One of Forest Hills Church's vision points is to be a place that is mission-focused. We are dedicated to serving others in our community, in our country, and around the world.

We have many opportunities for you to get involved with the various outreach programs, so check out some of the mission summaries below. If you are interested in serving, reach out to the contact person listed or go to the link if online sign-up is available. We’d love to have you serve with us!

​Not sure if you know how you want to serve? Enter your contact information 
​HERE and we will reach out to you! 

If you are interested in joining the Mission team or have a new mission idea you’d like to lead, please reach out to any member of our team. We want to hear from you!

Local Missions

Mobile food pantry
Mobile Pantries are like farmers’ markets on wheels, delivering a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and baked goods to people in need, often on the same day the food is donated. Hosted by churches, schools, and community centers, a Mobile Pantry can feed between 100 and 300 households. At FHPC, we donate time and money to support the pantry several times a year at multiple locations in the Grand Rapids area.
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To sign up to be a volunteer at the Mobile Food Pantry, look for announcements in the e-Blast and during our Sunday services. You can also sign-up directly HERE​.

kids food basket
Kids’ Food Basket is a nonprofit organization attacking childhood hunger to
help young people learn and live well. Sack Suppers are evening meals that
are well-rounded and nutritious —nutrition that’s critical to the development
of kids’ brains and bodies. FHPC regularly provides volunteers to prepare
food and package the meals. While this program was paused during the
pandemic, we hope to offer more volunteer opportunities for this
organization soon.

For more information, please contact Jan Bennett, or email the office HERE.

​For more general information about Kids Food Basket, visit their site directly
HERE.

Commodities Packing at FROM 
Flat River Outreach Ministries (FROM) is the Greater Lowell community hub where hope, resources, and gifts are shared. Thanks to financial support from their generous community and Treasures Thrift Shop, they are able to serve over 600 of our neighbors each year in areas related to healthy food, resource connection, and family support for individuals and families living in the Lowell Area School District.  FHPC sponsors mobile food trucks a few times a year at FROM and we’d love to have you volunteer with us to distribute the food. Click HERE to sign up.  We also support their commodities program by packing boxes to give to needy families.  To volunteer for this, click HERE.  For more information about how you can help, please contact Judy Herrick, or email the office.
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For more general information about Flat River Outreach Ministries, visit their site directly HERE.

kids hope usa
​Kids Hope USA develops one-on-one relationships through the creation of church-school partnerships that pair church members with at-risk kids in supportive, mentoring relationships. FHPC mentors spend just one hour per week, reading, talking, playing and listening to a child at school. By helping the child feel loved and valued, they help that child to learn, grow and succeed. 
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With the current pandemic situation, our partner school has limited external guests to campus.  As such, the program is currently on hold and a restart date is to be determined.  To learn more or to become a mentor when the program restarts, please contact Debbie Pranger, or email the office HERE.

For more general information about Kids Hope USA, visit their site directly HERE. 

warm up america
,Warm Up America is a non-profit organization that donates knit and crochet blankets and accessories to a variety of people in need. They train volunteers to work together to craft blanket panels, join them, organize them, and ship them to people who need them.  FHPC volunteers join a community of knitters from various churches to knit together, as well as provides funding for yarn. Together we supply afghans and blankets to those in need in hospitals and homes. 

To learn more about how you can serve in this way, please contact Sandie Suarez, or email the office HERE.

For more general information about Warm Up America, visit their site directly HERE.

operation santa claus
Operation Santa Claus is an organization that unites local churches, businesses and schools to offer holiday help to families in our community at Christmas. FHPC provides support to this effort through both volunteers and financial assistance.

To find out how you can help this year, please contact Mimi Cole, or email the office HERE.

ANGEL TREE
With many families facing economic hardships, times can be tight during the holidays. The true meaning of the holiday season can be shared by helping children in need throughout West Michigan.  Each year, FHPC supports this by displaying a holiday tree at the church, decorated with Angel Tree tags that represent a child or teenager who might not otherwise receive any gifts this holiday season.  Prior to 2020, this tree was in the church narthex.  In 2020, this event was virtual with gift information and purchasing opportunities all made available online. 

Look for more information in church announcements in November to learn how we will manage the event in 2021.   For more information, contact any of our Mission Team members or email the office HERE.

Additionally, we are looking for a new lead for this mission.  If you are interested in serving in this way, please contact Colleen Carkeet.

NATIONAL MISSIONS

GIVE KIDS THE WORLD
ADULT MISSION TRIP – GIVE KIDS THE WORLD
Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Kissimmee, Florida, that provides week-long, cost-free wish vacations to critically ill children and their families from around the world who want to visit Central Florida.

A stay at the Village is much more than a vacation. During one transformative week, wish families laugh, play, and create priceless memories together away from hospital visits and medical procedures. It's a magical week of "YES" where wish kids can experience the simple joys of childhood, and where families can recapture some of the precious moments that may have been missed due to illness.

Since 1986, Give Kids The World Village has welcomed more than 176,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries. The Village is made possible by the support of generous donors and community partners, as well as thousands of passionate volunteers – who donate their time and talent making wishes come true. 

Each year, FHPC sends a group of volunteers to help at the village for one week.  Due to current COVID conditions, Give Kids the World may not allow volunteers in 2021 but we are anxious to participate again when the restrictions are lifted.  If you are interested in serving in this way, please contact Pastor Jim Pollard or email the office HERE.

For more general information about Give Kids the World, visit their site directly HERE.  

high school mission trip
Every summer our rising 9th through graduating Seniors drive from Grand Rapids to serve a community in another city in the US. The goals of this trip is for our students to: grow closer to one another, grow in their relationship with God and to serve as the hands and feet of God to those in need. The community in which we serve is chosen by our graduating Seniors and the group hosts events throughout the year to raise money to support this trip.
 
For more information about current or past trips, or how you can support our trip, please email Miss Ash at ashley@fhpcusa.org or visit our Student Ministry Page HERE. 

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

COMPASSION CHILD
Compassion Child supports the children in greatest need, without ulterior motive. Through a holistic approach to child development, Compassion carefully blends physical, social, economic and spiritual care together.  Through monthly financial support, prayer and letter writing, sponsors invest directly in the lives of children living in extreme poverty.  All Compassion-sponsored children have the opportunity to develop their God-given potential and be released from the poverty that has trapped their families for generations.  FHPC church members currently sponsor about 50 children living in poverty worldwide, including 2 children that we sponsor as a church community.

To learn more or to become a sponsor, please contact Anita Charles or email the office HERE.

For more general information about Compassion, visit their website HERE.