First Christian Church
Des Moines Community Outreach

AMOS
Central Iowa Shelter & Services
Boys and Girls Club
Drake Neighborhood Farmers' Market
Emergency Food Pantry
English Language Learning - ESL
Packaged With Love
Thresholds Annual Art and Music Festival

AMOS AMOS: A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy. In January of 1996 leaders of five religious denominations in Des Moines formed a sponsoring committee and initiated a contract with the Industrial Areas Foundation to assist us in building a congregational based community organization in the metro area. Bishops from the United Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran traditions joined Rabbis from local synagogues and pastors from the Disciples of Christ to form the sponsoring committee.

Since that beginning, AMOS has been organizing within congregations and the community at large to help "re-weave" the social fabric of metropolitan Des Moines. Together with congregations across Des Moines and its suburbs, we are building an effort that is: · Broad-based and cuts through the lines that divide us, such as race, socioeconomic status, geography and religious denomination. · Multi-issued, responding to a variety of concerns that are identified through intentional conversations in local congregations and communities. The agenda of AMOS is emerging as hundreds of leaders in local congregations engage thousands more in house meetings and one-to-one conversations that enable them to tell their stories. · Starting to take action on the issues and concerns that are emerging. Through public action hundreds of people will reenter the public square and reclaim responsibility for the future of the Des Moines metro area. AMOS is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates. · Focused on the development of leaders in local congregations and communities. Seeking to exercise the power of organized people in a relational and responsible way. It will seek out allies in the public and private sector to address the issues and concerns that affect the common good of the community.

Central Iowa Shelter & Services, (Formerly "Churches United Shelter") of which First Christian Church is a founding member, provides food, shelter and referrals to homeless in the Des Moines area. We provide evening meals for the Shelter on the 20th of each month, in addition to other volunteer jobs as needed. To help with this ministry contact Ginny Gieseke at 277-6951. For more information on the shelter, check their web site.

Boys and Girls Club is held on the fourth floor of FCC's building and includes the gym. The Boys & Girls Club is open for school age children Monday, through Friday afternoons during the school year, and daytimes during the summer. Children coming to the center participate in such activities as learning computer skills, working on homework, playing games, and exercising in the gym.

The Emergency Food Pantry is a ministry coordinated by the Des Moines Area Religious Council(DMARC). The Pantry provides free food for people who would otherwise go hungry until other resources can be tapped. First Christian Church collects an offering of non-perishable food items on the third Sunday of every month. Cash donations are also accepted at that time. Simply bring your food items or money into the sanctuary on the designated Sunday and place them on the chancel steps. You can also help by volunteering to transport the food collected to the warehouse.

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