Supporting Asylum Seekers and Calling for Volunteers

The LOPC Immigrant Advocacy Group recently helped direct Mission funding to the Contra Costa Safe Center for the Asylum Fund. This fund helps immigrants seeking asylum cover application, renewal, or appeal fees required by the DHS. Thanks to these donations, 43 people who could not afford these fees were able to apply. Filing the application is the first and most important step in the immigration process. Without it, deportation is likely. If you would like to contribute to this tax-deductible fund, please contact Jack Champlin.

The Group is beginning to plan to canvass Lamorinda’s selected retail businesses with workplace protection packets in preparation for possible ICE incursions. It will involve:

• Preparing and making copies of the packets for distribution
• Training volunteers who will deliver the packets (canvassers)
• Planning routes and schedules

We need volunteers for this project. If you want to learn more about this effort or about the LOPC Immigrant Advocacy Group, the next meeting is at LOPC on June 24 from 11am to 12:30pm. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Jack Champlin or Phil Hunter.

LOPC Receives Habitat for Humanity's Faith in Action Award

On May 15, Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church was honored with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley’s “Faith in Action” Award at their 40th Anniversary President’s Brunch. Mission Manager Michelle Browning accepted the award on behalf of the congregation.

Habitat recognized LOPC’s 25-year partnership, which includes over $200,000 in financial support for affordable homebuilding and sponsorship of the Interfaith Unity House in Walnut Creek. LOPC volunteers have also contributed more than 300 on-site hours, helping local families achieve stable, dignified homeownership.

This award recognizes LOPC’s ongoing commitment to putting faith into action by partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build homes, strengthen communities, and provide hope for families throughout the East Bay. We are grateful to Habitat for this recognition, and for all the incredible work they do to make safe and affordable housing possible for families in our community. We remain committed to our partnership, and look forward to many more years of working together.

Service Trip Interest Survey

We are planning several exciting mission and service opportunities for late 2026 and 2027, and your response matters! Look at the options below and let us know where you feel called to serve:

Los Angeles (October 2026) | Adult Trip

Partner with Habitat for Humanity to assist with rebuilding efforts in Altadena.

India (January 2027) | Adult Trip

Serve alongside our partners at the Children of Faith home.

Guatemala (Spring Break 2027) | Family or Youth Trip

A service and learning experience partnering with Fotokids.

Let Us Know You’re Interested. Contact Michelle Browning to express your interest, indicate your preferred trip(s), or request additional information.

Now - June 13, Love Does: Trinity Center Clothing and Essentials Drive. LOPC is collecting gently used (or new), clean clothing and essentials, like sleeping bags, blankets, and warm gear, to support Trinity Center’s work with unhoused adults in Contra Costa County. Donation bins will be available in the Ministry Center reception area through June 13 (weekdays 9:00 am - 5:00 pm), with a final drop-off event on Saturday, June 13 from 9:00 - 11:00 am).

Now - July 1, Love Does: Kapnek Hygiene Supplies Drive for Mothers. Help care for families in Zimbabwe through our international mission partner, JF Kapnek Trust. We are collecting supplies for hygiene kits that will be given to mothers staying at the hospital with their children during treatment. These kits are intended to provide some comfort and support during their stay. Donations are due by July 1 in the Ministry Center. For a list of needed items, visit lopc.org/lovedoes or contact Michelle Browning.

June 27, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - Love Does: LOPC Work Day at the Food Bank. Additional workday on July 11 and August 15. Come join us and volunteer at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano! By working together (up to 20 of us), we'll sort, box, and bag food to provide for those in our community facing hunger. This is an opportunity to serve those in need while building connections at LOPC. Go to lopc.org/registrations for more information and to register.

Volunteers Needed at Hope Solutions. Sign up to help distribute food provided by White Pony Express at Hope Solutions residences, either Lakeside in Concord and/or Bella Monte in Bay Point. Volunteer opportunities available on Sunday and Monday mornings. Sign up today by clicking HERE.

Stay engaged with issues that reflect our faith and values! PC(USA) Action Alert emails give you timely updates on policies and legislation affecting communities, social justice, and mission work, along with easy ways to contact your elected officials. Sign up today by clicking HERE.

Feed our Neighbors. Food insecurity is on the rise, and local families need our support. Donate, volunteer, or spread the word to help Monument Crisis Center and the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano provide groceries and emergency aid. Learn more and take action!

Continue the spirit of United in Prayer from wherever you are. In October, our community gathered to support mission partners through reflection and intentional prayer, and you’re invited to join in. Click HERE to access the prayer booklet.

School year ends in India for the Children of Faith Home

The academic year in India ends in April with exams for the 10th grade and Junior college students, equivalent to 12th grade in the US. This year, the Children of Faith Home students performed exceptionally well on these exams. Many of the students arrived at the home with skills below grade level and worked very hard to catch up and exceed expectations. For the junior college students, exam scores determine college placements or other training programs. “Our students work very hard to do well on their exams. The Home’s school provides individualized curriculum that helps our children reach their potential,” says Rosie Thandu, co-founder of Children of Faith. She added that the support COF receives from LOPC helps COF hire and train teachers and provide necessary teaching materials to ensure the children receive an exceptional education.

Stricter CalFresh Work Requirements Put 600,000 Californians at Risk. The Food Bank Need Our Support More Than Ever

KPIX TV recently reported on stricter federal work requirements for the CalFresh food assistance program, which put over 600,000 Californians at risk of losing benefits. Food banks in the Bay Area expressed deep concern over the increased burden these changes place on struggling families and local hunger-relief organizations

The new rules mandate that able-bodied adults without dependents work, volunteer, or participate in job training for at least 20 hours a week to maintain eligibility. Advocates warn that many who are eligible may struggle to navigate or track these requirements, forcing them to rely heavily on local food banks.

Click HERE to watch the original KPIX News Segment via YouTube to get a full overview of the Food Bank's response to the cut.

Fotokids: June 2026

Fotokids keeps finding new ways to support learning by hosting events that bring students and their families together in the community.

At a recent photography conference, Fotokids talked about how the program changes the lives of children and young people. The program helps not just the students, but also their families and communities across Guatemala. It was a wonderful chance to share stories and show how art and education can make a difference.

Fotokids also teamed up with Manuel Morillo, a photographer from Spain, who taught the students about pinhole photography. The students made their own cameras and developed their photos in the darkroom. They enjoyed watching their pictures appear and learning how photography worked before everything went digital.

Mother’s Day is celebrated all over Latin America, including in Guatemala. Fotokids held a special event to honor students and their mothers. The day was full of fun, with games, raffles, and cake decorating, giving children and their mothers a chance to enjoy time together. Each mother had her photo taken in the studio and received a printed portrait to keep.

Explore a new free resource from the PCUSA on supporting immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Learn how congregations can respond with biblical reflection, practical guidance, and compassionate action in today’s climate. Click HERE to access the guide and discover ways to put faith into action.

Watch a recording of Rev. Jorge Bautista's 10:10 presentation on March 24 as he shares his personal story and offers a faith-rooted perspective on immigration, identity, and belonging. His talk invites deeper understanding of why migration happens and how communities of faith can respond with compassion and courage. Click HERE to watch the full recording.

Watch a recording of our February 1 10:10 with Hope Solutions, a longtime LOPC mission partner, on new housing developments across Contra Costa County. Learn what proposed federal HUD funding cuts could mean for our neighbors experiencing homelessness right here at home. Click HERE to watch the full recording.

Hear from Margaret Grun Kibben, acting Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives and American Presbyterian minister, on faith-based leadership in challenging times. Her talk, Leading with Faith During Turbulent Times, delivered at LOPC’s Leadership Retreat (1/24/26), shares insights on guiding with courage and conviction in uncertain seasons. Click HERE to watch the full recording.

June 28, 3:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Pleasant Hill – Chamber Music Series Concert. Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful classical music performed by world-class musicians. The concert is free and open to all music lovers, with donations benefiting Hope Solutions and its programs serving those experiencing homelessness and poverty. More info HERE.

July 24, 5:00 pm at Trinity Center - All In for Hope. Click HERE to learn more about Trinity Center's Poker Tournament Fundraiser, a fun evening for novices to seasoned pros, to raise money for programs that provide safety-net services and pathways toward stability, independence, and wellness for our unhoused neighbors.

October 22, 4:00 - 6:00 pm at Pleasant Hill Community Center - STAND!'s 34th Annual Rebuilding Lives. Save the date for STAND!'s annual event held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, where they lead a variety of awareness raising activities within the community as well as its signature fundraising and award celebration.

Connect with our partner liaisons to learn more about our mission partners:

Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano

Sandy Ducey

Linda Groobin

Monument Crisis Center

Jim Boyd

Hope Solutions

Stephanie Bontemps

STAND! For Families Free of Violence

Steve Crocker

Trinity Center

Jim Olufson

Barb Weikert

Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children

Chris Johnson

Children of Faith Missions

Ginny Ross

Congo Mission Team

Herb Long

Fotokids

Marjorie Nicolaisen

Kapnek Trust

Phil Hunter

Pastor Lauren Gully

Pastor for Mission and Outreach

Michelle Browning

Program Manager, Mission