First Congregational United Church of Christ

reaching out to the community

loving our neighbors well

First Congregational United Church of Christ is committed to being loving neighbors with our neighborhood and community.

The Wellington Heights Food Pantry began here in 2023. The mission of the WHFP is to provide nutritious food and basic personal necessities to our neighbors with kindness and respect. The pantry is now under the newly formed 501c3 Wellington Heights Community Services Foundation. The pantry is open on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month from 12:30 to 2:30pm (holidays excluded). You can read the Non-Discrimination Statement here.

We house the Boys & Girls Club in our building where dozens of children gather every day after school and throughout the summer. We are partners with Johnson Elementary Steam Academy, located across the street as well as hosting cookouts for our neighbors in the summer.

community partnerships

Throughout the year, we organize special collections and participate in special projects as a way of partnering with local agencies and groups to improve our city and share God’s love., including:

Community Free Health Clinic: We collect clean, used prescription bottles for reuse by the clinic staff.
Wellington House: We collect personal care products for clients.
Westover Manor: We partner with Hope United Church of Christ in Hiawatha to co-sponsor a Christmas party for residents of this senior housing center,
First Congregational also provides financial support to Helping Hands Ministry, a local non—profit agency that distributes funds and offers referrals to people in need, the Ecumenical Center , Community Health Free Clinic, Linn Community Food Bank, Willis Dady Men’s Shelter, Waypoint, Mission of Hope, and Family Promise of Linn County, and other local agencies and non-profits. Church members also are independently involved in community outreach through service to many established organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association, Churches United, and Variety Club.