Helping neighbors through Pastor’s Fund

June 26, 2025

By Rev. Rick King

Every one of us is vulnerable economically. Generally speaking, you and I are only a couple of missed paychecks or a catastrophic medical expense away from serious financial stress—stress that if it goes on too long, could break us, rendering us homeless, food-insecure, or filing for bankruptcy.

At the same time, an increasing number of people live even closer to the edge, and that’s where the social service agencies and non-profit organizations we partner with help keep people alive and able to care for their families and loved ones, despite low income, unanticipated medical conditions, and underemployment.

But what if Keystone Community Services’ food shelf, free farmer’s market distributions, the food mobile, and other organizations aren’t enough—on an ongoing basis?

We’ve heard that radical cuts to the social safety net are part of what Congress is debating right now, and while we should be calling and writing our representatives and senators several times a week to advocate for keeping things like SNAP benefits, WIC, and Medicaid, we also know that even these are not enough, and people have needs that fall in the gaps between these forms of help.

That’s where the Pastor’s Discretionary Aid Fund at our church comes in—to meet needs that occur in those gaps.

Since January of this year alone, your generous giving to this fund has helped in the following specific ways:

–Helped a resident stay in her Section 8 (rent-subsidized) apartment, where she cares for her disabled daughter and grandchildren, who live with her; this despite her Ramsey County caseworker not being able to file papers for renewal of Section 8 on time because her caseload is so high.

–Helped a person with meals and transportation to and from Regions Hospital for two weeks while their spouse was going in for outpatient radiation for cancer.

–Partnered with New Life Presbyterian to help a couple with deposit and first month’s rent on an affordable apartment through Preservation Project One, LLC.
Helped a person retrieve their car that had been impounded illegally.

–Bought gift cards in $25 denominations from Cub Foods for groceries; Target for household cleaning and personal care items such as disposable diapers; and Speedway for gasoline. So far, of the $800 worth we purchased, $475 worth of cards have been distributed to help people with day-to-day emergencies.

Thank you for your generous giving to the Pastor’s Discretionary Aid Fund, and thank you for entrusting me with decision making on how to distribute aid from the Fund. I am glad to be your pastor, and to extend the reach of FHC into the wider community’s most needy.

Much love,
Rev. Rick

Editor’s note: You can donate to the fund via our online giving portal. Select Minister’s Discretionary Aid Fund.