Two years ago, New Providence Baptist Church, located at 2411 Beaver Valley Pike, New Providence, began the process of undertaking one of its largest projects to date. The goal of the project is to construct an entirely new building to serve as fellowship hall, and the church started a fundraising campaign last year to drum up the necessary resources to complete it. The fundraising committee continues to coordinate events to fund the building project.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, New Providence Baptist Church will host a back-to-school fundraising event. It will begin with a church service at 11 a.m., followed by various games and activities. Four members of the congregation are currently participating in a fundraiser competition where whoever raises the most money for the project will play the role of a target during a pie-throwing contest at the back-to-school event. The church will also be handing out book bags for children preparing to go back school in the fall. Free food and refreshments, such as snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn and hot dogs, will be available.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, New Providence Baptist Church will host a live benefit auction and barbecue. A variety of items that have been donated to the church will be available to bid on, and all of the proceeds will help fund the fellowship hall project. To donate an item for the auction, contact fundraising committee member Meek Rineer by emailing meek856@gmail.com or calling 717-368-7075.

The fellowship hall will be erected on the land where the original church was located prior to being torn down. It will be equipped with a commercial kitchen, restrooms and multiple handicapped-accessible entrances. As the project is still in the fundraising stage, the church is currently focused on planning events and seeking out engineers and construction workers.

The primary function of the fellowship hall will be to provide a space for the church's youth group to hold activities and events. New Providence Baptist Church also plans to make the building available to rent for weddings, family reunions and community outreach initiatives. The new facility will allow the church to host regular community meals by donation, as well as Bible studies.

"Our community needs more outreach and people to assist those in need," Rineer said. "We want to be able to do that as a church. We want to be out there helping people in the community."

Currently, New Providence Baptist Church operates the Compassion Committee, a group that provides community service throughout the Southern End. Through one of the group's initiatives, members of the Compassion Committee assist seniors with mowing their lawns and weeding flower beds.

For more information, search for "New Providence Baptist Church" on Facebook.