The Social Action Committee is involved in a number of initiatives for community outreach, education and social justice. The Committee encourages and enables members of the congregation to reach out to the larger community of Grand Rapids, the Country, the World. Congregational participation is needed and welcomed. We are looking forward to working with "Beyond Sunday" to increase this participation. Ideas for new projects are also welcomed, especially from those who want to work on those projects themselves. It has been accepted SAC policy that positions on any issue are not made in the name of Fountain Street Church as a whole, but by sponsoring groups within the church with which congregants can choose to be involved.

We have a budget that varies yearly depending on the current financial health of the Church as a whole. One of the major responsibilities of SAC members is to consider organizations and allocate our funds. Beyond our Committee funding, many parishioners give generously to particular projects of their choice. The majority of the budget goes to local organizations addressing poverty concerns, public education, women's issues, world peace, environmental and health issues. Following is a list of organizations to which we contributed this year with a brief summary of their focus when necessary. Many volunteers also contributed their time to these organizations along with the SAC contact persons.

DWELLING PLACE (Ferguson Apartments) - maintains affordable housing and supportive services for more than 1,000 people in 20 housing programs throughout West Michigan. Contact - Cheryl Mellblom

FAIR HOUSING CENTER OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS - ensures equal access to housing opportunities throughout the greater Grand Rapids area.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD - provides critical information, education, health care and referral services to the people of West Michigan.

IN THE IMAGE - linking surplus clothing, housewares, furniture and appliances, with families in need, with dignity, choice and participation.

GOD'S KITCHEN - serves 200,000 meals each year through Capitol Lunch and Meals on Wheels to men, women and children in our community who are hungry.

HOME REPAIR SERVICES - direct assistance to low-income homeowners (2003 - 2,834 families) to enable them to stay effective and successful as homeowners.

CHERRY STREET HEALTH SERVICES - serving health care needs and other related services to individuals and families in several locations.

ACCESS (All County Churches Emergency Support System) the first Sunday of each month parishioners bring canned and boxed protein food and basic paper products (or cash donations) which are collected for the Bethel Pentecostal Food Pantry. SAC also contributes funding for their many other community projects.

PEACE ACTION - coordinates and disseminates information about peace initiatives, justice, environmental issues, action alerts and educational forums relating to these issues. Contact - Corrine Carey and Nancy Bedell

PASTOR B FUND - a special fund set up to help people in immediate need in the community. Contact - Julie Fisher2003

IGE - Grand Rapids 'Institute for Global Education"

HEARTSIDE MINISTRY

WEST MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL

WEST MICHIGAN JUSTICE AND PEACE COALITION

YWCA DOMESTIC CRISIS CENTER

ANSWER - American-Nepali Student and Women's Educational Relief – Promotes culturally sensitive projects in Nepal such as education sponsorships of needy children, student mothers for job and literacy training, village school assistance. This year SAC also contributed to help meet teachers' salaries. Initiated and directed by SAC members Earle Canfield and Mary Jane Schmidt

EDUCATE THE CHILDREN - Individual parishioners sponsor very poor children in the northeast mountains of El Salvador helping them remain in school past the 6th grade. 100% of tax deductible donations are used to educate the children. Initiated and directed by SAC member Marcia Kowske

CAMPUS SCHOOL - For some years SAC and congregation members supported and provided mentoring for Oakdale School guided by SAC members Vicki and Don Hansen. Oakdale School closed and we are now going to provide the same services for Campus School. Contact - Irene Robberson

Throughout the year we are also involved in participatory projects such as the Hunger Walk, Holiday Food Baskets, AIDS Walk, The Citywide Food Drive. SAC and congregation volunteers participated in a fix-up project at Heartside Ministries. We co-sponsored with other organizations several events held in the Social Hall. Also this year, we are choosing a focus for every 2-3 month period. Our first period focus was on Homelessness with events coordinated by Tom Logan. The focus for January through March is on Education - domestic and foreign projects which will be coordinated by Marcia Kowske, Tom Logan and Julie Fisher. March through May the focus will be on International Peace and Justice coordinated by Earle Canfield. Also, SAC will be selling certified fair trade, organic, shade grown coffee every Sunday in the Social Hall.