Accept Pregnancy Center, located at 407 Dillard Street, in Winter Garden, provides a supportive environment for women in crisis. An unplanned pregnancy can be an uncertain and difficult time. Family, friends or a partner may be giving advice or even pressuring.  The choices one faces in making a decision about this pregnancy are complex and carry with them a whole set of issues - issues relating to family dynamics, self-esteem, relationships, even education career. In the confusion of the many voices that surround the expectant mother, the Accept Pregnancy Center stands as a voice of reason, ready to help. As a Christian ministry, they are committed to meeting the needs of the mother and family in this difficult and confusing time. Their services are free and confidential, focusing on health and safety. They assist pregnant women by providing counseling, test, abstinence education, clothing for the mother and baby, and much needed supplies. OPC provides financial support to the Center, and each year has a special baby shower - no one attends, no one hosts it, but everyone brings gifts for the babies at the Center.  Each year there are different needs, but we always fill our baby crib and playpen with clothes, diapers, blankets, towels, formula, bottles, lotion, shampoo, oil, ointment, wipes, thermometers, powder, etc. For more information contact Accept Pregnancy Center at 407-654-0820 or visit their website at http://www.acceptpregnancy.org/

Bread of Life Fellowship, is a non-denominational Christian faith-based organization and is one of the missions OPC supports. It was founded in 1991 by Mark Anthony and is located in Ocoee.  It provides food and spiritual counseling to over 1200 families a month in six counties in Central Florida.  It also provides food and non-food items to over 90 organizations at no charge.  Apart from grants, Bread of Life does not receive any state or federal funds.  It is totally a faith-based organization whose main purpose is to share the love and knowledge of God through the distribution of food.  Due to increasing demands for feeding the needy.  Bread of Life has outgrown its current 4,000 square foot warehouse and is looking to the community to help secure an additional building which will allow it to load and unload more than one vehicle at a time. The additional space would give the staff and volunteers more space for sorting and packing, and allow them to store larger amounts of disaster relief supplies from F.E.M.A., Feed the Children, and Operation Blessing. Some of the many ways help is needed is to provide monetary donations, labor and materials for the new building, sorting and packing boxes of food, and picking up donations from various sites.  For more information about this program, contact Mark Anthony at 407-654-7777 or visit the Bread of Life Fellowship website at http://breadoflifefellowship.com/

 

The Christian Service Center, West Orange branch, located at 300 W. Franklin St, in Ocoee, provides crisis ministries to those in need in our part of the county. It is a private, non-profit service agency which, since 1971, has provided the hurting of our community with programs designed to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.  The Center is supported by area churches, businesses, civic organizations, foundations, and individuals.  Millions have been served regardless of race, religion, financial status, or the nature of their need. The Daily Bread program provides the homeless and hungry of our community a nourishing meal throughout the year. Clothing, legal aid, and counseling are also available on-site to meet emergency needs. Local churches, restaurants, grocers, hotels, and bakeries provide the food and paper products necessary to feed up to 500 individuals each day at our three locations. The Family & Emergency Services program continues to be a resource for those seeking short term assistance with groceries, rent and utilities, transportation, clothing, and referrals to other social service agencies. The Thrift Store provides donated household goods and clean "useable" clothing to clients of Daily Bread, Family & Emergency Services. Mothers Helping Mothers addresses the needs of financially challenged adults and their families by helping them gain independence through work, education, and vocation. The KidsFOCUS program offers after school tutoring to the children of the participating adults. This supportive efforts helps families move towards a more permanent, positive changes thereby improving and enriching the entire families experience.

OPC provides financial support to the Christian Service Center, provides meals and serves at the Daily Bread Program on the second Tuesday of each month, has periodic food drives to stock the West Orange pantry, and collects items that are needed by the Center's clients throughout the year. Contact the West Orange Service Center at: 407-656-6678. The CSC website is

http://www.christianservicecenter.org/index.phpl

The Duvall Presbyterian Home is located in Glenwood, Florida, provides a home where more than 140 individuals with developmental disabilities live in a private, countryside setting allowing each and every resident to lead an independent and fulfilling life. Founded in 1945, the Duvall Home is a not-for-profit organization that enjoys a Covenant of Affirmation relationship with the Presbyterian Church (USA) through the Synod of South Atlantic, and several Presbyteries in the Synod. They are individuals who collectively believe in the mission established by Mama and Papa Duvall over 60 years ago and maintain this tradition of caring.  The Duvalls saw the need for a special kind of home for their disabled son "Choppy" back in the early 1940's and the staff is still carrying out their vision. If you are not among their "list of friends," you are invited to learn more about the Duvall Home and their mission.  Your support helps the Home remain a very special place. OPC provides financial support to the Duvall Home. The Duvall Home website is:  http://www.duvallhome.org/

 

Anthony Hodge is the force behind Finding the Lost Sheep, a charitable street ministry dedicated to rescuing those who are hopelessly caught in the web of drugs, violence, gambling and prostitution. Anthony can reach these people like no one else because he knows exactly what they face. Before God changed him for- ever, he shared the same destructive world. Now he is Chairman of the advisory board of East Winter Garden by invitation of the city commissioner. He is involved with education and community improvement efforts. Now he stands side by side with the police instead of running for cover. When his truck arrives at the street corner of Bay and 9th, it’s loaded with real help: food, clothing and the good news of Jesus. Finding the Lost Sheep is a grass-roots rescue operation; the kind that changes one person at a time. Contact Anthony Hodge at 407-340-4898 or visit the website at: http://findingthelostsheep.org/

 

Kairos is an International Christian Ministry addressing the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women and children, their families, and those who work in the prison environment. Kairos is a Greek word meaning "In God's Special Time".The people of Kairos are called by God to share the love of Christ with those impacted by incarceration by offering the opportunity to receive God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, and to grow in their faith and servanthood in the Christian community. For more information, visit the Kairos website at:

http://www.kairosprisonministry.org/

 

Matthew's Hope, based in Winter Garden, is a fully independent 501(c)3 non-profit Homeless Outreach completely funded and supported by the local community and volunteers representing over 25 churches, Civic Organizations and area businesses. This outreach offers many services to the homeless community of West Orange county every Tuesday from 9:30am until 5:30pm. The volunteers of Matthew's Hope help connect structurally challenged friends with resources and services such as Medical and Dental assistance, Food Stamps, Florida ID's, Social Security , Mental Health Care, Disability and VA Benefits along with offering showers, haircuts, clothing, shoes, tents, bikes, hygiene products and much more. OPC collects donations and provides dinner on a quarterly basis to the ministry. For more information, visit

http://www.matthewshopeministries.org/

The West Orange Habitat for Humanity affiliate was founded in 1990, at and through the efforts of the Oakland Presbyterian Church. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 150,000 houses with families in need, becoming a true world leader in addressing the issues of poverty housing. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization, welcoming volunteers from all faiths, to work toward the goal of eliminating substandard housing.  Habitat brings families and communities together with volunteers and resources to build simple, decent, and affordable homes.  Habitat is more than building houses.  Habitat for Humanity is about building lives and hopes. OPC provides financial support to the West Orange HFH, as well as feeding the volunteers that work at the building sites, as scheduled. Our members have been active in the organization, fund raising, and building effort since 1990.  Contact WOHFH at: 407-905-0406, and visit their website at: http://www.woh4h.org/habitat20/Default.aspx

 

Oakland Presbyterian Church has sent mission teams to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, to help build homes, churches and schools.  Through Constructores Para Cristo (Builders for Christ), operating out of Birmingham, AL, we have been able to establish successful and productive Mission Trips to Piedras Negras, Mexico.  In their 20th year of operation, this group has organized mission trips for church groups throughout the US, completing almost 600 homes, a medical clinic, a veterinary clinic, and a preschool during that time. CPC seeks to provide basic housing, medical care and education for poor, working Mexican families who often live in desperate conditions, and offers groups and churches in the United States and Canada week-long, international, short-term mission work/retreats in Mexico. Under CPC supervision, each group builds and dedicates a three-room, concrete block house. The family that will occupy the house works with the group and also provides a small portion of the cost. OPC provides financial support to the Cobbs, missionaries with CPC in Piedras Negras, and organizes work crews to build homes with CPC. Visit their website at: http://cpcmexico.org/

 

The Oakland Presbyterian Preschool was started in the fall of 2003, offering classes for 3 and 4 year old children.  Since then, we have added the state VPK program to our preschool.  The emphasis is Bible based, with learning center, group activities, recreation, and arts.  We currently have four lively classes that enjoy such extra activities as chapel, music, art, library, in room computers, field trips, and fund raisers for charitable organizations that help children.  For more information contact Kim Hyatt at 407-656-4452, Ext. 104or at kimhyatt@oaklandpres.org. Click here to visit their web page.

 

S.T.A.R.S. of West Orange, Inc. (Supplies To Assist ouR Students) was organized to coordinate community donations of back-to-school supplies for public school students in need.  A list of basic supplies is provided by a delegate from each of the schools participating in the program.The supplies are then purchased and allocated to the schools for distribution to their students. There are no salaried or paid positions, so 100% of all money collected is dedicated to the S.T.A.R.S. project.  OPC provides financial support, collects items needed by STARS, and helps sort and pack the items for distribution.  Visit the STARS website at  http://supportstars.org/index.php.

The Theological Education Fund provides financial support to our theological schools. One of the continuing strengths of the Presbyterian Church is our competent ministry, well educated in the Reformed Tradition.  Our seminaries provide pastors, educators, missionaries and chaplains for the work of Christ's church.  They also off continuing education programs for those seeking on-going renewal of spirit and competence for ministry.  OPC provides financial support to this fund, along with specific support to seminary students from our congregation. Visit the PCUSA website for information about this fund, at: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/seminaries/seminary-support-networktheological-education-fund

Thornwell Home is a joyful Christian community offering hope and wholeness to children and families.

The Thornwell Home for Children in Clinton, South Carolina, has been taking care of children and youth in need since its founding on October 1, 1875. With the support of Presbyterian Church (USA)congregations and private donations, the home nurtures more than 400 children, many of whom suffer from mild to moderate emotional problems stemming from the death of parent(s); a separation or divorce resulting in a temporary inability to care for a child; a temporary financial and/or physical inability to care for a child; families experiencing types of dependency or abuse; and parent's/guardian's disabling health or advanced age.

One of the most successful schools of its type, the care of Thornwell's residents is based on sound Christian principles and a warm, loving cottage atmosphere staffed by family teachers dedicated to providing the finest in Christian development. OPC provides financial support to the Thornwell Home.  Visit the Thornwell website at: http://www.thornwellhome.org/?page id=32