Local ministry initiatives
Springdale is involved with community non-profit organizations that provide assistance and guidance to those in need, and through partnerships with other congregations.
Springdale supports Bellewood Presbyterian Home for Children,a nonprofit agency serving abused, at-risk and homeless youth. Through its many programs, Bellewood provides a continuum of care to ensure those in its service become stable, self-sufficient adults and make positive contributions to their community.
Springdale supports the ministries of the Cabbage Patch Settlement House, a century-old nonprofit, Christian organization that exists to empower families and children to be self-sufficient by helping them maximize their spiritual, social, emotional, physical, moral, economic and educational potential.
Cedar Ridge is the camp and retreat center for Mid-Kentucky Presbytery. Springdale supports this ministry by providing camper scholarships and board members for the camp governing board.
CentsAbility is organized through the Presbyterian and Mid-Kentucky Presbytery hunger programs. Families are invited to make a bank to put on the table where they eat. At each meal everyone puts coins in the bank and the family prays for hungry people. Other members keep a bank for their loose change. Congregation members are invited to bring their coins on the first Sunday of the month and the children will collect them.
Dare to Care is a food bank that supplies Louisville-area community ministries and food pantries which feed the poor.The Walk is a fundraiser for Dare to Care. Walkers solicit sponsors and pledges, and the money raised is used to buy food in bulk at a discount. On the day of the walk, as well as throughout the year, Dare to Care also accepts canned goods donations. Springdale has been involved with the Walk for nearly a decade – from members helping with registration tables and accepting donations to serving on the organizing committee for the walk. The congregation is encouraged to participate or sponsor someone who walks.
Eastern Area Community Ministries
Eastern Area Community Ministries (EACM) is a non-profit social service agency founded by local churches to meet specific needs in our community. They have a wide variety of programs which include: a food pantry, Good Start for Kids, Dare to Care, family services, nutrition classes and English as a Second Language Classes. (Springdale acts as the host for these classes each Monday and Wednesday morning, providing child care as the adults attend the classes.)
Springdale supports this ministry through budgeted financial assistance, plus:
- The SPC Produce Table. SPC members donate home-grown produce during the summer months for other congregation members who make a donation for the produce. The proceeds go to EACM as does the left-over produce.
- Back to School Supplies Drive. Each July Springdale collects school supplies which will be distributed to 500 students through EACM.
Every 1 Reads is a community-wide effort to bring every child’s reading level at or above grade level. The number of children reading below grade level is now approximately 8.5 percent – down from nearly 20 percent before the initiative started. Springdale members participate in this program as tutors at Field Elementary School, Kammerer Middle and Ballard High School.
Springdale has been partnering in building homes with Habitat for Humanity for many years. This year ‘s partnerships with other Presbytery churchs focus on building a house in memory of member Bill Martin, who was very involved in building houses with Habitat.
Healing Place
Springdale’s tree-shaped stand was once used to hold poinsettias during Advent or Easter Lilies. Now during those seasons, it’s filled with blankets that sent to the area shelters or towels sent to for the homeless in the summer.
Hope Springs Eternal
Springdale’s relationship with historically African-American Grace Hope Presbyterian Church is now in its second decade. Located in the Smoketown area of Louisville, Grace Hope is one of the oldest churches in Louisville. Our relationship with Grace Hope is founded on the belief that two congregations with very different racial makeup and worship services share one goal: to serve God in the best way possible. With that in mind, our two churches formed a steering committee called Hope Springs Eternal to plan joint mission and worship programs.
We hold worship services together every year including an Easter Sunrise service on the Ohio River waterfront. We go Christmas caroling together and work hand-in-hand with the children at the Presbyterian Community Center. We’ve supported sending underprivileged kids to summer camps and volunteered at community events. In short, the Hope Springs Eternal group has moved God’s work outside our own church’s walls and outside our own comfort zones. We believe it’s what Jesus would want us to do.
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Springdale helps provide scholarship funding for LPTS students and works with at least one seminary intern each year.
Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church
Portland Avenue Presbyterian Church is one of Springdale’s “sister” churches. Springdale members have served as tutors, food and clothes closet helpers, and board members of Portland Avenue Community Trust. SPC collects food, socks, underwear, and clothing and other items to be shared through their ministry. Portland Avenue Presbyterian continues to serve as an inspiration to Springdale as the church recovers from a 2009 fire that destroyed their building.
The Presbyterian Community Center (PCC) serves a community center for the Smoketown and Shelby Park areas of Louisville, tending to physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs of families. The center seeks to support and strengthen individuals, helping them to become fully empowered.
Springdale donations support PCC and its Freedom School, a summer program for children and youth. SPC members serve on the board and help with the annual Christmas event. We help send children to camp. Springdale and Grace Hope Presbyterian churches participate in joint worship services at PCC and share an annual Thanksgiving meal.
The children at Springdale Presbyterian Church collect pull-tabs to support the ministries of the Ronald McDonald House in Louisville. Its mission is to provide a “home away from home” for families of children who are receiving healthcare at area medical facilities, while helping other organizations who aid children.
Ronald McDonald House offers 36 guestrooms for up to four people each, complete with fresh bed linens and towels. Meals are prepared by volunteers, and the community donates food, laundry facilities, toiletries such as soap, shampoo and other household items, books, movies and other recreational activities. There are family Rooms at Norton Suburban Hospital, Kosair Children’s Hospital and Frazier Rehab Institute.
In the past 25 years, Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms have served more than 25,000 families. Their staff and volunteers offer love, strength and support, just when families need it most.
Salvation Army
Springdale’s relationship with the Salvation Army is growing. Youth from our sister church in Jamaica joined with Springdale members to serve an evening meal. Springdale confirmands and mentors have worked together in the kitchen, served the evening meal and interacted with those at the facility. The Salvation Army’s mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
SPAVA
TheSociety for the prevention of Aggressiveness and Violence among Adolescents is a nonprofit organization, organization developed to help teach children and youth a nonviolent approach to life. Community volunteers mentor children in the Jefferson County Schools and private school system. The children learn skills of anger and aggression control through negotiation. Mentors teach respect, honor, integrity, resilience and perseverance with challenges. Springdale supports this ministry through gifts, volunteers, and an occasional walk.
This organization continues to be one of Louisville’s main safety nets, providing shelter, meals and other programs for those in need.
Westminster Healthcare Center (Presbyterian Homes and Services)
Springdale supports this care facility’s ministry by sending a team to serve communion once a month, providing funding to provide services for clients who no longer have funding to stay at the facility, sharing Christmas gifts, and helping with special events like the Annual Picnic.
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