Honduras Mission Trip Interest Meeting
Join Rev. Laura and Clair Wallace, Decatur First's church council chair and Director of Strategic Partnerships for Honduras Outreach for an interest meeting for a possible Decatur First mission trip to Honduras. This meeting will be on Sunday, June 29 in room 209 immediately following 11 am worship.
Flowing with Blessings
Decatur First will host several more Shower/Laundry/Health Fair events this year. If you'd like to volunteer for either the July 12 or September 13 event (or both), please click here. This is a fun and meaningful event and we'd love for you to be a part of it!
Coffee and Conversation with Wellroot Family Services
Did you know that there are 724 children in foster care in Dekalb County? And of those 724 children, 532 of them (that’s 73%) have to move out of DeKalb County because there are not enough foster homes in this area. On August 17th, during the Sunday School hour, Wellroot Family Services will be joining us to walk us through how to be an essential support for kids and families who need it most! Location is TBD. Contact Rev. Laura Rappold for more information - lrappold@decaturfirst.org
Hospice Sewing Project
The Hospice Sewing Project group would welcome donations of old flat and fitted sheets (no pillowcases, no flannel, no jersey). Please drop them off in the "Donation Station" in the gym lobby. Thank you!
Hospice pad sewing is a longtime mission of Decatur First. Volunteers meet once a month on Monday and Tuesday to set up and sew pads for cancer patients through Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home. New volunteers are always welcome! Contact Marion Dearing, dearjam@bellsouth.net or Glenda Triemer, gtriemer@bellsouth.net with questions.
Family Friend Program
Decatur First is partnering with New American Pathways to participate in the Family Friend Program. The Family Friends will work to support a refugee family from the Congo. Ways to support this family might include homework help, transportation. visits, etc. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact Rev. Laura at lrappold@decaturfirst.org.
New American Pathways: Postcard Campaign
Advocate for change by participating in the Postcard Campaign, designed to amplify community voices and influence elected officials to protect and support refugee communities in Georgia and beyond.
Where: Refuge Coffee, Clarkston – 4170 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Clarkston, GA 30021
When: Saturdays, from 12 PM – 3 PM
June 7, 2025
June 28, 2025
July 12, 2025
July 26, 2025
August 9, 2025
How: As a volunteer, your role will be to invite customers visiting Refuge Coffee to participate in the campaign by writing a postcard to their local representative and showing their support to the Refugee Program.
Blood Drive
Decatur First will host a Blood Drive on Sunday, August 3 from 8am-1pm in the Fellowship Hall through the Red Cross. For more information or to volunteer, contact Julie Martinez at martinezjw@comcast.net.
Save the Date: Rise Against Hunger
We are so excited to participate in this meal-packing event again this year on Consecration Sunday, which is October 26. Last year, our 50,000+ meals went to Uganda.
Clifton Sanctuary Ministries
There are several ways to help support Clifton Sanctuary Ministries in the Lake Claire area. CSM has a shelter for men over age 35 and 8 transitional housing apartments.
Ongoing needs include providing dinner for the shelter guests (can be dropped off or prepared there), volunteering in the clothing closet, or offering your skills for in-house programming such as computer skills or resume preparation. Contact Rev. Laura at lrappold@decaturfirst.org for more information.
Benevolence Fund
From time to time, Decatur First is asked to address needs both inside and outside the congregation. Typically, the Benevolence Fund is used for this purpose. If you would like to contribute to this fund, you may give online at this link, and select the "Benevolence fund" from the drop down menu, or you may leave a gift on the altar on the first Sunday of each month when we celebrate Communion.
Mission Hub Volunteers
The North Georgia conference office is in a new space, and this space includes a "mission hub" where supplies and donations are received and organized. If you would like to go receive and verify donations or get a group together and go, the sign up and more information is below!
DEAM
Decatur-Area Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM) is Looking for volunteers during the week! Folks are needed to:
Work in the pantry
Work in office (minimal computer skills, answering phones, etc.)
Guide people as they go thorough the pantry
Help restock on Wednesdays
Most Jobs are 8:30-11:30am on Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri, with Wednesday as a re-stock day.
Call Linda Nalley 404-786-5643 for more info, or sign up to be a volunteer at
https://www.deamdecatur.org/volunteers
Wellroot
What do the children, young adults, and foster families need? Friends.
Joining Wellroot's Family Friends is a way you can volunteer with Wellroot Family Services to provide wrap-around support services and resources to children, youth, and families in our programs.
HOW DO FAMILY FRIENDS HELP?
Collect needed items for new moms and their babies
Make an apartment a home for young adults transitioning from foster care to independent living
Provide a family new linens and kitchen supplies for their apartment
Deliver meals when new mothers are sleep-deprived, when a foster family gets a new placement, or when children are reunified with their parents
Volunteer in our Resource Rooms, help families select clothes and essential items
Learn more about being a Wellroot Family Friend.
Contact Sharon Brewer at sbrewer@wellroot.org or 404-327-5832 for more information or click here to apply as a Family Friend volunteer!