contact: Judy McNeish

Licking County Coalition of Care: A non-denominational partnership of 52 local churches dedicated to helping people who need emergency assistance. First and foremost, the organization acts, as a clearinghouse - verifying needs and making referrals to community resources, obtaining financial assistance with utility and rental bills, medicines, and transportation needs, and spending one-on-one time with each client to ensure sensitive listening and caring, individualized support. Serving the local community in this way has always been important to First Presbyterian Church, and we are humbled to be a part of this organization’s founding.

Earth Care Congregation: Earth Care Congregations are congregations that have committed to the “Earth Care Pledge” and accomplished a specific number of actions toward caring for God’s earth in four categories: worship, education, facilities, and outreach. For more information, visit the PC(USA) Earth Care Congregation webpage.

1,500 Trees: This ministry is committed to planting 1,500 trees throughout Licking County. Both inviting individuals to purchase and plant trees, as well as "branching out" through unexpected, yet inspiring community partnerships. What started as a good idea has evolved into a meaningful ministry with significant impact as people of all ages work together as environmental stewards. For more info on planting trees and hope, visit 1500trees.org.
Contacts: Carol Apacki, Mike Flood, Amanda Love, Steve Stilwell

Starting Strong: At Fostering Further, we’ve seen 18-year olds age out of foster care and face struggles like homelessness, pregnancy, and incarceration. That’s why Starting Strong program was created, which offers resources to young people 18-24 who have emancipated from foster care. Resources include classes, mentorships, and temporary housing. First Presbyterian Church sponsors an apartment at Hope Landing, as well as provides gift cards for residents at Christmas and graduation.

Team 78 on a Mission: Team 78 On a Mission gives students at First Presbyterian Church the opportunity to put their faith into action through hands-on service projects throughout Licking County. Students also participate in sensitivity training and poverty simulations to better understand the realities and experiences of many.

Fundraising through Family Yard Stands: Each summer, individuals and families are invited to participate in the Granville Yard Sale Day by creating a Yard Stand to raise money for a collective cause. Individuals and families sell anything from cotton candy, baked goods, coffee, and bracelets. This past summer, the money raised went to support relief for those impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles.

Adult & College-Aged Summer Service “Work” Trip: Each summer, college students and adults are invited to participate on a construction trip within the United States. Throughout the week, those serving will work together to repair and build homes for families in need while learning practical skills. Through hands-on service, teamwork, and reflection, participants will grow in compassion, leadership, and grow deeper in faith through serving their community. This summer, First Presbyterian Church will go to Asheville, North Carolina from July 12-18, 2026.

Bridges Out of Poverty: Bridges out of poverty is a framework designed to help communities, organizations, and individuals reduce poverty understanding the “hidden rules” of socioeconomic classes and fostering collaboration. It provides workshops, trainings, and tools to build resources for stability, aiming to improve relationships and create long-term, sustainable change rather than immediate relief. Our Director of Mission, Ellen Clark, is certified to lead these trainings.

The Salvation Army: Serving the needy, hungry and hurting in 37 counties in Ohio, providing meals, a homeless shelter, a food pantry, youth programs and mentoring. First Presbyterian Church supports this ministry by ringing the bells at Christmas raising money for The Salvation Army. The Men’s Bible Study also collects and delivers food to the local branch.
Contact: Bill Acklin

Healing Art Mission in Haiti: We are financial contributors to this non-profit organization that provides comprehensive healthcare, education, and clean water initiatives to rural communities in Haiti, practically in the southern peninsula and Dumay. Partnering with local Haitian professionals to deliver critical surgical care, orthopedics, and maternal health services, they strive to meet the needs of many.