Weekly Mission Spotlight: FPC Foundation Provides COVID-19 Relief

Earlier this month, the FPC Foundation Board of Directors voted to provide support to two of our FPC Mission Partners that are helping on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Shepherds Table Soup Kitchen, located on Morgan Street across from the FPC parking lot, serves a free, hot and nutritious meal to over 275 homeless men, women and children every Monday – Friday from 11am to noon. Their mission is to provide a mutual ministry between the people of the Raleigh area – those who have and those who have not – by providing food obtained by donation and served by volunteers. However, because of the pandemic The Shepherd’s Table lost all of their restaurant and grocery store food donations. In addition, they lost all of their grant money tied to corporate employee volunteerism. As a result, they went from purchasing 20% of their food supplies to 100%, with severely reduced income. Rather than close their doors, they have persevered and continue to serve the downtown hungry. The FPC Foundation generously agreed to donate $5,600 to The Shepherd’s Table, which will enable the soup kitchen to buy a month’s worth of food and supplies. For more information visit www.shepherds-table.org.

A Place at the Table (APATT), a pay-what-you-can café, located minutes from FPC at 300 W. Hargett St. in downtown Raleigh, provides a welcoming and inviting space with an opportunity for all people to come and experience conversation and community while enjoying an excellent, fresh, and healthy meal. Before COVID-19, APATT was giving away approximately 1400 meals a month, to neighbors that volunteered for a meal. Because so many resources for the impoverished and homeless have been suspended or downsized during the pandemic, APATT has experienced larger than normal traffic and more request for free meals. Currently, open Wed-Sunday, they are giving away about 1400 meals a week, while the “pay the suggested price” crowd has severely diminished. Founder Maggie Kane has risen to the task to insure that no one goes hungry. The need has become so great that APATT now employs a security guard to manage the crowd lined up outside for food. The FPC Foundation generously agreed to donate $5,000 to APATT. To learn more about APATT, visit www.tableraleigh.org.

The FPC Mission Committee is grateful to the FPC Foundation for assisting these two essential mission allies during COVID-19.

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