The fellowship and outreach of the First Congregational Church has been a steadfast anchor in the community for close to 300 years.  For more than half a century our historic building has been home to more than a dozen non-profit local groups in the spirit of giving back to the community.  This is in keeping with our focus on nearby missions that do not spend funds on mailings and telephone calls requesting donations.  These organizations depend on hard-working volunteers, and assistance from groups and congregations, including our Church Family, who are committed to helping our  neighbors in need in the Merrimack Valley.  The assistance we provide is both financial and material aid.

Click on each organization to visit their website.

The Community Giving Tree, based in West Boxford, is an organization focused on helping needy children in the Valley.  They partner with local social workers to provide gently used children’s clothing, baby equipment, layettes, diapers, and school supplies. 

Ruth’s House in Haverhill is dedicated to providing basic necessities for disadvantaged families in our surrounding towns.  They raise funds through a well-organized Thrift Shop, and are constantly on call when a family is in crisis. 

Our Neighbors’ Table is an extensive Food Pantry, located in Amesbury, and serves twelve area towns, including Georgetown.  This organization partners with the Boston Food Bank, and offers perishable and non-perishable food items to families with meal insecurities. 

Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center, located in Newburyport and Amesbury, is a mission that changes lives by helping victims of domestic violence through safety planning, legal assistance, counseling and a supportive community.

Although our focus is on our own neighboring missions, we have, for more than four decades been enthusiastically dedicated to two “away organizations”: 

Heifer Project International, whose home base is in Arkansas

H.O.M.E. (Homemakers Organized for More Employment) located in northern Maine, one of the most poverty stricken areas in the USA.  Through the years our congregation has purchased hundreds of animals for Heifer.  These animals have given hope and income to people in our country, as well as in remote parts of the world.  We embraced the Maine mission when we met Sr. Lucy, a Franciscan nun, who organized cottage industries into one entity to promote growth, and created innovative services for an impoverished community.  We provide Christmas gifts for the children of H.O.M.E.

On a denominational level, our pledges support

Our Church’s Wider Mission through the United Church of Christ; funds are targeted toward worthy causes at home and abroad.   Our congregation rises to the occasions when natural disasters have ravaged our country, and we have given to our denominational

Disaster Relief Fund USA.  One hundred percent of every dollar, given to this fund, benefits the victims.