Outreach | Memorial Park Church

Outreach

Reach Beyond

Here at Memorial Park, we want to Love People. Know Jesus. Live Transformed. Our outreach programs are designed to do just that. We have numerous ways you can impact the local community for the better. Whether within the church or throughout the Pittsburgh area, we have opportunities for you to get involved and reach beyond. 

Get in Touch

If you're looking to go out into the community, we have a variety of opportunities with out outreach partners that will allow you to show the love of Christ to others while tangibly helping. We partner with numerous organizations in the area:

Collections

Memorial Park organizes annual collections for a number of our local partners. These include:
 
Food Bank Sunday: an annual food drive benefitting North Hills Community Outreach. Generally runs in early February.
Garage Giveaway: a collection of household items for international students through PRISM. Generally runs in early August.
New Hope Church Clothing Drive: collecting kids' clothing for underpriveleged families. This is held twice a year: once in the fall, once in the spring.
Women's Choice Network Baby Bottle Campaign: annual fundraiser to benefit the unborn. Contact Michele Holmes, Director of Women's Ministries for details.
Share your blessings and the spirit of giving during the holiday season by giving a gift to someone in need! Each year, we come together to bless those less fortunate. We have several ways for you to get involved, beginning in November.

Here's how you can help:
Digitally Choose a snowflake on our Giving Tree Form. Purchase the gift listed and return your wrapped gift by the deadline. Drop off your gift before or after weekend services, or thoughout the week at the Admin wing.

Make a monetary donation and our volunteers will shop for you! Simply click here to make an online contribution or mail a check (make sure to note Giving Tree in the memo line).

Purchase a $25 gift card from Target, Walmart, or Giant Eagle and drop them off before or after weekend services, or thoughout the week at the Admin wing.

Adopt a whole family! Looking to extend your blessings to more than one person? Contact Kathy Fenton or Nancy Lee Cochran, our Giving Tree chairpersons, by e-mail to learn more.

Packages will be distributed the two weeks prior to Christmas so the gifts make it to their destination before Christmas. Questions can by directed to the Giving Tree chairpersons, Kathy Fenton or Nancy Lee Cochran by e-mail, or you can call the church office at (412) 364-9492.

The 2020 Giving Tree blessed MPC families, friends in the community, homebound friends, military families and veterans, Memorial Park Christian Preschool families, Mission Partners and their families, LaRoche College students, and Special Friends of MPC.

Gifts also benefited individuals through organizations like Allegheny Youth Development, Family Guidance, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Kane Hospital's Presents for Patients, Mosaic Community Church, Prison Fellowship, Shepherd's Heart Fellowship, Uncommon Grounds Cafe, Women's Choice Network, and EduNations' teachers and staff.

We appreciate your generosity during the holiday season!

Support the Giving Tree
 
Compassion (n): That human disposition that fuels acts of kindness and mercy.

Here at Memorial Park Church, we strive to show God’s love both within our congregation and outside in our community. Each year, we celebrate our year-round efforts with a day of compassion, generally scheduled in early May. Compassion Day is a chance for you to join us in reaching beyond our church doors by finding someone within our community that needs some of God’s love and compassion. Whether you have a team of volunteers and need some direction on where to go, or are looking for a group to connect with for Compassion Day, we can help. Get in touch to get connected. Let’s get together to reach beyond!


Ways to Get Involved

Start a Project
Know someone who could use some help? Want to volunteer with a local outreach partner? Let us know! We'd love to help mobilize you and a team of volunteers for Compassion Day. Forms to submit a project generally open in March.

Find a Team
Not sure where you want to go, but you know you want to serve? No problem! Let us help connect you with a team! We have several opportunities for you to choose from, including yard work, washing cars, painting, meal prep, and more. Team Sign Up forms generally open in March.

 
The MPC Preschool and Outreach Ministries have united to offer English as a Second Language. The committment is simple: meeting with a pupil once a week for a few months to teach basic English communication skills. No experience required.

The ESL program is flexible, lessons are not restricted to a classroom setting. In fact, many tutors and their students take walks in the park, go shopping together, or share a meal at a local restaurant. Volunteers also impact the lives of their students by studying the Bible together and assisting with their travel plans. Many of these friendships have lasted for several years. Even when students move back to their homeland, many keep in touch through SKYPE and email. One particular tutor was 'adopted' by the entire family and was called 'grandma' by the student's children. The ESL program continues to grow and there are currently students in need of tutors. Please consider this rewarding way to serve God and the international community in our own backyard.

I Need a Tutor or  I Want to Become a Tutor
The mission of Community Care for Military (CCM) is to come alongside military families and veterans in our community and assist in meeting their physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs as an expression of our gratitude for their selfless sacrifice and service for us. Our desire is to help others gain an understanding of today’s military culture and experience. We have developed strong partnerships with veterans and professionals in our area. If you know of a military family in your midst, please let them know that we are here for them. If you are in the service or are a veteran, we encourage you to let us know!

Complete the Veterans Information Form

We also have numerous ways you can get involved and show your appreciation and care for our service men and women in our community:
Operation Strong Mind
Yellow Ribbon Girls
Veteran's Breakfast Club
Fleece Connection

Support for our Veterans

Wounded Warrior Project
The WWP staff work to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in our nation's history; and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members. To find out how you can donate and support WWP, please visit their website for events in our area.

Military Psychological Services (Dr. Roger Brooke, Ph.D., Duquesne University)
MPS offers free counseling and support to military service members who have served or expect to serve in the Iraq and/or Afghanistan conflicts (OIF/OEF), to the veterans of those conflicts, and to their families and loved ones. He helps them regain a sense of self and to deal with the stresses of war and re-entry. It is completely confidential and there is no time limit. Services are provided to those in active duty, Reserve or Guard units. Dr. Brooke states, "We provide help to any of those who might be struggling with issues related to the psychological trauma of war, as well as separations and the cycles of deployment, homecoming, and reentry to civilian life."

Stand Down Pittsburgh: Shepherd's Heart Ministries
Stand Down is a day-long homeless Veterans services fair. Each year we offer breakfast, lunch, 60 health and community service providers, entertainment, barbers, clothing, and supplies. 2014 details will be announced here as they are confirmed.

Army Strong Community Center
ASCC provides support and resources to all branches of current military members and their families as well as veterans. They serve as a "virtual installation" to assist those who are holding down the home front when their loved ones deploy. For more information or to refer someone, please contact Lisa Ellek @ 1-800-400-2650 ext. 8314
Friday Nite Kids
In March of 2010 a new facet of our Special Needs Ministry evolved when we introduced Friday Nite Kids. This program was inspired and patterned after the successful Friday Night Owls ministry at Kirk of the Hills Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Friday Nite Kids began with four kids, and two Memorial Park families, and has expanded to include over 20 families from both our church and in the community, as well as over 50 volunteers. Friday Nite Kids was created to offer a fun night of supervised play and activities for children with special needs and their siblings so the parents can have an evening out.

Children with special needs and their siblings (6 months through grade 12) meet one Friday every month (September-May) for a free night of fellowship that includes large motor games and sensory activities, computer time, stories, snacks, and a craft. The group meets from 6:00-8:30 PM in the Children's Wing. Participants must register each month via the invite e-mail. We also hold a week-long Bible camp in July. Get in touch.

Special Friends
Over 20 years ago, a visit to Memorial Park Church by quadriplegic author and inspirational speaker, Joni Erickson Tada, sparked the dream of Special Friends. Initially, the outreach ministry focused on the spiritual and social needs of adults w ith a physical handicap. Throughout the years, Special Friends has remained strong, but has developed to meet new needs, new volunteers and new ‘special friends’. 

Today we have an average of 60 Special Friends, family members and volunteers who attend our monthly meetings. The special needs of these adults typically fall into a range of developmental disabilities, however there are also some with physical challenges as well. Special Friends provides an evening of worship, fellowship and activities for adults with special needs. Family and friends are always welcome along with our many MPC volunteers.

Adults with special needs and friends meet the second Tuesday of each month (September-May) for a free night of Bible stories, prayer time, songs, birthday celebrations, games, movies, snack, crafts and fellowship. The program runs from 7:00–8:30 PM in Westminster Hall. To register, contact Marlene Pugliese at 412-779-4634 or via email.