35 years ago a vision to serve the city started…and it is still going strong today. Is your church interested in being a part of Flower City Work Camp 2021? The dates of camp are March 28th – April 1st. Two things you should know:

1. Our first mandatory meeting for interested churches is Wednesday, October 14th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. This will be a zoom meeting that you won’t want to miss! Get your questions answered about what Flower City Work Camp will look like this year. If you are interested in being a part of this virtual meeting, email our church rep coordinator at amy@flowercityworkcamp.org

2. All churches that want to be a part of Flower City Work Camp 2021 need to fill out a church application. This is due Friday, October 23rd. Here is the link to that application: www.flowercityworkcamp.org/church-app/

Flower City Outreach (FCO), founded in 2015, has a vision to see the local Church fully mobilized into service, connecting with our neighbors across the region, to meet the practical needs that exist while proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our mission is to utilize the gifts and experience God has raised up in His Church to bless the people of the City whom He loves.  FCO is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of nine members from different church and vocational backgrounds.  We are known mostly for our Flower City Work Camp ministry, started in 1985.  Recently, we launched a one day work camp experience called FCWC Weekend Edition.  And now we would like to introduce you to our first affiliate ministry called CarePortal, served through TheHub585. (www.flowercityworkcamp.org/about/flowercityoutreach-org)

The Hub585 mission is to educate, enrich, and empower youth and families through programs and partnerships that give them hope and help them thrive.  Their vision is to see a city restored- people to people and people to God.  As the Hub585 approaches their first anniversary of serving Monroe County through the CarePortal led by Dr. Ashley Cross, we are excited to announce the official partnership between TheHub585/CarePortal and Flower City Outreach (FCO).  Both organizations’ missions center around unifying the local church to promote the unconditional love of Jesus Christ while helping those in need.  (www.thehub585.org)

CarePortal is a platform that allows a network of churches, community members, and local child welfare stakeholders to collaborate for the benefit of children and families in their community.  Through relationships accelerated by technology, CarePortal empowers local churches and agencies to partner and establish a culture of Church Centered Child Welfare.  The CarePortal network of local churches and caring people is mobilizing on behalf of vulnerable children in communities both in the United States and internationally.  When child serving agencies identify needs of local children and families, they go online to submit a request for help.  This request goes to local churches that have the opportunity to meet the needs of these vulnerable children and families, accessing additional community support when necessary. (www.thehub585.org/#careportal)

Churches can help in the entire spectrum of child welfare services. Churches help keep families together, support foster and adoptive children and families and ease the transition of youth from foster care to independence.  Churches help through:

• Tier 1: physical investments of cash, goods or services to stabilize the home of the child and family.
• Tier 2: face to face support including mentoring, tutoring, babysitting, parenting classes or help with transportation for children and families, foster families and adoptive families.
• Tier 3: becoming family to those in need through preventive programs, being foster and adoptive families, and providing homes for youth aging out of foster care.

Affiliation– The Hub585 and Flower City Outreach will collaborate to strengthen our efforts, community presence, and church recruitment and engagement.  Our efforts are centered around working together to serve vulnerable children and families better while remembering that Jesus is at the center of every need.  This partnership was not developed overnight; both leadership teams discussed and prayed for God’s direction for almost a year.  As much as we knew that both organizations were doing significant work in our community, we wanted to be assured that this partnership was in God’s will.  We move forward together, knowing that this is a God thing, and we invite you on this journey with us.  Together, both organizations can radically display this love of Jesus by being His hands and feet.  We can show our city that the Church of Jesus Christ is alive and active.

That The City Might See Jesus,

Mike McOrmond, FCO Executive Director
Ryan T. Smith, FCO Board Chairman

Mike & Tammy McOrmond are partners in ministry and life. Mike was the original founder of Flower City Work Camp and will become the Executive Director of Flower City Outreach on August 1st, 2020.

Flower City Outreach (FCO) is excited to announce that Mike McOrmond will become the organization’s Executive Director starting on August 1^st, 2020.  Mike had previously founded Flower City Work Camp (FCWC) in 1985 while the Director of Youth Ministries at Browncroft Community Church and led it for a few years before moving on to other ministry opportunities.  McOrmond later rejoined the organization as a charter member of the board of directors for Flower City Outreach when it was incorporated in 2015.  For the past two years he has served as the board chairman, before being selected to serve in the paid professional role of Executive Director.

“I appreciate the opportunity to return to a ministry that, by God’s grace, has endured so many years.  It is a true joy to see how others have shared the vision and contributed to the flourishing of FCWC,” shared Mike McOrmond.  “I hope to build greater unity and cooperative ministry among churches in the greater Rochester area and to facilitate launching new ministries beyond FCWC so ‘that the city might see Jesus.’”

Read the whole release here:  FCO Leadership Press Release

Due to the mandates banning mass gatherings by the State of New York, we are sad to announce that we must cancel Flower City Work Camp 2020 (April 5-9).

There are a number of practical reasons why the current situation will keep us from holding Work Camp.  But, we also want to be a good corporate neighbor and take measures to protect the most vulnerable in our community by working to limit the potential spread of disease.  It was a very difficult decision to cancel Work Camp, and one that saddens all of us.  For more information follow this link to learn more about our decision and to answers to some commonly asked questions:  FCWC2020

Many have reached out asking about the status of #fcwc20 and understandably so. We are monitoring the situation closely, consulting with our medical team & receiving guidance from State and County officials on the best path forward. We are balancing the overwhelming desire to join together as One Church and bless our city in Jesus name with the need to take steps that further the public health and welfare. We are still a month away from Camp and a lot can transpire in that time. Rest assured that we will make the best decision at the right time to protect those serving and those we serve. We will issue updates as we have them. Please join with us in prayer as we seek the Lord’s will for Camp.

It is time to start thinking about FCWC20 – our 35th Anniversary Year of Camp!

There are only three Church Rep Meetings left before Camp (mandatory attendance is required from each church):

Wednesday, December 11th – 12:00pm-1:00pm – Browncroft Community Church
Wednesday, January 8th – 12:00pm-1:00pm – Calvary Assembly Church
Tuesday, March 10th – 6:30pm-8:30pm – Browncroft Community Church

Contact Amy Ahlquist with any questions at (585) 321-0325 or amy@flowercityworkcamp.org

Flower City Work Camp 2019 is officially closed and behind us. But, the memories, the lessons and the special time that it was will endure. Thank you to all of the students who participated, the site and team leaders that worked hard out across the City and all of the different support volunteers that made this week possible.

To see more of the week, watch the recap videos published on our Media Page and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Applications for Flower City Work Camp 2020 will open on November 1st!

FCWC19 is right around the corner, and here is all the information about when and where you need to show up on Sunday, April 14th:

STUDENTS – East (Browncroft Community Church)

• Sidewalk Clubs – Arrive 1:45pm (Dinner provided)
• Student Shepherds – Arrive 4:00pm / Orientation Meeting at 4:30 pm (Dinner Provided)
• Worksites – Arrive 5:00pm (Eat before you arrive)
• Agency Support – Arrive 5:00pm (East before you arrive)
• Basketball Camp – Arrive 5:00pm (Eat before you arrive)
• Soccer Camp – Arrive 5:00pm (Eat before you arrive)

STUDENTS – West (Hope Lutheran Church)

• Sidewalk Clubs – Arrive 1:30pm / Proceed to Lakeshore Community Church by 1:45pm for training (Dinner provided before returning)
• Student Shepherds – Arrive 5:00pm / Orientation at 6:00pm (Eat before you arrive)
• Worksites – Arrive 5:00pm (Eat before you arrive)
• Agency Support – Arrive 5:00pm (East before you arrive)
• Basketball Camp – Arrive 5:00pm (Eat before you arrive)
• Soccer Camp – Arrive 5:00pm (Eat before you arrive)

ADULTS – East (Browncroft)

• Sidewalk Club Leaders – Arrive 1:45pm
• Worksite Leaders – Arrive 5:45pm / Orientation Meeting at 6:00pm
• Gofers – Orientation Meeting at 6:00pm
• Overnight Leaders – Orientation Meeting at 6:00pm
• Agency Support Leaders – Arrive 7:15pm / Team Meeting at 7:30pm
• Basketball Camp Leaders – Arrive 7:15pm / Team Meeting at 7:30pm
• Soccer Camp Leaders – Arrive 7:15pm at / Team Meeting at 7:30pm

ADULTS – West (Hope)

• Sidewalk Club Leaders – Arrive 1:45pm at Lakeshore Community Church
• Worksite Leaders – Orientation Meeting at 5:45pm  Orientation at 6:00pm
• Gofers – Orientation Meeting at 6:00pm
• Overnight Leaders – Orientation Meeting at 6:00pm
• Agency Support Leaders – Arrive 7:15pm / Team Meeting at 7:30pm
• Basketball Camp Leaders – Arrive 7:15pm / Team Meeting at 7:30pm
• Soccer Camp Leaders – Arrive 7:15pm at Hope Lutheran Church

Need to contact Home Base?
East  | Browncroft      (585) 210-8287
West | Hope               (585) 210-2216

Basketball Camp Leader Training
March 9th – 10:00am-12:00pm – Browncroft Community Church, Room C31
March 22nd – 6:00-8:00pm – Avenue D Recreation Center* (200 Avenue D)
April 13th – 10:00am-12:00pm – Calvary Assembly*
*Students serving on Basketball Camp should attend

Soccer Camp Student & Leader Training
March 23rd – 12:45-3:00pm – Gantt Recreation Center*, and;
April 6th – 12:45-3:00pm – Gantt Recreation Center*
*Students serving on Soccer Camp should attend

Soccer Leader Planning
February 10th – 2:00-4:00pm – Pittsford Recreation Center (35 Lincoln Ave, Room 206)
February 23rd – 10:00am-12:00pm – Pittsford Recreation Center
March 10th – 2:00-4:00pm – Pittsford Recreation Center

Overnight Leader Training
March 16th – 9:00-10:30 am – Calvary Assembly, or;
March 30th – 9:00-10:30 am – Browncroft Community Church, Cafe

Security Team Training
March 16th – 9:00-11:00 am – Hope Lutheran Church, Room 110
TBD – TBD – Browncroft Community Church

Medical Team Training
March 23rd – 9:00-10:30 am – Browncroft Community Church, Room A12

Gofers Training
April 14th – 6:00pm – Browncroft Community Church, and;
April 14th – 6:00pm – Hope Lutheran Church