Westside Presbyterian Church

Youth Self-Development (YSD) Tutors

Youth Self-Development, the after-school tutoring program at two Paterson high schools, is in need of additional English and math tutors for the fall. If you can help, please contact Mary Elizabeth Collins, mecharp@earthlink.net, or Kathy Koop, kathykoop@aol.com. We work with smart and motivated young people, almost all of whom go on to graduate from college.

Pack-a-Sack

The next time you go to the grocery store, please remember those who are struggling to keep food on the table. Especially needed right now are beverages. We always think of cereal, pasta, peanut butter, etc., but right now they need juice, coffee, and tea. Children drink a lot of juice and the elderly clients are thrilled if they can have a cup of coffee or tea in the morning. So, if you want to help quench the thirst of our hungry neighbors, please consider donating any of these items. They can be brought to the carts at the reception desk at any time. For information, contact Mary Stuart Gephart. Thank you for supporting this important ministry!

Family Promise of Bergen County

The Inter-religious Fellowship for the Homeless has recently changed its name to Family Promise of Bergen County in order to adopt the sheltering concept of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) of Family Promise. It remains the only Bergen County-based organization that shelters the working poor. Contacts: Anne Deatly and Betty von Dreele

New Orleans Mission Trip

A mission team of 12-14 members is planning to return to New Orleans, October 2-9. Cost of the trip is roughly $350, with airfare an additional $250-$300. Anyone interested in joining the team should contact Susan or Jack Gardner.

Jail Ministry

The Bergen County Jail houses a drug rehabilitation unit with which West Siders have been affiliated since its opening in 1995. Each Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, we deliver a holiday meal to the participants of this program. 

ESL Class

ESL classes will resume in the fall.

Paterson Habitat

Mission is an integral part of Christian stewardship at West Side Presbyterian Church. We believe supporting others through the gifts of time, talent, and the financial resources that God has granted us is one of the foundations of who we are as Christians. West Side supports more than 35 mission priorities in the U.S. and overseas through funding and/or volunteers.

Our mission efforts are led by a committee made up of members of the congregation.

West Side Mission Projects

Baby Basics

Contact: Erilyn Riley

This is a West Side initiative to provide diapers and formula to the working poor, ineligible for welfare in Bergen County. The program was adopted by the Red Cross, but continues to be run by a Board of Directors from West Side.

Bergen County Jail Ministry

Contacts: Bill and Beverly Cassidy

West Siders share holiday meals and worship, deliver Christmas gifts to inmates' children, and participate in a tutoring skills workshop for inmates at the Bergen county Jail. Read more.

CAMP/Northside Forces/Chop 'n Chat

Contacts: Lou Petersen and Joe Wiltsee

This Paterson-based project provides after-school and childcare programs for Paterson children. West Side provides funding and holiday parties for the children. In 2001, a $25,000 donation was made for a new building. West Side also contributes monthly to a soup kitchen located nearby.

Pack-A-Sack of Food for the Hungry
Benefitting: Center for Food Action (CFA) and Social Services of Ridgewood

Contact: Mary Stuart Gephart

West Side donates more than 1,000 grocery bags of food, split between CFA and Ridgewood Social Services each year, and provides money to support this Bergen County program for hunger relief.

Habitat for Humanity

Contact:  Beth Cruz

Typically at least one Saturday each month, West Side volunteers work with the Paterson branch of Habitat. West Side contributes funding and many volunteer hours every year. Through the efforts of West Side and many other volunteers, over the years Paterson Habitat has completed dozens of homes for low-income residents. Potential opportunities for volunteers include construction, fundraising, etc.

Safe Space

Contact: Lucy Ianacone

This is a five-week summer camp program held at the United Presbyterian Church of Paterson. Approximately 125 children attend this program, and West Side provides both funds and volunteers each year.

Thrift Shop

Contact: Hervey Blumers

This shop is run by a consortium of churches. It accepts clothing, small appliances, small pieces of furniture, toys, and books. All of it must be in good condition. Items that are donated may be earmarked for credit for West Side.

United Presbyterian Theological Fund

This fund provides support to theological schools for the education of ministers. West Side gives annually to support this important mission.

Youth Self-Development

Contact: Tom Bugel, Mary Elizabeth Collins, Kathy Koop

A West Side-initiated program that offers educational mentoring for select high school youth in Paterson with support for college to students who complete the program. English and math tutors are especially needed.

Support for National Efforts

Katrina Relief Trips

Contact: Rev. Craig Rule, The Presbyterian Church at Tenafly, 201-567-0111, or Alan Diekjobst, 201-567-2952, or Jack and Susan Gardner of West Side

This is another opportunity to help people in one of America's biggest disasters. Volunteers fly to New Orlean to help with clean-up and construction of damaged churches.

North Carolina Youth Mission Trip

Contact: Rev. Kent Smith

Every other year, the youth of West Side travel to Asheville, NC,to provide hands-on mission work in the form of construction projects and other efforts.

Presbyterian Minority Education

Each Christmas West Side collects a Christmas offering of which a portion is committed in support of minority education at American Indian Presbyterian schools.

Rebuilding Aid

Money is donated to help churches, temples, or families in rebuilding after fires or damager incurred from storms.

Retired Church Workers Fund

Part of the annual Christmas offering goes to a fund created by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to provide at least a minimum level of support for retired church workers.

United Presbyterian General Assembly, Synod, and Presbytery Mission Work

West Side donates annually to the Presbyterian Church (USA) in support of ongoing national and international missions (churches, seminaries, hospitals), as well as disaster relief.

International Support

CROP Walk

Contact: Rev. Kent Smith

Each fall West Side participates in a fundraising walk called the CROP Walk, the funds of which go for hunger relief around the world. West Side youth also participate in this important project.

Haiti

The Hope House in Les Cayes, Haiti, is an orphanage for boys founded by a Catholic priest, Father Marc. Father Marc left the Navy to found this orphanage after witnessing the extreme poverty of Haiti. His sister and brother-in-law were West Side members who have become fundraisers for the orphanage. West Side continues to be its largest contributor, and in addition to its usual support and occasional visits, contributed funds for the purchase of a truck to transport the children. The orphanage has expanded exponentially as the needs are overwhelming, but Father Marc continues to hold it all together, maintaining the motivation needed to overcome the hardships of work in Haiti.

Mexico

Each year West Side sends a group of church members to Reynosa, Mexico, as part of a mission trip. The youth travel to Mexico every other year (when they do not visit North Carolina), and the adults travel during the other years. The main focus of the mission effort has been home building. Both the youth and adult trips have offered medical and dental work in the local clinics by physicians and dentists from West Side. In 2002 as part of the Building in Faith campaign mission component, West Side donated $20,000 to establish a midwife program at a clinic and to pay the annual salary of a local Presbyterian pastor.

Armenia

Contact: Lucy Janjigian

West Side has also sent donations to support children in Armenia and Ngorno Kharabagh. The money goes to support summer camps that are biblically-oriented, sponsored by the Armenian Missionary Association of America. About 10,000 children attend these camps and daily Vacation Bible Schools in both Armenia and Ngorno Kharabagh. At Christmas time, we support Christmas joy packages. Nativity and Christmas programs take place in about 65 towns and villages. About 16,000 children attend and are given a small gift from Santa. Contact: Lucy Janjigian