
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