Local Missions
Join us in Serving our Neighbors in the Knoxville Community
As an urban congregation in the heart of a revitalized downtown, First Presbyterian has many opportunities to serve our neighbors in the community. Our Local Missions Committee has a long and joyful tradition of responding to needs and serving others in the name of Jesus Christ. New volunteers are always welcome. Please read below to learn more about some of our local ministries. Join us and bring your ideas! Info: Craig Wrisberg at caw@utk.edu.
Habitat for Humanity
Under the direction of Rachel Trentham, First Presbyterian teams with Habitat for Humanity every other year to fund and build a house for someone in need. Volunteer opportunities include weekday construction, ReStore, staff volunteer, event volunteer, teaching classes to future homeowners, home repair, and serving as a crew leader. For more information, contact Rachel Trentham at rachel_trentham@icloud.com.
Family Promise of Knoxville
Under the direction of Britton Leitch, First Presbyterian houses and feeds families four times each year in partnership with Family Promise of Knoxville. The church hosts families for a week each cycle, serving them a hot dinner nightly in the Fellowship Hall and providing comfortable sleeping quarters at the church. Volunteer opportunities include serving as an overnight host, providing dinner, set up and take down of beds, and washing linens after the guests leave. Info: contact Britton Leitch at phone: 865-789-3651 email: britton.leitch@gmail.com
First Presbyterian members at the 2022 VMC Carry the Torch Event
Volunteer Ministry Center
With the goal of preventing and ending homelessness, the VMC works in several ways.
The Resource Center helps chronically-homeless persons by providing case management and a process for obtaining appropriate housing. Street outreach caseworkers build relationships with homeless persons where they are to navigate them toward available services.
Minvilla Manor and the new Caswell Manor apartments provide nearly 100 people with permanent supportive housing. The Foyer is a 30-bed, low-barrier night shelter, which also connects individuals with services aimed at getting them into permanent housing.
The Dental Clinic provides free dental services for homeless persons as well as for other low-income individuals in the community.
For more information contact Sarah Dugger at smdugger@mac.com.
Fish Pantry - Food Assistance
Through our FISH Pantry, this congregation faithfully participates in the mission of providing food and necessities for those in need. Our Pantry is one of several in Knoxville and cooperates with Second Harvest Food Bank. Volunteers are always welcomed on the first Tuesday of each month from 9 to 11 AM. For more information, contact Raymond McCord at 865-938-5889 or email ramcord@comcast.net.
Justice Knox:
Justice Knox is a local nonprofit focused on grassroots solutions to community needs. Their mission is to understand problems facing the Knoxville community through person-to-person conversation, and to grow those conversations into prioritized, research-based action items. These action items are targeted and have a real impact on the lives of our community, especially the underserved. Justice Knox seeks to live out Micah's words of “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.” Today, Justice Knox has over 20 congregations in the Knoxville area working together to address local social issues, such as affordable housing, mental health care, education disparities, and public transportation.
Please watch a video describing the work of Justice Knox here.
More can be found on Justice Knox – Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly.
For more information contact Ken Keith at kjkjz1@comcast.net.
Dogwood Elementary/ Greater Schools Partnership:
The Local Missions Committee maintains a longstanding partnership with the 3rd grade class at Dogwood Elementary. Volunteer opportunities include signing up for a day to help teachers, read with a student, or provide a meal for the 3rd grade team on a staff workday. Contact Craig Wrisberg at caw@utk.edu .
Additional Missions We Support: