Wondering how you can help during this time?
Here are some of the needs we are trying to meet as a church.

Matthew 25 Week Day Bag Lunches

In addition to serving meals to those who are homeless and hungry on Saturday and Sunday mornings, we are also offering weekday bag lunches. In partnership with Metropolitan Ministries, we receive 50 plus sandwich bags to which we add fresh fruit, water, volunteer-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. This bag lunch is likely to be their only meal for the day. We average anywhere between 95-100 guests per weekday. 

Volunteers will be provided with gloves, hand sanitizer, and face masks for those who wish to use one.

Contact Peggy Kanter by cell: 813-787-4809 to volunteer and get more details.

Matthew 25 Wishlist

Our guests have several needs beyond just a meal. We are currently distributing non-food essentials on Saturday. Please see detailed list below for ways that you can help serve others.

ITEMS IN DESPERATE NEED

** NEW ** A volunteer with a truck to pick up from Feeding Tampa Bay once a week on a weekday.

Travel-side shampoo and toothpaste

Men's boxers

Backpacks

Running Shoes

People to serve from 9-11 AM Monday-Friday

DONATIONS CAN BE DROPPED OFF MONDAY-FRIDAY FROM 9:30AM-10:45AM AT OUR MARION ST. ENTRANCE.

Please see detailed list below for more ways that you can help serve others.

1. Hygiene Items - Soaps, travel size shampoos, lotions and body washes, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene.

2. Non-perishable Food Items - Applesauce, granola bars, chips, Vienna sausage, fruit snacks, raisins, canned goods (vegetables, soups, Ramen), peanut butter, jelly, and bread.

3. Clothing and Shoes - Men's and women's casual clothes and shoes including underwear.

4. Backpacks and Blankets

5. Adult Bikes - We have a bike ministry to provide bikes for individuals who need it for transportation to work. We also service the bikes and repair, if needed.

6. Masks - Many of our guests need masks for protection due to COVID.

7. Prayers - We always accept and love prayers for our ministry.

Matthew 25 on Saturday Morning

In addition to serving bagged "to go" breakfasts along with fresh fruit, coffee and juice to our homeless friends on Marion St. on Sunday mornings, Matthew 25 is offering a shower and laundry service.

Earlier this year, Matthew 25 partnered with Showered and Empowered, a non-profit mobile shower and laundry service. Two Saturdays a month, our homeless friends have access to showers and laundry service free of charge. With the advent of COVID19, our numbers have been steadily building. Over the past month, 100 homeless showers and laundry service were provided.

We would like to distribute clean clothing on Saturdays as well but have been constrained by our Saturday volunteer numbers. We have enough volunteers to distribute food and hygiene kids, but not enough to also distribute clothing.

Please consider joining us. Protective gloves will be provided for the protection of our volunteers and guests. Volunteers can report at 8:00 a.m. at the rear entrance of the church on Polk Street. Sign up here.

Marion Street on Sunday Morning

We will be serving bagged "to go" breakfasts along with fresh fruit, coffee and juice to our homeless friends on Marion St. on Sunday mornings. Protective gloves will be provided for the protection of our volunteers and guests. Volunteers can report at 8:30 a.m. at First Pres. Enter at the front gate and walk straight down the hall past the sanctuary to the kitchen/crossroads. Sign up here.

End68

End68 has just made it easier for you to help them in ending childhood hunger.

You can now shop, and order needed food items from END68's Amazon Wishlist. Each week the list will be updated or changed according to the needs of the pantry. To start your order, click here to view End68 Amazon Wishlist.

If you would rather purchase food at the grocery store or even other brands, Janice Lackey is happy to coordinate a pickup or meet you at the pantry. Her number is 813-382-7085. 

25.9% of Tampa school children are at risk for food insufficiency. During a typical school schedule, End68 provides food for the 68 hours school is closed over the weekend. During COVID19, providing food for the 68 hours of the weekend remains a critical issue! 

Thank you for your support!

Created

Through our partnership with Created, a ministry reaching women caught in the sex industry with the hope of Jesus, we can make an impact with a small gesture of love and generosity. Due to the Coronavirus it is not only unwise for our team to visit brothels (massage parlors) and strip clubs; they have all bee shut down. Although that may sound like good news It will only drive women deeper underground into more dangerous situations. You can help by purchasing one or more of the following items: cleaning supplies, shampoo, conditioner, wipes, bras and underwear, socks, toothpaste and toothbrushes! You can drop them off at 3102 N. Nebraska Ave. or mail from our Amazon wishlist found here. 

Thank You Letter and Gift for Frontline Workers

We know and love so many people in the medical field and in other essential businesses like grocery stores and restaurants, who are putting themselves at risk, self-sacrificially, for the health of people they don't even know! As an expression of our gratitude and love, we have been delivering small gifts and personal letters of encouragement and prayer to them.

If there is someone on the frontline you want us to reach out to and celebrate, contact Kelli Moody.

First Pres Senior Members Gift Bags
Do you know a member of First Pres of a friend who is a senior in need of encouragement and love during this time of quarantines and social distancing? Let us know who they are and an amazing team member will deliver a gift bag with a personal letter of encouragement, a devotional, snacks, and more! You can give us more than one person's information.