Community Care
I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Matthew 25:40
Grace in our community
Caring for the disabled, widowed and the destitute was the responsibility of the Vestry from the colonial days when the Episcopal Church served as both the religious and civic authority. Caring for our neighbors, near and far, with time, funds and talents has continued as a vibrant aspect Grace Church parish life. In 1932, when the church budget was only $3,500, a third of this amount was designated for “missionary work” locally, regionally and “For Work in Churches, Hospitals, and Schools throughout the World”.
The long-standing commitment of Grace to community service has benefitted local organizations and non-profit agencies over the years. For example, Grace is a covenant church with the Charlottesville Area Habitat for Humanity and has provided building and mentoring volunteers for nearly 20 years. Two crews volunteer each month to provide dinner at the Salvation Army. Grace volunteers provide weekly food backpacks for Stony Point Elementary School students identified by the school counselor and their parent as being at risk for food insecurity. In a parish survey, more 60 percent of the members volunteer their time in local non-profit organizations. Community groups such as AA continue to meet in the parish house weekly. Most parishioners volunteer to produce the annual Grace Farm Tour which funds our outreach program.
Outreach funding and the Grace Farm Tour
The Grace Historic Farm Tour & Country Fair, now an annual event, began in 2010 to raise funds for Grace outreach ministries that support local community organizations.
All Farm Tour proceeds are dedicated to community ministries, based on an application and selection process. By 2025, the Farm Tour had raised approximately $750,000 to distribute to community organizations. View a list of organizations receiving outreach support.
Caring for our neighbors
Logo | Title | Description | Volunteer opportunities | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcoholics Anonymous of Central Virginia | provide meeting space in the church sanctuary | Visit the AA website for more information: https://aaheartofva.org/service-opportunities/ | https://aaheartofva.org/ | |
All Blessings Flow | $2000 for operating van serving counties. $2000 for rental space matching funds | Greet recipients in Orange and Louisa Mobile sites; greet and assist at main Charlottesville warehouse; deliveries | http://www.allblessingsflow.org | |
Camp Holiday Trails | purchase some of our materials (music, soft chairs, lights, plants) for Sensory Room and Sensory Garden in the medical clinic area | Help with Pop Up Camps locally and at Fall and Spring family camps at Camp Holiday Trails; United Way Day of Caring
| https://campholidaytrails.org/ | |
Canteen funds for person in prison
| Canteen funds for person in prison | Visit the Dept. of Corrections website for more information: https://vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/volunteeringcontractorsinterns/ | https://vadoc.virginia.gov/general-public/volunteeringcontractorsinterns/ | |
Charlottesville Area Habitat for Humanity
| Funding to fill in gap between grants so building continues in Southwood new phase | At building sites, in the office or the Habitat Store | http://www.cvillehabitat.org | |
Child Health Partnership
| Educational materials for low-income families visited by Nurse each month | Coordinating donation of baby/toddler books and newborn supplies for families as a Grace Church Lenten Project; CHP nurse home visiting staff will deliver
| https://www.childhealthpartnership.org/ | |
Georgia’s Friends/Georgia’s House
| Weekly dinner supplies; house residents gather once a week for a community dinner | Provide food and decorations for special holiday dinners; cooking demonstration
| https://www.georgiasfriends.org/ | |
Good Samaritan Food Pantry-Orange
| Rent for food pantry and clothing center | Stock shelves; cleaning
| https://www.goodsamaritaninc.org/ | |
Hospice of the Piedmont
| Journeys Camp for youth dealing with grief | Make a difference as a volunteer—offering companionship, specialized skills, and meaningful support to our community. Register at: https://hopva.org/get-involved/#volunteer | http://www.hopva.org | |
International Neighbors
| English language teaching/tutoring for refugees and immigrants. Encourage these groups to collaborate with Literacy | Great Neighbor Guide for individual family; deliver food box from Loaves and Fishes
| https://www.internationalneighbors.org/ | |
International Rescue Committee
| Volunteers to promote English tutoring available in the community. | New Roots gardens; assist in English tutoring
| https://www.rescue.org/united-states/charlottesville-va | |
Keswick Heritage Fund
| Scholarships to Keswick-connected youth and adults | Join the Scholarship Committee or the Advisory Board; Assist with fundraising events
| https://www.keswickheritagefund.org/ | |
Keswick Sensory Farm
| Animal care and sensory activities for children with autism and their families | To be explored with manager
| https://keswicksensory.org/ | |
Love, Inc.
| Not to be used for purchasing a vehicle, but for other support to families in need of food or rent/utilities | Depending on the requests from community members, such as moving furniture, connecting with other community services
| https://loveinccville.org/ | |
Pleasant Plain Baptist Church
| Door and foundation repair | Contact the Pastor for more information | https://www.facebook.com/pleasant.plain.baptist.church.2025/ | |
Salvation Army Meals
| Purchase of food for 2-3 dinners per month | Backup volunteers for when team members are on vacation or ill
| https://charlottesville.salvationarmypotomac.org/ | |
Service Dogs of Virginia
| Blessing of the Hounds 2025---funds for training service dogs | Puppy raisers at home; Puppy sitters at whelping station so that during first 8 weeks the puppies are never alone; assist with outreach events
| https://www.servicedogsva.org/ | |
Sexual Assault Resource Agency
| Comfortable chairs and weighted blanks for new office space | Train to be on 24/7 hotline; support outreach community events
| https://www.saracville.org/ | |
St. John Family Life & Fitness Center
| Dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as group experiences to promote community love and restoration | Holiday Blessing Project; activities at the Center through the year
| https://www.stjohnfamilylife.org/ | |
Stone Robinson Principal’s Fund
| Clothing, shoes, coats, gloves and school supplies. School principal and guidance counselor allocate funds as needed. | Visit the ACPS website for more information: https://www.k12albemarle.org/our-departments/community-engagement/volunteers | https://sres.k12albemarle.org/ | |
Stony Point Food Backpacks
| Purchase food items through Blue Ridge Food Bank | Monthly meeting at Grace Church to put the Backpacks together; delivery of Backpacks to Stony Point School; assisting in collecting nonperishable food at the Blue Ridge Food Bank each month
| https://spes.k12albemarle.org/ | |
Stony Point Principal’s Fund
| Clothing, shoes, coats, gloves and school supplies. School principal and guidance counselor allocate funds as needed. | Visit the ACPS website for more information: https://www.k12albemarle.org/our-departments/community-engagement/volunteers | https://sres.k12albemarle.org/ | |
The Senior Center
| Monthly membership scholarships | Connect with Volunteer Coordinator to match your interests and talents
| https://thecentercville.org/ | |
UVA Women’s Heart Health Clinic
| Outreach educational materials about women’s risk factors for cardiovascular disease | Educational community outreach events and health fairs about Women’s Heart Care
| https://www.uvahealth.com/conditions/womens-heart |