Local
We believe that God calls us to reach out into the community, as well as to also offer opportunities for our folks to serve right here at Heritage. We currently have three opportunities for serving in these ministries; our pack-a-sack program; supporting the food pantries; and our foster care ministry. These are ministries that are easy for people to plug into and gives them an opportunity to serve with other Heritage folks right here on our campus.
Pack-a-Sack: McMullen Booth Elementary
What happens on the weekends to children in our school system who are regularly fed by the Pinellas County schools breakfast and lunch programs? A lot of them go hungry! This is where Pack-A-Sack comes to the rescue. Pack-A-Sack bridges the food gap so kids can be fortified with nourishment even when school is not in session. Each Pack A Sack contains at least 12 items to ensure that the children have food to sustain them over the weekend. packed items include shelf stable milk, juice boxes, pudding, Vienna sausage, ravioli, tuna salad, animal cookies, peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, granola bars, granola breakfast rounds, fruit snacks, cereal, and peanuts or peanut butter.
Food Pantries: Mattie Williams Center and Church & Community Outreach
Weekly, we drop off food donated by our members and purchase additional food to be distributed through the programs of the Mattie Williams Neighborhood Center and The Church & Community Outreach. Food that is collected from our “Pop the Trunk” events is also delivered to these organizations every other month.
The Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center Food pantry distributes food to families and individuals residing in the following zip codes: 34695, 34677, 33761, 33759. Clients must bring a photo ID and proof of residency, e.g., utility bill. Clients can come every week.
Church & Community Outreach is a not-for-profit, Christian organization that helps support and coordinate the response of local churches and businesses as we work together to provide food for the hungry and resources to those in need; all in the name of Jesus.
Foster Care Ministry
Heritage’s Foster Care Ministry began with Foster to Foster, a closet for Foster Care Families to receive items needed to care for foster children in their care. Families are able to pick up clothing, furniture, personal care items, and more. What began in one room of Building C, quickly grew to take up the entire building. Foster to Foster provides assistance to hundreds of foster care families in the local community and has become a template for other churches desiring to begin their own foster closet.
Foster to Foster is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9AM - Noon and Wednesdays from 4-7:30PM.
In 2023, Stacy Guerin stepped up to become the lay leader of our Foster Care Ministry. With Stacy at the helm we have been able to introduce additional ministries provided through the Foster Care Ministry such as Care Portal and Care Communities. Through Care Portal, we are able to receive notifications from local social workers about specific needs of a family that, if met, would keep the family intact and the children out of the system. Through Care Communities, we are able to provide a structured support system to foster care families to assist them with anything from respite care to doing laundry to helping a child with homework.
Stacy also coordinated Heritage’s first annual Foster Family Fun Day, a free event for foster care families where they received a free meal, played carnival games, jumped in bounce houses, got a manicure or face painting and more.
At Heritage, we believe that everyone can do something!