Outreach
OUTREACH
MISSION HOUSE
Palms was a founding partner and continues to support Mission House with finances, volunteer efforts and prayer. Mission House is the only day facility to help meet the needs of the homeless adults in the beaches area through compassion, faith, and programs designed to provide assistance at an individual level.
For more information, click here
BEAM
Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM) is an independent, non-profit ecumenical service center with the mission of preventing homelessness by providing emergency assistance and a path to economic stability. Founded in 1985 by representatives of local churches (including Palms Presbyterian), BEAM was created to prevent duplication of services. Today the community support for BEAM has extended well beyond the faith community to include individuals, businesses, local organizations, and local foundations.
Serving residents and employees of the beaches and west beaches, BEAM offers short-term, financial assistance, social services, and access to two food pantries located in Jacksonville Beach and on Mayport Road. Nutrition education, assistance with applications for SNAP benefits and Medicaid, and case management for single, working mothers to break the cycle of poverty are other services offered.
Palms continues to provide significant financial support, participates in special events (like food drives), and provides regular volunteers. One example is the Mayport Road food pantry where Palms has provided the volunteers every Wednesday since 2016. Mayport Market (see next section) is an outgrowth of Palms’ work at BEAM’s Mayport Road food pantry.
Palms is also represented on BEAM’s Board of Directors. For more information about BEAM, please click here.
MAYPORT MARKET
Mayport Market is a ministry of food distribution organized by Palms Presbyterian Church and implemented in collaboration with BEAM, multiple other churches plus community volunteers. It is held currently held at Hope Baptist Church. Mayport Market takes place the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. If you are interested in volunteering contact the church office or contact Carol Barbour.
Please watch this video of how Palms disciples are involved in feeding the hungry in the Beaches area.
Beaches Habitat for Humanity
Beaches Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in the Jacksonville Beaches. As an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, Beaches Habitat seeks to eliminate poverty housing and to make decent housing a matter of conscience and action. For more information about Beaches Habitat for Humanity, click here.
Over the years, Palms has built many homes with Palms disciple volunteers participating. Palms currently provides financial support, and, in past years, has participated in Interfaith Builds and Women’s Builds with various groups and churches building Habitat homes throughout the Mayport area. In the past, Palms members have also served on the Board of Directors.
DIAL-A-RIDE
By supplying rides to home-bound seniors, this beach-centered service provides them with a certain amount of independence. This transportation is also enough to allow seniors to live in their own homes. Palms has been supportive since 2005 and continues to provide financial support. For more information about Dial-A-Ride, click here.
SANCTUARY ON 8TH STREET
The Sanctuary on 8th Street is a place of welcome and safety located in the midst of the inner city. The ministry provides an enriching, affirming environment for children living in marginalized neighborhoods. This is accomplished through after school activities, and an eight-week summer camp program. For more information about Sanctuary on 8th Street, click here.
KID’S KITCHEN
When school guidance counselors affirmed an increasing issue of hunger among the Beaches children especially during the summer months, Palms members established Kid’s Kitchen, a unique summer food program for children living in the community. A nutritious, easily-prepared menu was created providing six meals per child for a weekend.
The meals are provided to the Gail Baker Center and the Jordan Center in Atlantic Beach, and the Carver Center in Jacksonville Beach, where they are distributed to children who attend their summer programs during the out of school season. Palms members volunteer a necessary service each summer by purchasing, packaging, and delivering the appropriate amounts of kid-friendly meals in small portable bags.
ANGEL TREE GIVING
The Annual Angel Tree project is a ministry of Palms which begins just prior to the Advent season. A tree is set up in Patten Hall covered with nearly 300 paper angel ornaments. Each angel identifies a gift or a gift card chosen by a local area child. Each year, Palms partners with various community centers and schools at the beach to reach the children and their families with the most need. Partners include the Gail Baker Center and the Jordan Center in Atlantic Beach, the Carver Center in Jacksonville Beach, and the Sanctuary on 8th Street in Jacksonville. Also included are Palms’ two elementary school partners, Anchor Academy in Atlantic Beach, and Seabreeze Elementary in Jacksonville Beach.
BEACHES COMMUNITY KITCHEN
Beaches Community Kitchen (formerly Beaches Meals on Wheels) is an ecumenical program that provides a hot meal each day to people in our Beaches community who need food assistance. Palms provides volunteers to deliver meals for a week, 3-4 times each year. For more information about Beaches Community Kitchen, click here.
LIFECYCLES
Transportation is one of the biggest challenges that the homeless face. Several years ago, a Palms Member came to one of the Pastors with a great idea to start a bicycle ministry at Palms to refurbish donated adult bikes. The Lifecycles team fixes up the bikes and donates them to Mission House in Jacksonville Beach and they identify clients who could benefit from a bike. If you have interest in serving on this refurbishing team, please contact Jim Simmons.
If you would like to volunteer with any of these efforts, please contact the church office.