COVID-19 Outreach Teams
TEAM 1: MEDICAL MINISTRY
LEADERS: Cindy Rowe | Eric Buckner
The medical ministry is working to support and encourage our healthcare first responders as they work tirelessly to serve our community. They are providing meals, school supplies for the children of UAMS employees and masks for the needs below.
Mask Collection
UAMS needs masks to distribute not only to employees, but they need to keep a stock of 300 masks for others that come to the hospital, such as NICU parents, etc. Additionally, the Stewpot, a ministry who serves 150 homeless persons lunch each weekday, would be grateful if we could supply at least some masks for the homeless. The homeless have little access to purchasing or making masks, therefore many are going without them.
Several PV members are already involved in making masks. We would greatly appreciate your help! A box will be placed at the West Entrance of the building every Sunday between 2-4 (the same time as food boxes are being collected) for collecting homemade facemasks. Please consider making a few for those in need! These masks will be delivered to both UAMS and to the Stewpot.
TEAM 2: FOOD DISTRIBUTION
LEADERS: John Chapman | Ben Beggs
This team is focused on gathering and distributing food to those in need. The two efforts in place now are the food box drive and an upcoming food packing party.
This effort will work similarly to the PV Thanksgiving Box drive, but boxes will be larger to be able to feed a family for a longer period of time. This won’t be a one-time food drive. We will continue to collect and adapt as the needs are in place during this season. For questions, contact John Chapman or Ben Beggs.
Box Pick Up/Drop Off
- Empty boxes can be picked up Sundays from 2-4 pm on the west (Shorty Smalls) side of the building.
- Drop off filled boxes during that same time on the designated pallet to avoid contact. A small team will move items inside to sit for a few days before distribution.
- Click here for more info and a list of items to include.
- Boxes will be collected every Sunday until further notice.
Meal Packing
We have partnered with City Connections and The Outreach Program to pack and distribute 10,000 meals. This will be similar to when we had a packing party in the past, but it will be social distancing friendly. We will designate a Saturday very soon and ask that teams of 5 sign up for hour-long shifts to pack food.
It will take roughly 6 hours total with two teams of 5 rotating every hour. We will provide everything needed except for masks. We ask that everybody in your group bring their own protective masks to wear while packing. Gloves will be provided.
Be on the lookout either on the PV snap or on this page for more details.
TEAM 3: PROJECT 245
LEADERS: Kate Dalton | Jonathan Rogers
Project 245 is an emerging national network of neighbors and partner churches who want to share with those in need. It is based on a simple idea to give those who have not lost wages due to COVID-19 a way to share their extra stimulus funds with neighbors who need extra help. Post pandemic, this program will continue to enable the sharing of resources across local communities in the name of Christ.
TEAM 4: RESTORATION RESEARCH
LEADERS: Alan Buchannan | Joe Lee
Our goal is to provide our congregation and community a place to find support during times of struggle, current or future, offering resources to foster real and lasting social, emotional, and spiritual healing and restoration. These resources will present opportunities to serve and be served to utilize our own God-given talents. Our desire is to find new and effective ways to imitate Jesus’ ability to identify and meet the needs of the hurting in our current culture.
Hotline
We are currently working on a “Caring and Compassion Hotline” that will provide an access point for anyone who is in need, connecting them to people who have both the desire and the expertise to help them navigate whatever difficult situation they are encountering. Our Body is richly blessed with gifted and compassionate individuals who can be the hands and feet of Jesus if they are made aware of specific needs.
Panel Discussions
We are also beginning a regular panel discussion called “Restoration Conversations,” an ongoing dialogue about anticipating and handling difficulties as we resume our normal lives and beyond. Topics discussed will emphasize financial, relational, emotional, and spiritual recovery always pointing toward Jesus as the true path to restoration.
Our first installment on Thursday, May 7, will be hosted on Facebook by Jonathan Storment and feature Bonnie Thomas, mother of two and LPC, specializing in trauma and family therapy, Paige Taylor, third-grade teacher and mother of two juggling her roles in the classroom and at home, and Paul Henry, father of two, employed by Ronald McDonald House, and advocate for racial reconciliation. In this conversation, we will discuss the anxieties associated with our time of isolation and potential return and how being honest and vulnerable about our struggles allows us to more effectively show Jesus to our friends and neighbors.