The Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Church designate over 75% of their annual budget to benevolent giving. In addition to budgeted items, Presbyterian Women supported several international, national, and local needs in 2006. At the international level, The Presbyterian Women have provided a treadle sewing machine and a corn grinder for women of the Sudan. Two bicycles were provided for HIV-Aids workers in Malawi. Our ladies were involved in several mission opportunities to help hospitals in Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Conga. Last year 20 baby blankets, 26 baby gowns, and 40 knitted or crocheted baby caps were lovingly made as incentives for women to use the hospitals and clinics provided for prenatal care and delivery of their children. We collected and shipped badly needed sheets for these hospitals. Carrier bags for walkers were sold with the proceeds used to replace worn mattresses in the African hospitals. Funds were also collected and sent as Christmas gifts to our missionaries.
Nearer to home, the Presbyterian Women remembered the residents of Presbyterian home with many small gifts, carrier bags for walkers, and cash for residents' needs at Christmas. The Thornwell Home for Children was provided with gifts, several sleeping bags for their summer camp program, and the continued Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education that are in turn used for supplies at their Child Development Center. Journals were provided for the Hospice Camp Good Hope, and many shoe boxes with toys and other items were provided for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. Socks and shoes were delivered to the Annual Gathering in Louisville for distribution to needy American children along with additional funds to help with this project.
Locally, Presbyterian Women provided funds for the food pantry and to our local Hospice House to help "Angel Children" attend Camp Fellowship. A needy family’s winter electric bills were paid. An Easter Egg Hunt with refreshments along with Easter baskets was provided for the children of Bowers-Rodgers Children’s Home. A spa basket was donated for the Cornerstone Silent Auction, an agency helping teen pregnancy. Four needy children were “adopted” from a local elementary school for Christmas as well as a local family. Knitted baby caps were made and given to our local hospital’s nursery. Our women provided food and served lunch to volunteer workers for Habitat for Humanity.