Community Outreach
Guided by the social teachings of Jesus, the Mission Social Justice team provides leadership on social justice issues through service, advocacy, and faith. We engage the church and greater community through projects and initiatives that address the dignity and rights of those in greatest need.
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With mission at the center of the our work, combined, with input from the Congregation on pressing needs, the entire team is currently engaged in the following projects intended to make a difference in the church community.
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We are honored to be a founding member of Interfaith Community Services (ICS). We participate in several ICS ongoing projects, some of which are listed below.
Haven House/Turk Recuperative Center Meals
Haven House is a program initiative of Interfaith Community Services and provides bridge housing to individual adults experiencing homelessness. The Turk Recuperative Center does the same for those leaving the hospital and needing extra care, Residents have access to breakfast, a hot dinner, and a sack lunch.
Six times a year FCCE volunteers help serve a dinner meal for those who reside at Haven House and the Turk Center.
2024 Schedule for Serving Meals – Jan. 10, Mar. 10, May 8, July 1-. Sept. 11, Nov. 13
Holiday Adopt-a-Family
This seasonal campaign identifies individuals and families to be matched with FCCE sponsors who then help fulfill their modest holiday gift wishes. Last year we helped provide Christmas wishes for 15 individuals, both adults and children. Gifts included toys, books and games, clothing, pet toys and food, even a laptop computer, and many other wished for items We will continue this program this year starting in early November.
Canned Food Drives
Every year we collect soup on Sper Bowl Sunday for distribution at Foundation Matthew 633. This year we collected about 300 cans of soups for this program. Additionally we may do other canned food drives throughout the year both for Matthew 633 and the ICS Food Pantry.
Sack Lunches for ICS
Food is our most basic human need, yet thousands of residents in North San Diego County are food insecure. Each day at Interfaith sack lunches are distributed to people as needed and available. Interfaith distributes 300+ sack lunches daily. As part our church mission , the congregation prepares 100 nutritious sack lunches 6 times each year after worship services and we deliver them to ICS for distribution.
2024 Schedule for Sack Lunch Prep – Feb. 18, April 14, June 30,
August 11, Oct. 13, Dec, 15
Foundation Matthew 633
Foundation Matthew 633 (FM633) is in a 501 (C) (3) non-profit entity that partners with FCCE and the North County Food Bank, several Vons stores in North County, Red Lobster, and St. Michael’s Parish to distribute food on Monday and Friday mornings to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Volunteers help fill grocery bags with fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, and prepared food, and load into cars. Diapers are always available for distribution to those who need them. Twice each week we pack and distribute at least 120 bags of fresh produce, eggs, meat and bread.
La Paloma Book Club
Education Begins in The Home
La Paloma is a nonprofit program dedicated to helping improve the literacy level of children in the community. We provide age and grade level appropriate books at no cost to children and their families. The books are distributed on Monday and Friday mornings at Plymouth House during food distribution to anyone wanting them for their children. In addition to books, we also distribute school supplies, crayons, coloring books, and miscellaneous items to approximately 20 families each week.
Neighbors in Need
Supports ministries of justice and compassion and is focused on projects that serve homeless and immigrant neighbors.
One Great Hour of Sharing
Supports the disaster, refugee, and development
ministries of the Wider Church Ministries
Strengthen the Church
This offering supports congregations across the UCC
through providing grants and other resources to grow
the church in the community.
Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross
Is a special offering that provides care for active and retired clergy and lay employees by providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premium
Our Church's Wider Mission
Provides funds in all the ways the church strives together
to be the church the world needs.
First Congregational Church of Escondido
