Missions & Outreach
Walnut Hill Church (WHC) provides various opportunities for folks to use their time, talents and/or treasure to help serve our community and share God’s love.
Below are just a few of the outreach programs and partnerships. We hope you’ll feel inspired to engage!
Brenda Cowan Elementary School (BCES)
Since BCES opened in 2019, Walnut Hill Church has partnered with the school to provide classroom supplies, financial help for field trips, and—most importantly—weekly take-home meals for children and their families through its Backpack Ministry program. Every week, dedicated volunteers select food using money raised by the WHC congregation, pack “backpacks,” and deliver them to BCES so students have nutritious meals and snacks over the weekend. This year (2025-26) WHC will supply 50 backpacks for BCES children every week. Over $12,500 is raised by Walnut Hill each year to support this mission and fundraising efforts are already in motion for the 2025-26 school year. Please consider giving to this mission by selecting “Backpack Ministry” from the dropdown menu on our “Give” Page!
- School Supply Drive – Walnut Hill gathers and purchases supplies for Brenda Cowan Elementary School children at the beginning of the school year. COMPLETED FOR THIS YEAR!
- Dress to Impress – Each October, students from Brenda Cowan and Veterans Park Elementary School visit the Women’s Clothing Center (a ministry of the Lexington Women’s Club). With the help of volunteers, students are able to choose several outfits, a winter coat, and other necessities—all at no cost. Note: Volunteers must have a background check on file through FCPS to participate in this event. Since processing can take a few weeks, please be sure to complete it and sign up as soon as possible.
- Field Trips – On occasion, WHC has been asked for, and has provided financial support to assist children without the financial resources for expenses related to extracurricular field trips, which enhance their educational experience outside of the classroom.
Crop Hunger Walk
Walnut Hill children, youth, and adults participate in this annual fall event to support The Church World Services in providing life-saving support like emergency food along with seeds, tools, and programs that help families feed themselves in the future. WHC sponsors each of its volunteer walkers and raises individual donations. The Walnut Hill team has raised thousands of dollars for this cause over the years and has been recognized as the “Organization with the Most Participants.”
Kids Cancer Alliance (KCA)
For several years, Walnut Hill Church has supported KCA through its fundraising events, namely it’s annual Tennis tournament, and Camp KCA summer programs. This year, the Walnut Hill Church congregation collected 2,280 of KCA’s children’s favorite flavor of Pop-Tarts, Brown-Sugar-Cinnamon, for their camps. Extras were giving to the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology clinic at UK’s Children’s Hospital.
Nathaniel Mission
The Nathaniel Mission seeks to transform the city of Lexington and the lives of neighbors through investing in acts of generosity, service, support, and love. For over 75 years, The Nathaniel Mission has been a partner in the work of restoring dignity and honor to those marginalized and overlooked in urban Lexington.
- Summer Camps – Walnut Hill provides materials and monetary support for area children from kindergarten to fifth grade to attend summer camps where they spend time reading, making crafts, conducting STEM experiments, and engaging in physical activity.
- Thanksgiving Stuffing – Walnut Hill provides Thanksgiving stuffing/dressing and volunteers for The Nathaniel Mission’s annual community Thanksgiving Dinner, which typically serves 150 guests.
- Giving Tree – The Nathaniel Mission organizes “The Giving Tree” each Christmas. This program provides gifts and clothing for local Lexington children of low-income families for the holidays. Walnut Hill typically sponsors ten or more children annually.
Salvation Army Innkeeper’s Fund
Each year, Christmas Eve offerings are donated to the Salvation Army of Central Kentucky (located in Lexington), which provides shelter, food, clothing, youth services and medical care and to homeless women and children. The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church with a mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Sandwich Ministry
WHC has provided volunteers for the Catholic Action Center’s Sandwich Ministry every fourth Sunday of the month since June 2011. This volunteer opportunity involves gathering supplies, preparing 75-100 sandwiches, and delivering them to the Catholic Action Center for dispersal to community members in need.
Souper Bowl of Caring
Each Super Bowl Sunday, the WHC congregation gathers to enjoy homemade soups provided by members to bring awareness to food insecurity and raise money for God’s Pantry Food Bank, whose mission is to reduce “hunger by working together to feed Kentucky communities.” This mission is advertised and organized by the church’s children and youth. WHC has participated since at least 2007, raised over $4,000, and donated 300 lbs. of food.
Walnut Hill Church Bike Ride
WHC hosts the Bluegrass Cycling Club group rides as well as a family fun ride, followed by brunch at the church in early fall. The church coordinates with local government and police to temporarily close Walnut Hill Road for this event. There is no charge for the ride or brunch, however voluntary donations are accepted. All money raised by the event is contributed to improve the local Lexington Community; recent recipients have included Greenhouse17, a non-profit that supports families impacted by domestic violence, Brenda Cowan Elementary School to fund children’s field trips and Teacher Appreciation Gifts, and Kentucky Refugee Ministries.