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With tensions high among all parties including the police, the protestors, and government officials awaiting the pending decision by the county grand jury on the Michael Brown shooting, one important community structure has remained constant—and that’s the North County churches.

Churches throughout North St. Louis County including two in Florissant have formed a coalition to assist students in the Ferguson-Florissant and Riverview Gardens School Districts in the event the districts cancel classes due to safety or other concerns related to community reaction to the St. Louis County grand jury

The churches, which were selected by the districts based on location to provide maximum coverage of each school district’s attendance area and facility resources, have pledged to serve as sites for meals, educational activities and counseling services between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for children and families in the event the schools are closed.

“Our hope is that reaction to the grand jury’s findings will be peaceful and will not disrupt the lives and education of our students, families and community,” said F. Willis Johnson, pastor of Wellspring Church in Ferguson. “That being said, it is important that we are prepared and that we ensure that the children and families of our community receive needed support in the event that schools are closed.”

The school districts will provide breakfast and lunch to the church sites through their food service departments. The Ferguson-Florissant School District expects to provide more than 1,400 meals per day across seven church sites. The Riverview Gardens School District expects to provide more than 500 meals per day at three churches.

The initiative will allow children to have a place to go where educational activities will be available each day schools are closed. Teachers from the Ferguson-Florissant School District will be invited to volunteer at participating churches along with additional volunteers with completed background checks

Hazelwood District Supt. Grayling Tobias said the district will be told as much as 24 hours in advance before the Grand Jury decision is announced, if it comes on a weekend. “If the grand jury’s decision is reached during the week, school districts will be given three hours of advance notice,” Tobias said he has been informed. “The three hours window is enough time to transport students home.”

Churches to be Open During School Hours

Counselors with Provident Counseling and other community agencies will provide mental health resources at each church site for children and adults as needed.

Participating churches include:

• Believer’s Temple Word Fellowship, 2115 Chambers Rd. (314) 388-0801;
• Cross Keys Baptist Church,14255 New Halls Ferry Rd, Florissant (314) 831-0643;
• First Baptist Church of Ferguson, 333 N Florissant Rd, Ferguson (314) 521-1515;
• Florissant General Baptist Church, 360 Graham Rd, Florissant (314) 837-4100;
• Grace New Covenant Church, 711 Chambers Rd, (314) 388-3333;
• Greater Grace Church, 3690 Pershall Rd, (314) 867-1233;
• Hope Church, 4200 Brown Rd., (314) 429-6182;
• St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 33 N. Clay Ave., Ferguson (314) 521-0138;
• Third Presbyterian Church, 9990 Lewis and Clark Blvd. (314) 868-9600;
• Wellspring Church, 33 S. Florissant Rd. Ferguson (314) 521-4217.

(Story information provided by Ferguson-Florissant School and other sources.)

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