First Presbyterian Church is actively involved in local outreach through partnerships with agencies serving those experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty in our community. We recognize that organizations such as Operation Inasmuch, Fayetteville Urban Ministry, the Care Clinic, and Connections of Cumberland County are best equipped for frontline service. Consequently, we focus our support on these partners through prayer, volunteerism, and financial and material donations.

Through these partnerships, we learned about Myrover-Reese and its mission to provide a supportive environment for individuals recovering from addiction. We noted that many local agencies rely on Myrover-Reese when assisting clients with substance abuse issues.

More recently, our Local Relief Ministry began addressing the needs of families at Walker Spivey Elementary School facing homelessness and food insecurity. While we partner with the school to identify families, our direct experience in these neighborhoods has shown that while providing immediate relief eases suffering, it does not address the root causes of chronic poverty.

After learning that Myrover-Reese had begun a homeless street outreach program, we connected with Erica Gay. Since last August, we have expanded our Local Relief Ministry outreach to include the support of her efforts by providing homeless survival kits. Erica and Tatum Gay have also attended our packing events and spoken to our congregation, providing us with a better understanding of Myrover-Reese’s impact.

Our experiences have taught us that we cannot end homelessness without addressing its root causes. While many agencies are equipped to handle various aspects of poverty, few are prepared to support those struggling with both poverty and addiction or mental health issues. We have observed that addiction is often a root cause of homelessness, just as homelessness can frequently lead to addiction, making it clear that there is a critical need for expanded addiction rehabilitation and mental health services in our community.

As a downtown church, we witness people suffering from severe addiction and mental health challenges on our campus every day.  We aren’t equipped to help them.  Many of our partners aren’t equipped to help them.  Instead, they rely on Myrover Reese.  And that’s what led to our interest in partnering with Myrover Reese.  

Until we address the addiction and mental crisis that exists on our streets, there will always be homelessness.  As Desmund Tutu once said, “there comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river.  We need to go upstream and find out why they are falling in”.  Submitted by Terry Plummer