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" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ... Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these."  - Mark 12: 30-31

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Putting God's love into action is central to our ministries at Highlands.  We are actively involved in serving our community beyond our campus.  Below you will find information about some of the many ministries that Highlands works to support and sustain.

Micah's Backpack

At Micah’s Backpack, Jacksonville, our mission is to feed food-insecure children on the weekend. The children we serve are identified by teachers and counselors as regularly coming to school hungry. For many of the children we support, lunch on Friday is the last meal they have until school breakfast on Monday morning. We are a community-based, grass-roots organization that runs completely on volunteers.

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​Volunteers and community support are critical to the success of our program. All the food we provide to students is purchased locally with donations from the community. Every dollar donated goes directly to feeding hungry children.
We hope you’ll join us as we feed our future, one child at a time.

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The 'annual' cost of feeding one child through the school year is only $240.00

Family Promise

Family Promise of Jacksonville is a non-profit, interfaith hospitality network providing temporary shelter, meals, hospitality, and case management for families experiencing homelessness. We do this through the participation of local congregations, dedicated staff, and hundreds of volunteers.  Family Promise of Jacksonville opened its doors to families in need on June 12, 2006 and our first family consisted of 2 moms with 6 children between them. Since that time we have served many more families in crisis and will continue to do so for years to come.  

 

 Family Promise of Jacksonville provides shelter, meals, and comprehensive support to families and children without homes.  For years, Highlands was a “host” congregation providing support for overnight accommodations and meals for 3-5 families for one week every 15-18 weeks on a rotating basis. However, Covid led to a change in the program that allows families to stay on the Family Promise Campus with host churches providing meals, groceries, and supplies during their host weeks. 

Serving the Community

Two Cents a Meal

Two Cents a Meal is a special offering taken up during worship on the fourth Sunday of each month. This offering supports the Presbytery of St. Augustine's Mutual Mission ministries in Jamaica and Cuba.

Meals-on-Wheels

Each morning faithful drivers pick up warm meals from the church office to deliver to seniors in our community.  For many, this is not only a much-needed meal but a lifeline to personal connection. 

White Gifts

During the Advent season, Highlands collects gifts for people of all ages, from young children to adults.  They are then wrapped in white paper. These "white gifts" are sent to our mission partners to be used as birthday gifts throughout the year.

Arlington Community Services

Arlington Community Services (ACS) is the local Arlington food bank.  ACS has been feeding our hungry neighbors for 30+ years.  Highlands supports ACS through regular food donations, special event collections, and financial resources.

Blood Drives

Highlands has been hosting the "Big Red Bus" for over two decades. All those that are able to are encouraged to donate this life-saving gift.  As our Blood Drive coordinator often reminds us, there is no substitute for human blood!

Crop Walk

Each November, we gather with the Arlington community to raise awareness about food insecurity and worldwide hunger. Funds are raised to support local, national, and international hunger issues. 
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