Places of worship surround many families in our community with needed support. Parents and family members look to faith leaders for spiritual guidance in addressing life’s joys and challenges. Raising young children can certainly be filled with both! WCSS welcomes the opportunity to partner with the faith community and support their work with families of young children.

Raising children with a strong sense of faith is tied to healthy social and emotional development. Learning how to share, be empathetic and compassionate are all skills learned in the early years. Quality early education encourages this development along with providing a foundation for all future learning. 

Faith leaders are committed to helping young children as a calling of faith, as a component of supporting families and as mentors fostering their community growth. WCSS can support that role. Read about how faith leaders in other parts of the country are taking the lead on this issue.

Volunteering: Putting Faith into Action

Volunteer projects enrich the lives of young children and offer faith members a way to put faith into action. See this example of community members in action during Keller Williams’ May 2015 RED Day of Service in Wake County.

Ready to get started? Visit our Volunteer Project Idea Bank and then complete the Volunteer Application when you’re ready.

Places of worship can also lead fundraising efforts and work with WCSS on matching gift campaigns. If your place of worship would like to make a donation to help us support more children, click here or contact Jennifer MacPherson.

Faith Engagement

Want to learn more about how the faith community can support learning opportunities for young children in need? WCSS is happy to meet with you to discuss our work or come and make a presentation at your place of worship. Our team is available on nights and weekends when your members are present. Email Nikki McDougald, Community Outreach Specialist or call (919) 723-9292.

Additional Resources

Making the case for faith engagement in early childhood education

• Strengthening Families and Communities by Strengthening the Next Generation
• See more research on the value of early education.

Featured videos

• Experiences Build Brain Architecture
• Why Believe Early Childhood Programs Work?

National initiatives

• Shepherding the Next Generation
• Children’s Defense Fund: Faith Based Action

Other resources

• Information to share:
  • NAEYC: What to look for in a program
  • Guide to finding high-quality early childhood programs
  • Link to parent resources to share with families of young children