The Presbyterian Hunger Program, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Small Church and Community Ministry Office, recently allocated $92,500 to 18 congregation-based community organizations (CBCOs).

“They are among the hundreds of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations making a difference in their local communities” said the Rev. Phil Tom, associate for small church and community ministry in the Evangelism and Church Growth area of the General Assembly Council.  

Grants are also provided to support training for lay leaders, pastors, middle governing bodies’ staff and seminarians to develop the skills for congregational-based community organizing. 

CBCOs ― about 170 of them around the country ― are broad-based coalitions of congregations working in partnership with other community organizations to address quality of life issues such as affordable housing, living wage and job creation. 

Most CBCOs are affiliated with major national training networks such as the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) and the Gamaliel Foundation in Chicago; Direct Action and Research Training (DART) in Miami; and the PICO National Network in Oakland, CA.

Grant funds come from the community development portion of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. Recipients were chosen during a recent meeting of the Presbyterian Hunger Program Advisory Committee.

Grant recipients are:

  • Broward Organized Leaders Doing Justice (BOLD), Hollywood, FL: $5,000 in start-up support.
  • Fighting Against Injustice Towards Harmony (FAITH), Daytona Beach, FL: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Flint Area Congregations Together (FACT), Flint, MI: $5,000 in start-up support.
  • Faith and Action for Strength Together (FAST), Tampa Bay, FL: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equity (HOPE), Tampa, FL: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Interfaith Movement Promoting Actions by Congregations Together (IMPACT), Charlottesville, VA: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Lake County United, Libertyville, IL: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Marin Organizing Committee, San Francisco: $5,000 in start-up support.
  • Michigan Organizing Project (MOP), Kalamazoo, MI: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), San Carlos, CA: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • PICO LIFT, New Orleans: $7,500 in start-up support.
  • Queens Congregations United for Action (QCUA), New York City: $5,000 in start-up support.
  • Richmonders Involved To Strengthen Our Communities (RISC), Richmond, VA: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • South Bronx Churches, Bronx, NY: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity (SURE), Sarasota, FL: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Tallahassee Equity Action Ministry (TEAM), Tallahassee, FL: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • Toledeans United for Social Action (TUSA), Toledo, OH: $5,000 to work on affordable housing issues.
  • United Valley Interfaith Project, Lebanon, NH: $5,000 in start-up support.

Information for this story furnished by the Rev. Phil Tom.