FHPC Serves

What we do

Serving others is a community and an individual pursuit, whether it’s in our local neighborhood, our workplace, at the gym, among our own families or in a far-flung corner of the world. We serve because we care deeply about the well-being of every community we are part of. We espouse an asset-based approach to when, where and how we serve – affirming the innate value of all whom we serve, celebrating the gifts and assets they bring to the table and striving to faithfully come alongside through partners already making a difference in the world.

Why we serve

Welcoming Refugees

“This was a really meaningful experience for my family at Christmas. Just spending time together, even with the language barrier, was a gift.”

– The Suhonen Family (Adopt a Family, Alliance for African Assistance, San Diego)

Putting Food on the Table

“These are my neighbors. This is something really simple I can do to help them.”

Dan Decker (The Bethlehem Food Pantry, El Cajon)

Serving At-Risk Teens

“Serving Care House is our way of giving back and sharing God’s love with families who find themselves in less fortunate life circumstances than we have.”

– Richard & Debbie Williams
(Board Members for Care House, San Diego)

In our own words

Serving on and off-campus

Watch as some of our parishioners talk about their service both on and off-campus

Explore Service Opportunities

Please select what best describes where you are.

I Volunteer on My Own

I Want to Volunteer with FHPC

Fantastic!

Here are some resources on how our church serves locally and internationally.

Locally:

Many of us volunteer with the Bethlehem Food Pantry in El Cajon, helping families in our neighborhood put food on the table. It’s easy to volunteer and volunteers of all ages are welcome! Every Friday, the Pantry needs people to help set up the marketplace (9-10:30AM). Saturday volunteers work by helping guests choose the food items they want, directing traffic and restocking as needed during the shopping time (7:30-10AM). The Pantry requests volunteers via an email each month. Just add your name to the mailing list by emailing them at foodpantry@foothillsumc.org . Then, watch your email toward the end of each month and reply to volunteer on the days that work for you. The Pantry will send you a reminder a few days before you’ll be volunteering.
Some of our parishioners volunteer at the New Day Urban Ministries center in San Diego. Volunteers sort donations, greet clients and provide case management for those working to turn their lives around. Contact the Center here for opportunities to serve.
FHPC organizes donation events each quarter, each time we focus on 1 or 2 specific partners. Recently we’ve collected gift cards and socks for Care House (an organization serving at risk youth in Title 1 schools), provided gift cards for Christmas baskets and emergency needs at Northmont Elementary School, and we’ve made masks and financial donations to Baja Prebyterian Missions (serving small churches in Baja California, Mexico).
Mission Exposure events introduce, educate and inspire new service connections with our neighborhood. Events are organized then publicized in our Weekly Update (sign up on our home page).

Find your God-led place in building shalom in our neighborhood and plug in!

Internationally:

Our mission partner in Haiti, Children of the Nations, provides educational opportunity, nutrition and medical care for over 100 children in Bellevue (a rural area). Parishioners are able to sponsor individual children, provide school supplies and other necessities. As we’re able to travel to Haiti, we will work alongside the local COTN team and the Bellevue community to create opportunity and meet immediate needs. Learn more here.

Don’t see something that interests you? Let’s talk!
For additional information about programs for your children and family, contact Bridget Meckley.

I Don’t Know Where to Start!

We are here to help!

You’ll find ways to get out into the neighborhood and serve in our Weekly Update. If you don’t already receive it, please submit the form below or contact Bridget and talk about where you might start this journey of service.

Bridget Meckley

Director of Formation & Mission

Bridget has been a parishioner at FHPC for over 35 years. While retirement from a long business consulting career offered many opportunities to explore new paths, she has brought her vocation to FHPC’s adult faith formation ministries and local, regional, and international mission partnerships. In her spare time, Bridget loves to travel, cook, and connect with friends. She also volunteers regularly through her Rotary club at a yearly business camp for high school juniors and a county-wide speech contest.

Phone: 619.463.6631
Email: bridget.meckley@fhpc.org