Community Outreach
Want to get involved and looking to give back? Look no further!
Doylestown Presbyterian Church is committed to being the hands and feet of Christ by volunteering in our community to make it a healthier, safer place to live. We also strive to find ways to help those in need who may be far away, but are near to our hearts just the same.
See our local partners listed below to see how you can get involved.
Community Meal
The Community Meal is normally a time to join together with our own congregation and those from our community over a meal on the third Sunday of each month. During the COVID pandemic, the regular Meal has been suspended, however meals continue to be served on the third Sunday to our homeless guests. If you would like further information about the meal, please inquire here: bit.ly/DPC-Meal-Info
We look forward to being able to join together again soon!
Rolling Harvest
Every Wednesday and Saturday from 9-11 am
Our mission partner, Rolling Harvest, works with Gravity Hill Farm on Pleasant Valley Road in Titusville, NJ each summer to grow and glean crops to be donated to hunger relief organizations and food pantries in our community. They are looking for volunteers on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 – 11 am. This is a great opportunity for families. All are welcome; anyone 15 and under needs to be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please contact Erin Rizk at erinr@dtownpc.org.
Virtual Food Drive
The need at our local food pantries is growing by the day during this time of crisis.
DPC is holding a virtual food drive to help keep the shelves stocked.
If you are able, please consider either purchasing some items for the food pantry nearest your home, or purchasing a grocery gift card the next time you are at the store and sending it to them in the mail.
New Britain Food Larder
22 E. Butler Ave., New Britain, PA 18901
Drop Off Hours: Mondays, 9am – 12pm
Doylestown Food Pantry
470 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown, PA 18901
Drop Off Hours: Wed., 5:30 pm – 8 pm; Thursday and Sunday, 10:30 am – 1pm
If you are able to donate, let us know on our Facebook page or by sending us an email at dpc@dtownpc.org.
Thank you for helping those in need in our community!
Caring for Friends
The Caring for Friends program enables shut-ins to remain in their homes by providing food, friendship, emergency aid, and advocacy. For more information or to volunteer, contact the church office at 215-348-3531. Look for our sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in Andrews Hall to donate casseroles, vegetables, stewed tomatoes or applesauce.
Care and Share Thrift Shoppes
Ongoing – Third Friday of the Month
On the third Friday of each month, DPC members volunteer at Care and Share Thrift Shoppes in Souderton. Tasks include greeting shoppers, operating the cash register, folding and bagging items, helping customers, and many more. The third Friday is 1/2 price sale day, and the store is always packed. The thrift store’s proceeds go to charities supported by the Mennonite church.
Contact Erin Rizk at 215.348.3531 x232 or erinr@dtownpc.org
Red Bird Mission School Box Top Program
Ongoing
Did you know that the packaging from many of the things we buy at the grocery store each week can be used to help support the Red Bird Mission School in rural Beverly, Kentucky, which provides Christian-based education to grades K-12?
We collect the following to send to the Red Bird Mission School:
General Mills Box Tops
Campbell’s Labels for Education
Tyson Chicken Products A+ Labels
Empty Inkjet Cartridges
Aluminum Foil Flip Top Tabs
Capri Sun Packages
Please drop off your items in the designated boxes by the Narthex entrance of the Sanctuary building or by the Fellowship Hall entrance on the first floor of Andrews Hall.
For more information on the Red Bird Mission School, visit their website at http://school.rbmission.org/.
Additional Opportunities
In addition to outreach opportunities organized directly by DPC, there are many ways to volunteer to help others in our community on a regular, ongoing basis as an individual or with your family. See below!
Broad Street Ministry
Broad Street Ministries in Philadelphia is always looking for volunteers for its Breaking Bread program, which they offer five days a week and at which they provide a hot meal and a variety of social services. Volunteers would be asked to help prepare and serve food, as well as help with the clothes closet, mail service, and handing out personal care items. The Breaking Bread program is held Monday-Saturday from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm.
To sign up, visit https://broadstreetministry.volunteerhub.com
Ages: 16 and older. Ages 12 and above are welcomed with parental supervision.
Bucks County Housing Group
Bucks County Housing Group in Doylestown is in need of volunteers to help in their food pantry on:
Wednesday 5:30 – 8 pm
Thursday 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Sunday 10:30 am – 1 pm
For more information, contact the volunteer coordinator at the Doylestown site at 215-345-4311 x101. There are also additional ways to volunteer, including helping with the Monday night Kids Club.
More information can be found on the BCHG website.
Contact Erin Rizk at 215-348-3531
Ages: 10 to adult
Code Blue
Code Blue provides emergency shelter to homeless individuals in Central Bucks County on extremely cold nights. Doylestown Presbyterian Church serves as one of these shelters one month out of the winter. In addition to needing volunteers to help staff the shelter when it is open, Code Blue also needs assistance with things including administration, finance, supplies, transportation, community relations, volunteer coordination, training, homeless outreach, and risk management.
Contact the Coalition to Shelter and Support the Homeless (CSSH) at 1-866-390-0291 or visit their website and click on” Contact Us.”
Ages: Adults
Cradles to Crayons
Cradles to Crayons collects new or gently used toys, books, clothing, etc., for children living in homeless or low-income situations in Philadelphia. Volunteers help to sort and pack donations.
Families are welcomed:
Wednesday – Fridays, 10 am – 12 pm or 1 – 3 pm
Tuesdays, 6 – 8 pm
Select Saturdays, 10 am – 12 pm and 1 – 3 pm
Call 215-836-0958
Ages: 6 and older
Good Stuff Thrift Store
Located in Doylestown, Good Stuff Thrift Store sells gently used items to help support nonprofit organizations benefiting children, one of which is Hunting Park Christian Academy, whose mission is to provide a quality, affordable, Christian education to young people living in a diverse community. DPC currently provides scholarships to 4 students to attend Hunting Park, and partners with the school in many other ways.
You can help Hunting Park and the other great organizations that Good Stuff Thrift Store supports by donating clothing and accessories, household goods, toys, furniture, and many other items found in your house, or by stopping by to shop! The store is located at 3633 North Easton Road in Doylestown.
More information can be found on their Facebook page.
Habitat ReStore
Habitat’s ReStore is located in Chalfont and sells new and gently-used home improvement goods, furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. The proceeds are used by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates to help build and renovate more homes and communities. If you’d like to volunteer at the Habitat ReStore, tasks include unloading deliveries, cleaning and testing donations, stocking merchandise and assisting customers.
Visit their website or the volunteer coordinator at 215.822.2812 x302 or volunteer@habitatbucks.org
Ages: 14 and older
Hunting Park Christian Academy
Doylestown Presbyterian Church has a strong relationship with Hunting Park Christian Academy, which provides a Christian-based education to children living in inner city Philadelphia. There are many ways to get involved, including tutoring in reading or math; teaching a lesson in art, music, or gym; giving a presentation at career day; assisting with mailings or other office work; or leading a biblical lesson during chapel time using drama, music, or dance.
Contact Jen Deane, Director of Development, at 215-324-9180 or jen@hpcaphilly.org.
Ages: 16 and older
Philabundance
Philabundance is a food bank in Philadelphia that contributes to a broad spectrum of social services through food cupboards, emergency kitchens, shelters, daycare and senior centers and beyond. There are a variety of ways to volunteer, including in the Hunger Relief Center, the Community Food Center, and the Fresh for All program.
To learn more visit volunteer@philabundance.org, or call 215-339-0900.
VITA Education Services
VITA provides quality educational programs that help individuals gain skills that enhance their ability to deal with real-life situations, meet personal goals and become more self-determining and self-sufficient. Through literacy and decision-making programs, Vita brings learning to life for Bucks County adults, families and at-risk youth by helping them to develop skills that create opportunities for themselves, their families, and, in turn, the community. Volunteer opportunities exist in teaching Basic Literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Decisions for Living (DFL). Volunteers are trained in each program to work with adults in the community or the Bucks County Correctional Facility. No prior teaching experience or knowledge of a foreign language is needed.
Visit their website or call 215-345-8322.
Ages: 21 and older
A Woman’s Place
A Woman’s Place provides a full range of assistance and support services for victims of domestic abuse and violence and their children. Volunteers are needed in areas like administrative work; communications; thrift store assistance; and fundraising. These positions require volunteers to take the C.O.R.E. Training, which is 10.5 hours of instruction that focuses on A Woman’s Place projects, programs, and domestic violence issues in the community.
There is also the opportunity to volunteer as a children’s advocate; hotline counselor; legal advocate; peer counselor; shelter advocate; support group facilitator; and teen chat line operator.These positions require 42 hours of direct service training, which emphasizes in-depth understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence as well as skill building in supporting victims of domestic violence.These volunteers are trained to work directly with victims.
The Teen Volunteer Program is open to young people in grades 7-12. Volunteers must attend 6 hours of training, which discusses the issues of teen dating violence as well as the impact of domestic violence on children and families. Volunteers can help in areas including administrative work; children mentorship; and as a thrift store attendant.
Call 215-343-9241
Ages:12 to adult