Cottonwood's Ministry Involvement:
'Mission and Outreach' is the arm of Cottonwood Presbyterian Church that attempts to follow Jesus’ instructions to care for the poor and needy through service and giving. 10% of all church income, as well as specific individual donation for this purpose, is devoted to charitable giving.
The 2022 members of the committee charged with this responsibility are Elvis Fonguh (Mission Elder), Donna Switzer, Roy Kristensen, Kay Gushee, Betty Hurlbut, Jack Van Klaveren, Doug Kirmer, Larry Simer, Janet Fitzsimmons and Shirley Primeau. The committee is always looking for new members who would like to get involved. Anyone who would like to volunteer at one of the organizations listed below can contact the office for more information.
This year, the committee has voted to support the following organizations:
The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake provides services at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake Men’s Facility/Homeless Service Center, Rescue Mission Women’s Center, and Ogden Rescue Mission for persons experiencing homelessness. Emergency services include shelter, meals, hygiene, clothing, communication assistance, faith-based recovery meetings, brown-bag lunches for working guests, family food boxes for those with low-incomes and other services. The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake has a “Search and Rescue” outreach mission in which once a week staff and volunteers travel to homeless camps to distribute care kits, water, clothing and Christ’s love.
The Rescue Mission’s New Life Recovery Programs are faith-based addiction recovery programs for men and women, including stabilization, education, and assistance with obtaining employment, housing and ongoing support. Additionally there are two transitional homes for some men and women graduating from the recovery programs.
Family Promise
Family Promise has ceased most activities due to the Covid pandemic, but they are currently reorganizing and will gradually begin to offer their services again.
Family Promise is an interfaith mission dedicated to helping homeless families achieve lasting self-sufficiency by providing safe and hospitable shelter in local churches. that most activities were forced to cease during the Covid pandemic, but they are currently reorganizing and will gradually begin to offer their services again. It is a national organization that began in 1988 as the Interfaith Hospitality Network and changed its name in 2003. The Salt Lake Center provides intensive case management support during and after an episode of homelessness for dozens of families each year. Cottonwood has supported this mission for many years with other congregations in the area by providing meals and fellowship three days a week, four times a year. Our current partnership is with Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Millcreek where families stay overnight. There are usually 3-4 families totaling 15-20 mothers, fathers and children who work, go to school, receive counselling or stay at the center during the day. Cottonwood volunteers provide dinner and fellowship from 5:30pm until 8:30 pm when the evening host arrives.
Murray Children’s Pantry
The Murray Children’s Pantry originally started to provide meals for children who were out of school for the summer and did not have school lunch access. Since the onset of Covid-19, anyone in need of food is welcome.
The mission of the Murray Children’s Pantry is to eliminate childhood hunger within the Murray community by providing direct assistance to neighbors in need. They strive to create a resource to give all members of their community equal access to nutritious food, regardless of race, religion, national origin, disability, or personal preferences.
They have prepacked bags of food to feed one person for two days, or they can put together a family box as needed. Relying entirely on volunteers, they collect food and fill food bags through various organizations such as Cottonwood Presbyterian Church. Mission also provides financial support.
The pantry is a source of support built by the community, for the community.
No one should go hungry!
NavAJoStrong
NavajoStrong was created to aid the Navajo community during the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis. We strive to honor our ancestors and empower the Dine by working hard to help citizens who are affected by disease, poverty and other health disparities on the Navajo Reservation. We continue our support by focusing on self-sufficient projects that promote health, culture and empowerment in long-term and meaningful ways. Since 2020 Cottonwood has supported that mission through numerous donation drives, often engaging other congregations of all faiths throughout the SLC Valley and delivering the donated items to the members of the Navajo Nation.
Crossroads urban Center
Crossroads Urban Center is a nonprofit agency designed to assist people in need of help. As one of the older agencies of this kind, Crossroads has been the starting point for other groups such as the Utah Food Bank. Crossroads operates a food pantry and a thrift shop which offers clothing and household items. Aid is given out through vouchers which are easily obtained. Cottonwood’s congregation donates non-perishable food items, gathered in the shopping carts near the office, which is taken downtown biweekly. Clothing and other items are collected near the gym and taken when the container is full. We also support Crossroads with financial donations.
Volunteers of America Homeless Youth Services
Volunteers of America is a charitable organization which provides a wide range of assistance and services to those in need. The Mission committee supports their services dedicated to homeless young people. A member of the committee has provided tickets for a “field trip” by the residents to the Utah Museum of Natural History. We are exploring similar assistance to the new transition home for young women. We also donate to the VOA youth walk-in center.
Young Women’s Transition Home which provides a home for girls who have aged out of foster care, ages 18 to 22. They are either employed or in school. In addition to financial support, we provide Christmas dinner and gifts for the girls and gift cards for those who graduate from high school. We also support the VOA youth walk in center.
4th Street Dental Clinic
4th Street Dental Clinic offers badly needed dental services to homeless and very low income people who otherwise could not afford such expensive care. Cottonwood provides financial assistance to the clinic.
Salt Lake Donated Dental Services
Salt Lake Donated Dental Services provides free or low cost dental care to low income families. Services are donated by dentists from around the valley and Primary Children’s Hospital. Supplies are also donated. Cottonwood provides financial assistance to the clinic.
Valley Phoenix
Valley Phoenix is a home where children can stay with their mothers while the mothers are receiving drug rehabilitation treatment. Cottonwood provides financial assistance and at Christmas time, the congregation provides gifts for the children, gift cards for the mothers and a Christmas party. When a mother graduates from the program, we may also provide needed assistance to set up a new home.
South Valley Services
South Valley Services offers help to victims of domestic violence. Each year shelter, mental health therapy, education, food and clothing is provided for about 285 individuals. It also has a shelter hotline and provides crisis interventions and resource and referral services to nearly 5000 others. Cottonwood provides financial assistance to South Valley Services.
The Family Support Center
The Family Support Center has worked since 1977 to protect children, strengthen families and prevent child abuse. Its four centers offer places of respite for families having difficulty coping with life’s crises. Each year, more than 6000 people receive services.
Presbyterian Education in Pakistan
Presbyterian Education in Pakistan provides good education for children in Pakistan through its Presbyterian schools. Members of Cottonwood’s congregation have personal relationships with these schools and their staffs. Cottonwood provides financial support.
Maliheh Free Clinic
This is a clinic staffed by volunteer doctors and other medical professionals from Salt Lake Valley and the University of Utah medical school. It provides medical care for uninsured, low income families. Care includes both routine family visits as well as specialist medical care when necessary. Lab work for the clinic is done by Intermountain Health Care. The clinic is currently raising money to expand with a free dental service which they hope to open soon.
In addition to the organizations listed above, we attempt to answer immediate needs through our contributions to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and by answering the call of members of the congregation who need help with charitable activities such as the Fistula Hospital project in Uganda. Our contributions to General Assembly support Presbyterian missionaries worldwide and our support of the Presbytery aids rural churches in Utah and Southern Idaho.