Community service projects have been a hallmark of our ministries from the very beginning of this church. In the midst of the public school problems of the 1970’s, Balmoral was active in reading enrichment programs at several inner-city schools. Balmoral members were instrumental in the creation of the Memphis Food Bank and  the Johnson Auxiliary at the MED. In 1978 Balmoral was one of the initial participants in the Memphis City School’s Adopt-a-School program.

Below are highlights of several current service projects:    
 
Johnson Auxiliary – The MED
Balmoral members helped establish this organization in the 1970’s, and now members work as volunteers, operating a clothes closet and gift shop and providing patient hospitality at Memphis’ public hospital.  
 
Habitat for Humanity

  
For nearly twenty years, Balmoral has been active in helping Habitat for Humanity build affordable homes. The latest house that Balmoral worked on was built in October, 2005. Members with construction skills built the house, and less skilled members painted, cleaned up, and prepared meals. Even our young children participated by bringing housewarming gifts and singing at the home dedication ceremony.

Metropolitan Interfaith Association (MIFA) 
Housing
Balmoral provides financial support for MIFA’s emergency services to families. This program helps qualified low income citizens with one-time grants for rent and utility payments to keep them from being evicted. We also support Estival Place, a transitional housing project for families. In another MIFA project, Balmoral carpenters help build ramps at the homes of disabled Memphians. 
 
Hunger
Balmoral members participate in the home-delivered meals program, delivering hot, nutritious meals and a pleasant greeting to poor, elderly Memphians. Balmoral also gives money for this important program. We collect a different item of food each month for the MIFA food pantry network. Balmoral members bring their food donations to the church and place them in Balmoral’s Food Cart - the wooden wagon that sits just outside of the sanctuary. 
 
Memphis Food Bank 
Balmoral participates in food drives in support of the Memphis Food Bank. Balmoral also gives money to the Food Bank, which receives, stores and distributes food to organizations feeding the needy of the Mid-South.  

Servant Leadership
The Memphis School of Servant Leadership holds classes at Balmoral. The 10-week courses help participants to grow into servant leaders “from the inside out.” To learn more about the School of Servant Leadership, visit their web site at: http://www.servantleadership-memphis.org/. 
 
Youth and Intergenerational Mission Trips
Adults and youths of Balmoral have a history of participating in mission trips to help those in need. The most recent trip was by our high school youth, who traveled to New Orleans for a week in the summer of 2006 to help rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Other recent youth and intergenerational mission trips have been to build Habitat homes in Covington, LA, to assist in the relocation of the Presbyterian Neighborhood Center in Louisville, KY, and to work with native Americans on the Flathead reservation in Montana. In 2007 we helped refurbish a home in the Binghamton area of Memphis, as part of a Service Over Self program involving 150 youth from across the country. 

Partners in Christ
For more than 20 years, Balmoral Presbyterian Church and Parkway Gardens United Presbyterian Church (a largely African-American congregation) have paired together for various events throughout the year, including Maundy Thursday and Thanksgiving Day services. We also hold an annual fall fellowship picnic and have worked together on such projects as building a Habitat home. Visit their web site at: http://www.parkwaygardensunited.org/

Scouting
Since 1969, Balmoral has been the sponsor for Boy Scout Troop #364, which meets at the church each Monday evening. More recently, several Girl Scout troops have begun meeting at the church.

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