$1 a Week Offering & Grants
In 2011, the then senior pastor, Bill Leslie, wanted to make a difference in the community. He told the congregation that going forward each single $1 bill would be used for a special offering. The dollar bills were collected for the rest of the year and then a team met to see how those funds could best be used. Every year since, the $1 bills have been collected, then distributed the next year. Emphasis is given on projects that make a difference, and on projects that might not happen otherwise if the grant had not been given to them. Half of the money collected goes to the food pantry at the Witt House, while the other half goes to out to community projects in the form of grants.
Since it began, the church has given away $84,849, one dollar at a time.
Grant applications are made available in January for the previous years' offerings and are given soon thereafter.
These are the recipients:
In 2011, $4,000 was given to the Children's Shelter in Walnut Ridge.
In 2012, $5,748 was given to the Civitan Club, $1,000 to the Library, $2,500 to Focus, Inc., $2,000 to the Agape House, and $295 to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program.
In 2013, $2,000 was given to the Agape House, $1,250 was given to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program, $1,075 to Paragould Schools for their food programs, 2,500 to Acts 5:39 organization, $3,300 to the Greene County Rescue Squad, $250 to Goodfellows, and $1,000 to Arkansas Early Learning..
In 2014, $1,500 was given to Senior BEES Meals on Wheels, $1,500 to Paragould schools food programs, $1,5000 to CASA, $1,500 to Future and Hope Women's Job Corp, $1,500 to House of Virtue, and $1,500 to the Greene County Historical Society.
In 2015, 1,000 was given to Focus, Inc., $1,000 to Senior BEES Meals on Wheels, $2,500 to Paragould Schools food program, $1,200 to the Greene County Rescue Squad, $1,000 to Goodfellows, $2,500 to CASA, $2,000 to Future & Hope Women's Job Corp, and $1,000 to House of Virtue.
In 2016, $1,000 was given to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program, $1,000 to Paragould Schools food program, $5,074 to the Greene County Rescue Squad, $250 to Goodfellows, $1,000 to Greene County Schools food programs, $1,567 to House of Virtue, $500 to the Greene County Historical Society, and $2,000 to the Greene County Sheriff's Department.
In 2017, $500 was given to Paragould Schools food program, $500 to Greene County Tech Schools food program, $3,800 to In His Wings Ministry, and $1,000 to Leadership Paragould/Mission Outreach.
In 2018, $500 was given to Sound Expressions Music Outreach, $500 to Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, and $4,309 to the Paragould Police Department. An additional $5,309 was given to the Witt House Food Pantry.
In 2019, $500 was given to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program, $1,000 to Future & Hope Women's Job Corp, $500 to the Greene County Historical Society, $800 to Sound Expressions Music Outreach, $500 to Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, $1,350 to the Greene County Foster Parents Association, and $500 to Baldwin Elementary School. An additional $5,132 was given to the Witt House Food Pantry.
Since it began, the church has given away $84,849, one dollar at a time.
Grant applications are made available in January for the previous years' offerings and are given soon thereafter.
These are the recipients:
In 2011, $4,000 was given to the Children's Shelter in Walnut Ridge.
In 2012, $5,748 was given to the Civitan Club, $1,000 to the Library, $2,500 to Focus, Inc., $2,000 to the Agape House, and $295 to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program.
In 2013, $2,000 was given to the Agape House, $1,250 was given to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program, $1,075 to Paragould Schools for their food programs, 2,500 to Acts 5:39 organization, $3,300 to the Greene County Rescue Squad, $250 to Goodfellows, and $1,000 to Arkansas Early Learning..
In 2014, $1,500 was given to Senior BEES Meals on Wheels, $1,500 to Paragould schools food programs, $1,5000 to CASA, $1,500 to Future and Hope Women's Job Corp, $1,500 to House of Virtue, and $1,500 to the Greene County Historical Society.
In 2015, 1,000 was given to Focus, Inc., $1,000 to Senior BEES Meals on Wheels, $2,500 to Paragould Schools food program, $1,200 to the Greene County Rescue Squad, $1,000 to Goodfellows, $2,500 to CASA, $2,000 to Future & Hope Women's Job Corp, and $1,000 to House of Virtue.
In 2016, $1,000 was given to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program, $1,000 to Paragould Schools food program, $5,074 to the Greene County Rescue Squad, $250 to Goodfellows, $1,000 to Greene County Schools food programs, $1,567 to House of Virtue, $500 to the Greene County Historical Society, and $2,000 to the Greene County Sheriff's Department.
In 2017, $500 was given to Paragould Schools food program, $500 to Greene County Tech Schools food program, $3,800 to In His Wings Ministry, and $1,000 to Leadership Paragould/Mission Outreach.
In 2018, $500 was given to Sound Expressions Music Outreach, $500 to Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, and $4,309 to the Paragould Police Department. An additional $5,309 was given to the Witt House Food Pantry.
In 2019, $500 was given to the Senior BEES Meals on Wheels program, $1,000 to Future & Hope Women's Job Corp, $500 to the Greene County Historical Society, $800 to Sound Expressions Music Outreach, $500 to Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, $1,350 to the Greene County Foster Parents Association, and $500 to Baldwin Elementary School. An additional $5,132 was given to the Witt House Food Pantry.
