Outreach at Grace Church
|
Outreach at Grace Church
|
| Our faith calls us to show God's love through service to others. Grace Church members put their faith in action by giving time, talents, funds and leadership to a local community organizations. The Outreach Committee seeks suggestions from the congregation about projects. |
| Volunteers work on houses as well as helping on organizational tasks and serving on the board. Grace Church is a "Habitat Covenant" church, meaning we include Habitat's efforts in our prayers as well as our outreach budget. In 1999, Grace Church initiated a challenge to other Region XV Episcopal churches which resulted in a regional house being completed. A new effort is underway now to build a house in the local Keswick community through partnership with other local churches and groups. For information on Habitat Saturdays, please contact Fred Shackelford or Kathy Woods. |
| Twice a month church members cook dinner for the residents of the Salvation Army shelter. |
| A member of the Outreach Committee serves on the Center's Advisory Board. Funds are provided to support the center which serves children who live in the Salvation Army shelter and transition housing. |
| Children's clothing is collected for this shop. Members help sort clothing. Proceeds from the clothing are used by the Region to support a day care center. |
| Assistance has been provided to help initiate the children's art program and support groups. |
| Funding is provided to support meals for one person per year. |
| School supplies are collected for the children in the 2 elementary schools nearest the church and the Stony Point Chapel. Funds for family emergencies are given to the principals to use at their discretion. |
| Non perishable items are collected the first Sunday of the month with the offering and blessed. Food is distributed to families who have emergency needs through the church office. |
| Funds are used to purchase underwear and socks for trauma and rape victims whose clothing is unwearable for them to go home. Members also contribute gently used jeans and shirts/tops/sweaters. |
| On Thanksgiving, when the church celebrates the Blessing of the Hounds Service, the offering is designated one-third local animal shelters and two-thirds for a specified charity. In recent years Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels and the Free Clinic have been selected. |
| Names of children from a local school and their Christmas gift needs are put on the tree ornaments. Parishoners buy and wrap gift items which are distributed to the children in their school. |
| Members of the parish provide to other church members transportation to church and to other places as well as providing assistance with chores. |
| Children collect funds during Sunday School to support a child in another country. |