Christmas outreach
There are many ways to give to those in need during this holiday season. Contact OPC Missions to purchase a gift for a child at Unidos Por Siempre orphanage in Mexico, an OPC home bound senior, one of our Ojai Valley Family Shelter guests or Secure Beginnings (formally Nan Tolbert Center). You can email Annell LaBarge at opcmissions@outlook.com.
ojai valley family winter shelter
OPC will be providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for the shelter guest. OPC is responsible for Thursday night drop off. The winter shelter begins in December and will continue through March. Please consider making dinner for 8-10 people. To go containers are provided, and the meals are packaged individually and dropped off. You might also choose donating items for the breakfast or lunch. Financial donations are also accepted and others can do the shopping or cooking. Please sign up or receive info on Sunday mornings at the Mission table or go to opcmissions@outlook.com
Current Needs:
Come join us and serve in Jesus name. There are many ways for you to plug into mission.
Below are current opportunities to consider.
Share the Harvest - St. Thomas Church
There are many ways to serve with Foodshare, Ventura from unloading a truck to passing out food to a family in need. There is a “pop up” food program at St Thomas Church the first Thursday of the month. To sign up, contact Drew West at drewwest@live.com.
Family to Family - Ventura
OPC prepares and serves lunch the second Friday of the month to Seniors, families and homeless. Contact Annell LaBarge
Sponsor A Child - Unidos Por Siempre
The OPC Mission Committee is partnering with Unidos Por Siempre, the orphanage in Tijuana, to sponsor a child for a year. A monthly payment of $30 will cover all costs for the school year including supplies, daily meals and uniforms. Each month you will send a payment by check, electronic draft or credit card. You can sign up to sponsor a child on your own or partner with a friend. Throughout the year, you can also send special cards or notes on holidays and birthdays, or just to check in and say “hi”. You will be given updates during the year to know what your child likes or may need. We recently received a few new students who are in need of a sponsor.
PDA - California Fires | Haiti Earthquake | Hurricane Ida
Presbyterian Disaster Relief is our denomination mission partner. If you are looking for a way to give to those who have been devastated by the earthquake in Haiti and the continued wildfires up north, go to pda.pcusa.org.
Samaritan's Purse - Christmas Shoe Box
The amazing journey of a Shoebox Gift begins with you and results in evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication. From children to seniors, people pack shoebox gifts each year to bless children in need around the world. Plan now to join us with this special gift. If you would like to participate, please contact Annell LaBarge or Pat Block at opcmisions@outlook.com.
Mission at OPC
Homelessness and Hunger
Children and Youth
Elderly and Senior Programs
Relief Work and Disaster Response
What speaks to you? Contact us to learn more.
Here is a list of some of our Mission Partners
Family to Family (Ojai-Ventura)
OPC works together with other Ojai and Ventura churches, the Ventura synagogue, and others to feed over 200 people a hot meal five days a week at the Catholic Charities dining hall on Ventura Avenue in Ventura. A noon dinner is cooked on site and served Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and hot breakfast is served Saturdays and Sundays. OPC serves dinner every second Friday of the month.
Ways to get involved: Each week we have some faithful, regular volunteers, but need extras to work as substitutes. Please consider adding your name to the substitute list. You are needed!
Contact: Michael & Annell LaBarge
Knit for Kids
Knit for Kids is a global movement that has donated more than half a million sweaters to needy children all over the world. World Vision has partnered with many leading charitable organizations to clothe needy children here in America and around the world in places like Romania, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Kosovo to name a few. The joy that Knit for Kids creates for the children who receive these sweaters is immeasurable, as is the joy experienced by caring people who knit them.
To participate:
Food Share Sunday (1st Sunday of the month)
Food Share Sunday 1st Sunday of the Month (Communion Sunday) Your continued donations of non-perishable food, toiletries, baby food and diapers are greatly appreciated. Did you know that one filled grocery cart feeds a family of four for a week? Please remember to bring your donations on Communion Sunday (usually the first Sunday of each month), so we can continue to help our neighbors through HELP of Ojai’s Pantry Program.
Community Assistance Program (CAP)
HELP of Ojai's Community Assistance Program (CAP) and Valley Outreach work to assist the most needy in our Ojai Valley.
Ways to get involved:
Handyman Ministry
The OPC Handyman Ministry's mission is to encourage fellowship while helping our neighbors in need by providing basic household repairs and services. We can do anything from changing a lightbulb to minor carpentry and repairs and yard work, whatever is needed. This ministry is open to adults as well as high school students. No experience necessary.
If you're interested in participating, and/or have a person in mind for these services, please email OPC Missions at opcmissions@outlook.com.
Mexico Mission Trips With DOXA
OPC has been in partnership with Unidos por Siempre in a colonia near Tijuana for the past eight years. This orphanage not only provides a safe and loving environment for children who have lost their parents, but is also a haven for families who don’t have the means necessary to provide for their children. In partnership with DOXA ministries, we build houses in the local community for those in need. We are housed at the orphanage, and go out into the community daily to build a simple 12’ x 24’ sturdy and reliable home for these families.
For more information, contact Jeff Holland
OPC Homeless Shelter
Right here, without leaving town, you can help local families--offering them snacks, dinner, a hot shower, a warm safe place to sleep, breakfast, the gift of friendship and a time for prayer.
Whats to get involved:
Impact
A ministry of the Presbytery of Santa Barbara that sends out people from our local churches on short-term mission trips. Teams go to Uganda, Romania, Turkey, Honduras, China, Albania, Haiti, and India to work alongside missionaries with ongoing programs. These trips have helped us to develop long-standing relationships with missionaries such as Nita Hansen in the Ukraine or Ramazan Arkan’s church in Turkey. These relationships are not only valuable to the team, but also to the missionaries receiving the teams, as we uplift, support and serve with them. Trips take place in the summer and winter.
For more details go to www.impact-sbp.org or contact Annell LaBarge.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing low-cost housing for needy families. Habitat builds houses throughout the world through the efforts of volunteers and the “sweat equity” of the home recipients. There are projects currently in Ventura County available for volunteers.
Contact: Drew West
Teen Challenge Venture
Teen Challenge of Southern California provides a one-year, Christian faith-based, residential care program to those struggling with life-controlling problems. This adult residential program for men and women ages 18 and older is offered in Southern California at no charge to the individual. The Ventura Teen Challenge branch serves women 18+. OPC Provides financial assistance to this ministry and offers service days to meet needs on the Teen Challenge campus and partner with Teen Challenge residents.
