Pitman Food Pantry
The Pitman Pantry is a cooperative ministry of five Pitman churches to feed those in the community and beyond who are having trouble keeping food in their own pantries. With support from our congregations and from the USDA and the Food Bank of South Jersey, the Pantry feeds hundreds of families each month. Located in the rear of the First Baptist Church, 30 N. Broadway, Pitman, NJ. As part of our Sunday School program, the children plant a vegetable garden every spring which they call the Angel Garden. Their harvest is distributed through the Pitman Food Pantry. The Food Pantry customers very much appreciate the fresh-picked tomatoes, peppers, green beans and squash that our kids have grown. The Pantry is open on Tuesdays from 6-7 PM, Wednesdays from 4-5 PM, and Thursdays from 12-1 PM.
Family Promise
Family Promise was founded in the state of New Jersey in 1988 as a means of giving homeless families an opportunity to achieve stability by providing shelter, food, case management, and hospitality utilizing the resources within local congregations and the community.. Our church was the first in Pitman to become a host congregation. Up to 14 guests receive meals and overnight accommodation at our church one week at a time for up to four weeks each year. Check the church calendar for refresher course dates, and contact Vicki Downing for more information.
Summer Lunch Program
Since 2016, our church has provided free lunches for local children in the Pitman School District. That first year we provided 150 lunches for 50 children who represented 18 families. In 2019, we provided 2410 lunches to 62 children. In 2020, because of the Corona Virus Pandemic we, in addition to the Pitman Methodist and Pitman Baptist Churches, are supporting the Pitman School System as they are providing lunches to any child 18 and under in the area. Members of the various congregations help pack and distribute the food for approximately 10 weeks during the summer. Originally the program was funded through the church’s Mission budget, a grant from West Jersey Presbytery, donations from the congregation, and the Pitman Food Pantry. Any undistributed food that remained at the end of the summer has been donated to the Pitman Food Pantry. What began as one church’s mission project has become a true ecumenical community project.
Urban Promise
UrbanPromise Academy is a private, Christian high school that fulfills the needs of students who have not met their academic potential in traditional school settings and often enter two to three grade levels below national standards. Founded in 1997, the Academy offers Camden youth a unique schooling opportunity with a low teacher to student ratio, a family-style learning environment, an emphasis on community service, and experiential and expeditionary learning. UrbanPromise Academy currently boasts a 100% graduation rate sees 93% of graduates enter college. Extracurricular opportunities include the school’s Elite Cycling Team, UrbanTrekkers, Urban BoatWorks, and Students In Action (SIA).