Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor
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Westminster's Little Pantry
Our Little Pantry is located on Cook Street on the south side of Graham Elementary (near the main entrance of the school). To ensure it is visited regularly per week and kept clean and well-stocked, we are maintaining a signup list for checking on the pantry. Sign up below by clicking the link. Reimbursement is available for items purchased, and a supply of items is kept at the church. Sign up to stock Westminster's Little Pantry |
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Donation suggestions:
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Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Matching Grant Guidelines and Application. Click here to view and complete the Steadfast Neighbor Service Week Guidelines and Application. |
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Steadfast Neighbor Service Week
June 17-21, 2024 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 14:58 
The 2024 Steadfast Neighbor projects included power washing, repairing and painting front porches, installing a door, building a fence, and landscape projects. Look at the photos here to see how Westminster members mix work with fellowship! |
Steadfast Neighbor Service Week
Fifth Annual Steadfast Neighbor
The week of June 17-21, 2024
Fifth Annual Steadfast Neighbor
The week of June 17-21, 2024
A few statistics on the 2024 Steadfast Neighbor Service Week:
131 The number of properties in our neighborhood that we reached out to for our annual Steadfast Neighbor mission work.
16 The number of properties we repaired. There are also twice as many Matching Grants in progress, a record amount.
31 The number of projects we performed on those 16 properties:
power washed 9 houses, painted 9 projects, including fences, decks, porches, railings, windowsills, doors, and our Little Pantry, construction projects at 7 properties, including repairing decks and fences, tightening stair railing, rerouting and extending some downspout tubing, cleaning gutters, installing gutter guards, and reframing and installing a new front door, landscape projects at 5 different houses, including removing overgrowth and tree trimming, and the project of the week was installing a brand new fence to enclose the back yard of our Habitat for Humanity family, the Caplers.
482 The sum of the heat indexes on the five days we worked. It was HOT!
5 The number of delicious lunches prepared by our outstanding kitchen crew.
50 Perhaps, our most important statistic: The number of ministry partners who volunteered their time, efforts, and true expertise this past week to continue the success of this endeavor and to benefit our neighbors. These people worked their tails off during one of the hottest June weeks in memory.
This is truly an incredible outreach which reflects the character of Westminster, and I’m honored to be a part of it.
– Dr. Todd Knox
131 The number of properties in our neighborhood that we reached out to for our annual Steadfast Neighbor mission work.
16 The number of properties we repaired. There are also twice as many Matching Grants in progress, a record amount.
31 The number of projects we performed on those 16 properties:
power washed 9 houses, painted 9 projects, including fences, decks, porches, railings, windowsills, doors, and our Little Pantry, construction projects at 7 properties, including repairing decks and fences, tightening stair railing, rerouting and extending some downspout tubing, cleaning gutters, installing gutter guards, and reframing and installing a new front door, landscape projects at 5 different houses, including removing overgrowth and tree trimming, and the project of the week was installing a brand new fence to enclose the back yard of our Habitat for Humanity family, the Caplers.
482 The sum of the heat indexes on the five days we worked. It was HOT!
5 The number of delicious lunches prepared by our outstanding kitchen crew.
50 Perhaps, our most important statistic: The number of ministry partners who volunteered their time, efforts, and true expertise this past week to continue the success of this endeavor and to benefit our neighbors. These people worked their tails off during one of the hottest June weeks in memory.
This is truly an incredible outreach which reflects the character of Westminster, and I’m honored to be a part of it.
– Dr. Todd Knox
When Westminster’s Strategic Planning initiative began to take form in 2019, the committee chose the name Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor because it articulates what we believe about God and affirms our commitment to the neighborhood. From 2020 to 2030 Westminster plans to invest $450,000 in the neighborhood which is one-third of the total cost of our Site and Landscape Plan.
Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor History
On Sunday, April 26, 2020 the congregation took a historic vote and overwhelmingly approved the Steadfast Neighbor Site and Landscape loan for up to $1.3 million from the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program. The interest will be between 3.5 and 3.76% and the loan will be paid back over 20 years. On April 7, the Presbytery of Great Rivers guaranteed the loan.
The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor was made possible because of the successful "Building a Legacy of Faith" Twenty-Year Anniversary Endowment Campaign. The loan payments will be made from the interest earned from our General Endowment. This General Endowment is part of the total Support and Endowment Fund.
History: The seed for this endeavor was planted twenty-five years ago (May 2, 1999) when the congregation approved long range strategic goals to develop a site plan which reflects our commitment to remain at the present location, including: development of a memorial garden, enlargement of the endowment, expansion of the parking lot, enhancement of landscaping in parking areas, and purchase of additional properties to allow for expansion. The strategic goals also included mission initiatives within the neighborhood: tutoring/counseling program for families in this area who are living in poverty and programs to serve and improve the neighborhood around the church. The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor is faithful to this vision.
The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor was made possible because of the successful "Building a Legacy of Faith" Twenty-Year Anniversary Endowment Campaign. The loan payments will be made from the interest earned from our General Endowment. This General Endowment is part of the total Support and Endowment Fund.
History: The seed for this endeavor was planted twenty-five years ago (May 2, 1999) when the congregation approved long range strategic goals to develop a site plan which reflects our commitment to remain at the present location, including: development of a memorial garden, enlargement of the endowment, expansion of the parking lot, enhancement of landscaping in parking areas, and purchase of additional properties to allow for expansion. The strategic goals also included mission initiatives within the neighborhood: tutoring/counseling program for families in this area who are living in poverty and programs to serve and improve the neighborhood around the church. The Steadfast Neighbor Endeavor is faithful to this vision.
Site and Landscape Plan included four major renovations: East Entry, Parking Lot, West Terrace, and Landscape.
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The East Entry: We enlarged front door landings to make entrance more welcoming, add ground-level terrace for group gatherings, update landscaping, and preserve the architectural integrity of our historic building.
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Parking Lot: We increased parking from 113 spaces to 137 spaces, address water and ice hazard, widen the sidewalk along Parish Hall, add drive-through feature to better accommodate those with special needs and for better access to building, add green space to the parking area and renovate landscaping on the north side of sanctuary. This required the removal of the two Walnut Street rental apartment properties and the utilization of the Glenwood rental home driveway.
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West Terrace: We enhanced the screen this area provides for Parish Hall, updated landscaping, and created an area for meditation as well as a welcoming space for fellowship groups.
Landscaping: Replaced 60-ish year-old gum trees, add new grass turf in Southeast lawn with irrigation, add landscaping to East Entry, Parking lot, north side of church, and West Terrace. |
Proposed Timeline: Spring 2019 - tree removal begins, Fall of 2019 - Landscape Initiative begins, Spring of 2020 - Hardscape Initiatives for East Terrace, West Terrace, and Parking Lot begin. Fall of 2020 - Final landscaping installed.