Continuing the church’s Healing Block legacy
People Serving People is excited to announce that it is purchasing the property formerly owned by First Covenant Church Minneapolis. The sale is expected to close next week.
People Serving People has named the location “Covenant Commons” to honor its 152-year history and its future supporting People Serving People’s vision to provide support and advance systems change until every family has what they need.
First Covenant Church reaches out to People Serving People
First Covenant Church Minneapolis announced its closure earlier this year after its congregation shrank to a size it could no longer support. It approached People Serving People as a valued partner to see whether it would be interested in the property. People Serving People’s Early Learning Center has leased space in the church since December 2022. Knowing of People Serving People’s mission and reputation in the community, First Covenant Church offered to sell the building to People Serving People to continue the church’s long legacy and commitment to serving people in need in our community—also known as the “Healing Block.”
People Serving People’s CEO Hoang Murphy commented, “We are honored that First Covenant Church Minneapolis wanted to protect our Early Learning Center and trusted us to continue their healing legacy, allowing us to continue to serve families without disruption as well as support our organization’s rapid growth.” (People Serving People is simultaneously opening a third shelter, Belonging Place, to support 52 more families experiencing homelessness.)
Claudia Oxley, Leadership Team Chair, First Covenant Church Minneapolis (FCCM), shared, “We are excited for families to continue to thrive in this space through People Serving People’s care. Their enormous generosity, kindness, and commitment to the well-being of people in our community reflect values that have been important to FCCM since our founding over 150 years ago.”
The future of Covenant Commons
In addition to housing its Early Learning Center, the property will help People Serving People better serve families experiencing homelessness by providing office and meeting spaces for its growing staff, much-needed storage for donations and supplies, and the flexibility to grow its programs and services in ways not yet known.
How You Can Support Our Growth
1. Support our Early Learning Programs
Early childhood education is crucial for all children, and particularly for children experiencing homelessness. Your support for our Early Learning Programs ensures that the infants, toddlers, and pre-K children we serve have the care and support they need.
2. Become a Volunteer
You can volunteer to support our K-12 youth programming or our early learning programs, working as a classroom aide and individually with children.
