Faith In Action
"I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou
Some of the ways that Pine Valley Members show their faith:
Birthday Backpacks
In the last year, we celebrated 160 birthdays of local children at Jefferson, Cooper, and Oaklawn schools through our ongoing partnership with Pando Coordinators. Each month, students receive a new backpack filled with a cake mix, frosting, candles, a wrapped game, a new book, art supplies, flash cards, pencils, a sharpener, shampoo, and dental care items. This program ensures these children know they are important members of our community, a mission made possible by your generous contributions.
feed the people
In November 2025, Pine Valley launched its first Feed the People event to support neighbors facing food insecurity and uncertainty. We served hot tostada meals to 150 community members, creating a meaningful connection between our church and our neighbors. This successful initiative has since grown into a vital program that helps alleviate hunger and provides a welcoming space for all.
Sunflower Camp Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser
The idea of creating a camp with the mission of providing a safe space for queer youth was conceived by our church. The camp opened in 2018. In April 2023, we sponsored the first Spaghetti Dinner in support of Camp Sunflower. The dinner features a special homemade spaghetti sauce, salad, desserts and beverage. A diverse and large silent auction makes about $7,000 each year. Our first year, we served about 150 meals and raised, thanks to a large grant from The Center, close to $20,000. Since then, every April we have held a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser for the camp. The initiative has grown from just our church to, in 2026, include six additional churches representing Disciples of Christ, Methodist, UCC, and metropolitan church. In 2026, we served approximately 350 meals and raised $18,000. Due to the generosity of many local restaurants and merchants who donate sauce ingredients, desserts, salads and silent auction items, all funds raised by the event are given to Camp Sunflower.
Lord's diner
On the first Saturday of every month, Pine Valley volunteers serve the community at The Lord’s Diner by preparing meals, greeting guests, and assisting with daily operations. Beyond these essential services, we provide a variety of essential personal care products and daily necessities that are often difficult to access for those living on limited incomes or in shelters. From hygiene supplies to practical tools for daily life, these monthly distributions offer comfort and dignity to our neighbors. As the only group currently providing these personal items at the Diner, we are deeply grateful for the donations that make this outreach possible.
Pride Parade & Festival
Each year, we proudly participate in Wichita’s Pride celebrations and the Pride Parade to celebrate the diversity and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community. As an Open and Affirming congregation, we live by the conviction that "love is love," fostering a sanctuary where everyone is celebrated exactly as they are. For us, Pride is more than an annual event; it is a year-round commitment to inclusion, advocacy, and ensuring that every neighbor feels the warmth of a truly welcoming community.
Crop Walk
Each year, we form a team and participate in the CROP Hunger Walk to take a stand against food insecurity. Through this annual tradition, we raise vital funds to defeat hunger here in Wichita and across the globe. This participation turns our shared commitment into meaningful action, supporting sustainable solutions for our community and our world.