Beachside Community Church
Leading People Into A Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
For the Emerald Coast
How we serve and love our community.
For Far too long the church has been known for what it’s against. We want to be known for what we are FOR.
We are FOR The Emerald Coast. That’s why each month we’re partnering with a non-profit that’s making a difference in our community and helping them go further, faster.
How To Participate
This Month's Partner
Pryor Middle School Angel Tree
Each year Pryor Middle School teachers identify underprivileged families in our community, understands their needs, and provides them with everything they need to have a great Christmas. By creating an angel tree of their students and providing Christmas gifts for them, they help make this season memorable for students in need. These often include basic necessities, clothing, bikes, beds, and items for other members of their families.
Our Community Partners
Fresh Start
“Transforming the lives of families and children.” Fresh Start’s primary focus is to help families achieve long-term self-sufficiency through a nine-month residential and educational program. Their Mission is to share love and compassion through a comprehensive educational, vocational, and economic housing program to help homeless families achieve self-sufficiency.
Supporting Homeless Students
In Okaloosa County, over 500 students are considered homeless. These students don’t have a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence, often sharing homes, living in cars, motels, or campgrounds. In the most extreme case, about several high school students in our district live on their own without any immediate family members. Helping these students can enable them to focus on their education instead of wondering where their basic needs will come from.
Opportunity Place
In our state, there are over 27,000 people experiencing homelessness. Not to mention the families that are having trouble just making ends meet. Opportunity Place is an amazing organization in our community that is making a difference by providing safe shelter, meals, and job training to end the cycle of homelessness along the Emerald Coast. Since 2008 Opportunity Place has served over 1,700 people.
Stuff The Bus
Stuff the Bus helps local students get the tools and school supplies they need for the upcoming school year. In 2022, they collected thousands of supplies, impacting over 10,000 students in 53 schools across Okaloosa and Walton Counties.
TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN
Take Stock in Children aims to provide opportunities for low-income, academically qualified students through mentorship and college scholarships. The program pairs students with mentors who provide guidance and support throughout high school. Students who successfully complete the program and meet certain criteria are awarded college scholarships to pursue higher education. Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty by empowering students to achieve academic success and pursue their goals.
Shelter House
Since 1991, Shelter House has been an advocate for victims of domestic violence. They serve victims both in Okaloosa and Walton County. Services provided include confidential shelter, court advocacy, peer counseling, support groups, primary prevention, transitional housing, economic empowerment workshops, 24-hour domestic violence hotline, 24-hour sexual assault helpline, child therapy services and supportive services for family members of victims.
A Bed 4 Me
A Bed 4 Me Foundation provides beds to children who do not have adequate sleeping arrangements due to economic struggles and lack of financial resources as well as displaced families starting over due to domestic issues. These children are often sleeping on floors, couches, or crammed into beds with multiple siblings. Providing proper sleeping arrangements plays a critical role in development, health, academic performance, and self-esteem.
Children in Crisis
Children in Crisis is a community for children in the foster care system. They provide stable housing, loving house parents, and dedicated care for each child. Their approach is unique as they’ve developed a
neighborhood of houses specifically devoted to the care of their children.
Children in Crisis serves over 100 foster children each year.
Wright Elementary Teacher Lounge Makeover
Wright Elementary has 580 students, with over 75% of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. At just over 40% Wright has one of the largest English language learner populations in the district. 14% of students have disabilities and 4% of students come from military families. The faculty and staff at Wright have to be both flexible and creative as the uniqueness of their student body requires making multiple adjustments, often on the fly, to ensure that each individual student’s needs are accommodated with fidelity.
Local Schools
Many families in our community find it difficult to afford even the essential school supplies needed to have a successful year. When students are in need of school supplies it causes significant challenges both academically and socially. Schools and teachers often purchase these items, sometimes out of pocket, for children. We’d like to help. That’s why we are collecting school supplies for Longwood Elementary and supporting teachers at Wright Elementary as they prepare for a new upcoming school year.
Food For Thought
Food For Thought removes the negative impacts of hunger and empowers a child to get the most out of their education and development by providing them weekly access to healthy, easy-to-prepare meals. Students experiencing food insecurity do not learn and develop at the same rate of their peers – Food For Thought helps bridge that gap. They provide weekly food programs for 3,400 food-insecure students across 32 school locations along the Emerald Coast.
Pryor Middle Mentorship Program
Pryor Middle School is intentional about mentorship with their students. Teachers and staff volunteer time to spend with at-risk students to ensure their success, not only academically but outside of school as well. Students participate in many special and intentional activities and events throughout the year. They’ve seen great success in improved student performance, attendance, and behavior resulting in model students as an example for the rest of the student body to follow.