Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church (MSPC) is a designated Hunger Action Congregation of the PC(USA). As such, our congregation has committed to a covenant of faithful action to end hunger and poverty and address their root causes. We are active in all six areas of hunger action specified for this covenant: hunger alleviation, development assistance, education, lifestyle integrity, corporate and public policy witness and worship.
Our congregation addresses the covenant in several ways. One of our actions includes prepping the meals to be served to homeless individuals in downtown Tucson the first week of each month. On the first Sunday of the month, following worship, a group of just under a dozen volunteers travels downtown to work in the commercial kitchen provided by Southside Presbyterian Church. For two hours, the group preps all the ingredients for use in the meals to be served the following Monday and Friday mornings to the approximately 200 clients of Cross Streets Community, the non-profit program directly caring for the homeless community.
Not only do we prep the meals, but we purchase the protein component and any other unique ingredients, allowing Cross Streets Community to use their limited resources to purchase ingredients for the meals they prepare during the other weeks of the month. To help make the meal we prepare even more appealing, we bake from scratch a dessert, as well as assemble peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that the clients can take with them at the end of the meal.
Also, on the first Sunday of each month, our congregation collects and donates non-perishable human and pet food for use by Tri-Community Food Bank in Mammoth, Arizona (Pinal County). Throughout the year, usually for a one-month period, we sponsor special food donation campaigns. For Interfaith Community Services, we gather pasta and sauce for the February βLotsa Pastaβ campaign and peanut butter for the Peanut Butter Party campaign in July. Each March, we collect at least 500 12-oz units of animal- and fish-based protein for IMPACT of Southern Arizona as the April Bag Partner. On the third Sunday of each month, we switch to collecting gently used clothing and shoes, as well as new socks and under garments. The clothing is then delivered to Casa Alitas Migrant Shelter, Cross Streets Community, and Bridge Prison Ministry.
To impact hunger at the national level, our financial support of Bread for the World, an advocacy program sitting at tables of power and influence with lawmakers to enact policies that help ensure everyone has access to nutritious food, we join with others in reciting and reflecting on common weekly prayers calling for justice.
If you are looking for a congregation that is actively engaged in caring for community, consider joining us on any Sunday at 10 a.m. For more information, visit mountainshadowschurch.org.
If you canβt join us in person, our worship service is live streamed via Zoom and recorded for viewing at any time on our YouTube channel. We have many opportunities for you to get actively engaged in helping others. Come, worship with us.
