Helping Children Affected By Poverty – Supporting NC Public Schools
About Us
Congregations For Children (C4C) is a statewide initiative of The United Methodist Church focused on reflecting the love of Christ to our neighbors by helping children in public schools who are living in poverty.
Congregations For Children is an effective way for churches to increase their outreach to their community mission field. The C4C model is based on best practices and is designed to set up churches for success and help them to avoid common missteps. Even if your church is already involved in public school ministry in some manner, C4C can help you to expand and strengthen what you are already doing. Today, over 80% of the 800+ United Methodist churches in the NC Conference are participating in school-church partnerships. We believe that by adopting the C4C model, churches can increase their effectiveness and success in those ministries.
Our Mission
K-3 Literacy
- Volunteer tutors
- Collecting/donating books
- After-school tutoring programs
- Summer reading camps
Basic Needs
- Food
- Clothing
- School supplies
Positive Adult Role Models
- Lunch buddies
- Morning greeters
Advocacy
UMAPS is a statewide initiative of The United Methodist Church, formed to advocate for public education throughout North Carolina.
Success Stories
Watch a short video about Harbor United Methodist Church in Wilmington and their C4C Partnership with Mary C. Williams Elementary.
Latest Posts
Public Schools First NC Webinars
Public Schools First NC, one of C4C’s outstanding partners in advocacy for public schools and public school children, is offering two important webinars free of charge in January: Legislative UpdatesJanuary 13, 7:00- 8:30pm Join Representative Julie von Haefen as she discusses key issues related to public education from the 2021 legislative session. Register Now Child Poverty…
Help Us Celebrate Your 2021 Congregations for Children Activities
We want to hear about the ways your congregations have invested in meaningful relationships with your partner public schools through C4C. Some examples: Providing food for children on weekends through “Backpack Buddies” programsSupplying clothing closets at school or church for children in needDonating school supplies and materials to children and teachersHosting a book drive to donate new…
Continue Reading Help Us Celebrate Your 2021 Congregations for Children Activities
Churches Donate Lunchroom Supplies to C4C Partner Schools
Centenary UMC in New Bern discovered their Congregations for Children (C4C) partner school needed supplies to serve students breakfast and lunch. The Men’s Fellowship of Centenary provided a donation to purchase 1,000 sporks and 1,000 styrofoam-covered plates for the school lunchroom. Swansboro UMC also donated supplies to their C4C partner school after reaching out to…
Continue Reading Churches Donate Lunchroom Supplies to C4C Partner Schools
Pastors for NC Children Prayer Vigil
On October 18, 2021, Congregations for Children and United Methodist Advocates for Public Schools were represented at an ecumenical prayer vigil for our public school children who are affected by the ongoing Leandro court case, which determines funding for our public schools. The vigil was sponsored by one of our ecumenical faith partners, Pastors for NC…
Congregations for Children Community Connectivity Mini-Grants Awarded
The NCCUMC Congregations for Children Committee is pleased to announce that five churches in our conference have been awarded C4C Community Connectivity Mini-Grants. The funds were made possible by a $5000 grant to C4C from the NCCUMC Board of Church and Society to encourage and support churches’ advocacy efforts for local public schools. The purpose…
Continue Reading Congregations for Children Community Connectivity Mini-Grants Awarded
Pastors for NC Children Upcoming Events
Pastors for NC Children (PNCC), a public school advocacy organization, is hosting several events this month. Lunch and Learn: The Moral Imperative to Fund the Leandro Plan PNCC, NC Council of Churches, and Every Child NC is hosting a lunch and learn webinar on October 12, 2021, from 12 pm – 1 pm. Learn more…
C4C is a proud partner of FAST NC. Florence Aid to Students and Teachers of North Carolina (FAST NC) is an effort led by a bipartisan group of current and former North Carolina education leaders to help the state’s public schools as students and educators struggle to return to normal following Hurricane Florence and its impact.
C4C is supported by The Duke Endowment.