Organizations that we support

Café Ministry

Every time a month has a fifth Thursday, FPC helps with the Café Ministry at First Congregational Church of Dubuque. We provide the food and volunteers who help set up, greet the guests, serve, and clean up. Volunteers range in age from elementary school through retirement.

CROPwalk

FPC participates in the Dubuque CROPwalk, held annually on the first Sunday in October. With other Dubuque congregations, FPC participates as walkers, sponsors and, when needed, as a water stop. In 2018, FPC raised $1,090, 25% of which went to the Dubuque Food Pantry.

Dubuque Rescue Mission

FPC provides prayer and financial support to the Dubuque Rescue Mission, an ecumenical ministry providing food, temporary shelter for men, work opportunities, and other assistance to the homeless and needy in Dubuque.

Opening Doors

FPC supports Opening Doors, a program that provides housing, hospitality, job training, and hope to women, and women with children, who find themselves with no place to go through the Teresa Shelter, Maria House, and Francis Apartments. In 2018, the Vacation Bible School participants raised $578 for these doorways of hope.

Dubuque Food Pantry

All year we collect food for the Dubuque Food Pantry. Our “Food for the First” program encourages members to bring food on the first Sunday of the month. In February, we participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national youth effort to raise money and food for local pantries in conjunction with the Super Bowl football game. In 2018, the middle school youth helped us raise $753 and collect 182 food items for the Dubuque Food Pantry.

Victim Services Shelter

The mission of the Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA Victim Services Shelter is to empower and advocate for all victims of domestic violence, especially those seeking shelter services. Our “Supplies for the Second” program encourages members to bring basic supplies such as paper towels, laundry soap, and hygiene things on the second Sunday of each month.

Care Facilities Outreach

Bethany Home

Bethany Home is a non-profit retirement community providing apartment living and health care services in a quiet residential neighborhood since 1923. On the fourth Sunday of the month, FPC leads a worship service for the residents at Bethany Home. At Christmas time, we joyfully purchase gifts for residents who have no family.

Manor Care

Manor Care is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in Dubuque. On the first Friday of every month, FPC leads a worship service for the residents. In the summer, our Vacation Bible School share our week with the Manor Care family.

University of Dubuque Theological Seminary

The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary’s roots can be traced to First Presbyterian Church, when FPC pastor, the Reverend Adrian Van Vliet, began educating seminarians in 1852. FPC continues to support the students in the seminary by offering a church family with whom they can worship while attending classes, Supervised of Practice of Ministry positions for field education experience, and support through our Sesquicentennial Scholarships and First Presbyterian Church Scholarship to Master of Divinity Distance Education students.