Mission Partners

Founded in 1992, Bridges to Community develops poverty alleviation strategies with local communities in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Within selectedrural regions of the two countries, Bridges works closely with community leaders to help mitigate poverty, historically in four distinct, but overlapping, program areas: health, education, housing, and economic development. All our program areas are driven by volunteer participation that incorporates service-learning into the volunteers’ on-the-ground experience.

We work in partnership with rural communities within the San Juan province of the Dominican Republic. 

To get more information, check out their website.

Founded in 1992, the Community Center of Northern Westchester seeks to improve the well-being and self-sufficiency of neighbors in need. They serve 37 communities in Northern Westchester by providing food, clothing, programs, and other resources free of charge.

Clients receive computer training, career counseling, health screenings, flu shots, and eye exams. They attend construction classes, nutrition sessions, immigration workshops, English education, and more.

To learn more about CCNW and how you can get involved, click here.

You can drop off items at 84 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY, on Tuesday-Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm.

If you would like to assist with the distribution of collected items, please call (914) 232-6572 or send an email.

Church World Service (CWS), the sponsoring organization, addresses the problems of hunger and emergency relief around the world. This year rather than a walk we held a successful CROP fundraiser in the form of a tea social, with all money raised benefiting CWS as well as local partners: The Community Center and the Interfaith Food Pantry. These organizations share 25% of the total income, with the rest going to fund domestic and international hunger relief efforts through CWS. Contact Alison Cape to get involved or with questions.

The Emergency Shelter Partnership is a coalition of more than 20 congregations and community groups who work together to provide shelter during the coldest five months of the year. BPC hosts the shelter for two weeks each winter. In addition to providing a safe and warm place to sleep, BPC volunteers provide a meal each evening and something for breakfast each day that we host the shelter.

For additional information please email Elizabeth Messinger or Elyssa Michaels.

Affordable housing in Westchester County has been an issue for years, particularly for individuals who work in and for our communities (police officers, firefighters, teachers). Each month, for over ten years, BPC has sent teams of workers to work with Habitat for Humanity throughout the county (White Plains, Mamaroneck, Ossining, Yonkers) contributing over 3500 hours to construct additional Habitat homes. Habitat opportunities have given high school youth and adults the chance to work side by side with our neighbors to make a difference in our town and county.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity and the work we do with them please contact Chris Perry.

HOLMES Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center is the outdoor Christian education and retreat facility of the Presbyteries of Hudson River, Long Island, and New York City. Bedford Presbyterian Church along with the other 255 congregations in the New York metropolitan area support Holmes. The property is located 30 minutes from Bedford off of I-84 and consists of three year-round conference facilities (with the Vinik Center having just recently opened), year-round retreat cabins, seasonal youth facilities, a rustic camping program, several tent/trailer and day group areas, and an environmental science, farm and arts program. The Center’s three lakes and 550 wooded acres provide for hiking, swimming, and boating, as well as fishing and ice-skating. Holmes provides programmed events throughout the year, as well as rental facilities for conferences and retreats. Volunteers are needed to repair buildings, maintain the grounds, and serve in leadership roles on the Board of Directors or on a variety of committees. Holmes is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) religious organization. Contributions may be made directly to Holmes or to the Church and designated for Holmes. Holmes is always looking for scholarship funds to help send kids to camp, and for used vehicles (cars, SUVs & trucks) that are in usable condition. Donations may also be made for capital improvements. Every summer college-age staff are employed as counselors, lifeguards, and service staff, and children from our churches and beyond can attend summer camp and adventure programs.  Service programs on and off the site offer learning opportunities for older youth, and year-round programming for all ages is now expanding to meet the needs of all the churches the Center serves. For information go to their website or speak with BPC liaisons David Burpee or Linda Burpee. 

This organization strives to end domestic violence and human trafficking through comprehensive services, advocacy, and community education. They provide safety, self-determination, and justice. The Mission Committee and the BPC Women’s Association provide financial assistance. 

The Midnight Run provides opportunities throughout the year for youth and adults to interact with and deliver donated food, clothing, blankets and toiletries to homeless people in Manhattan. Runs from the church take place several times a year on Friday nights. BPC’s involvement with the Midnight Run started with three high school girls more than 20 years ago. They had heard about the Midnight Run and thought that our church should participate. After convincing the church leadership that it was the right thing to do, they helped to organize our first Midnight Run in the late winter of 1990. Since then, literally, hundreds of middle school students, high school students and adults have participated in a Midnight Run.

Donations are always welcome. We need:

• All items should be new or gently used.
• Sweaters (new or gently used)
• Coats (men’s sizes L-XXL)
• Boots
• Toiletries (travel size: toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shaving cream, razors, washcloths, shampoo, chapstick) (new)
• Sweatpants (men’s sizes M-XXL)
• Sweatshirts (men’s sizes M-XXL)
• New socks – Men’s and Women’s
• New underwear – Men’s and Women’s
• New Long Underwear – Men’s
• New White Undershirts – Men’s
• Checks made out to BPC memo Midnight Run

A Midnight Run Drop Off Bin is located outside the main office at BPC. Thank you!

The Food Pantry provides groceries to individuals and families in our area who are food insecure. In 2023 the need surged by 29% leading to a total of 102,075 guests served throughout the year. This results from the average of 633 families served each week, including 432 new families registered with the pantry during the year. In addition to generous BPC financial support, special food drives, and pantry volunteers, Nativity Farm provided fresh produce and hosted cooking for the pantry where “to go” meals were prepared for the home delivery program. Email Seidell and Cecilia Rosenblum to get involved or with any questions.

This organization strives to end domestic violence and human trafficking through comprehensive services, advocacy, and community education. They provide safety, self-determination, and justice. The Mission Committee and the BPC Women’s Association provide financial assistance. 

Neighbors Link was founded to meet the needs of 4,000 Latino immigrants who represent 26% of Mount Kisco’s total population. When problems at many levels became apparent, concerned members of the community raised private funds to convert a masonry warehouse into a community center for low-income working people. That was in the year 2000, and it signaled the remarkable transformation of a whole community.

Today, Neighbors Link offers a fully staffed center with comprehensive programs for:

• Adult Education
• Training for Effective Parenting
• Employment and Economic Development
• Computer Skill Training
• Leadership Training
• Entrepreneurial Development
• Recreation and Community-Building
• Personal and vocational enhancement
• After-school tutoring program at Mt. Kisco Elementary School
• On-site help and referrals for personal and family issues such as housing and homelessness, medical and mental health, family budgeting, tax payer identification, non-payment of wages, alcoholism, domestic violence, immigration issues and other critical concerns

In addition to supporting Neighbors Link both financially and with volunteers, working with Neighbors Link is a part of our Confirmation program.

Donate now!

The Mt. Kisco Open Door Clinic is a health care center funded by the federal government. It serves those who have no health insurance as well as providing a sliding scale payment system for those making an income.  They provide checkups, treatment, pregnancy care, immunizations, child care, prescription medicine, and mental and substance abuse counseling.  Appointments can be made by calling or online. It is an important resource in our community. For more information on how you can help, contact Kate Branch. 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The core budget, including staff and administrative costs, is funded through the One Great Hour of Sharing, and its program work is additionally funded through designated gifts.

Started in 2021, ReSET Westchester, playing a direct role in helping refugees establish new homes in our community. They help to pave the road to self-sufficiency by providing support during their transition acclimating to their new homes and a new way of life, while holding onto the valued traditions of their countries of origin’s culture. Their assistance includes obtaining affordable housing, furniture, employment, transportation, English language classes, enrollment in public schools, navigating health care, government agencies and other supportive services.

There are a variety of ways that individuals, congregations, and other organizations can help:

• Welcome the Families on Arrival 
• Assist in finding affordable housing opportunities
• Transportation/Public Transit Navigation
• Interpretation/Translation
• ESL Instruction
• Civic Engagement
• Job Skills Training/Career Development
• Community and Cultural Integration
• Youth & Adult Education and Tutoring
• Money and Financial Literacy

Although the time commitment will vary among families, we are asked to be prepared to offer support to each family for at least one year.  There will be shared fund-raising efforts among all participants, however, no one group or individual will be required to raise these funds alone or to buy into the project.

To learn more to to volunteer please go to their website.

With $50,000 in seed money from Bedford Presbyterian Church, additional funds were raised from members of the community and in the fall of 2015 launched the Rewarding Potential Scholarship awarding our first three scholarships to graduating Fox Lane High School seniors in the spring of 2015. This scholarship is designed to follow a student through their entire college career helping them to meet the cost of a post high school education and to graduate without an overwhelming amount of student debt. As we continue to build this scholarship to meet the financial needs of additional students, we have been offered a $100,000 matching grant. For more information about the scholarship and the students, visit its website.

Donate now!

The Westchester Youth Alliance is an interfaith program for high school students whose goal is to build a bridge between our faith communities that will foster deep and lasting relationships. They do this through service projects and gatherings that allow teens to engage in dialog and action based on common values. Begun in 2012 with a grant received by BPC, the program now includes 15+ congregations – Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Unitarian – from across Northern Westchester.

Please see this link for more information, to register for our next event, and for details about events all year!

Email them at westchesteryouthalliance@gmail.com.

In the Fall of 2013, BPC launched a prison ministry program, Woman 2 Woman, which connects women in our congregation and community with women incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. These women are our neighbors, yet many of them have little to no outside contact. Our visiting program is designed to provide them with much-needed emotional support, encouragement and friendship. We normally have 50 visitors going into BHCF on a monthly basis. During the COVID crisis, we have had to curtail our visits, but we continue to correspond with women.

Please note that in order to become a Woman 2 Woman visitor, you must attend a training session.

For further information about training and our work, please contact Nancy Gernert.

Since October 2001, WVMAW has brought 40-75 volunteer groups per year to work in West Virginia. Their work has consisted of home repair and reconstruction, deconstruction, playground restoration, park cleanup, stream bank stabilization, and vacation Bible schools, among other things. But more than just working with hammers and nails, the groups have built relationships with people in West Virginia, changing lives in the name of Jesus Christ.