Outreach
Outreach Mission Statement:
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
The outreach to assist our neighbors near and far has been part of the Grace Church history since its founding in colonial times. To learn more click here:
Grace Church Outreach – a brief History:
Grace Church Outreach – a brief History:
Grace Episcopal Church Applications for Outreach Ministries 2023 Funding Due Date is Thursday, August 10th, 2023.
The Grace Church Outreach Committee considers the following priorities when selecting projects to support:
· The project is congruent with the Grace Outreach Mission as guided by Matthew 25.
· A church member is involved in the organization or has in-depth knowledge of the organization.
· There are opportunities for church members to participate as volunteers on the project, in addition to contributing funds.
· The activity meets needs of people living in the area served by the parish
· Funding, regardless of size, will have an impact.
In addition to the written application, each applicant organization will be invited to present (via Zoom or in person) to the Outreach Committee. Following Vestry approval of the committee's recommendations, funds will be awarded by the end of calendar year 2023. Awards usually range between $250 to $5,000. Please see additional details in the application document. If you have questions, contact Cathy Bodkin at cb1246@AOL.com
The Grace Church Outreach Committee considers the following priorities when selecting projects to support:
· The project is congruent with the Grace Outreach Mission as guided by Matthew 25.
· A church member is involved in the organization or has in-depth knowledge of the organization.
· There are opportunities for church members to participate as volunteers on the project, in addition to contributing funds.
· The activity meets needs of people living in the area served by the parish
· Funding, regardless of size, will have an impact.
In addition to the written application, each applicant organization will be invited to present (via Zoom or in person) to the Outreach Committee. Following Vestry approval of the committee's recommendations, funds will be awarded by the end of calendar year 2023. Awards usually range between $250 to $5,000. Please see additional details in the application document. If you have questions, contact Cathy Bodkin at cb1246@AOL.com
Current Outreach Activities:
Current Outreach Activities:
Farm Tour: In 2010, guided by Matthew 25, seeking to increase support for those in need, parishioners inaugurated the Historic Farm Tour “Beyond the Gates”. All Farm Tour proceeds are dedicated to community ministries. During the first 9 years, the donations have totaled nearly a half million.
Applying for Farm Tour funding: Funds are awarded in the late Fall of each year. Any 501©3 organization or government entity that has been in existence for 2 years can submit an application to the Outreach Committee in July. The Application is found here. The Outreach committee reviews the applications and interviews representatives of each organization. The parish is notified of the list of applicants. The Committee makes recommendations to the Vestry. After approval, funds are distributed. In 2019 & 2020 the following organizations received funds from Grace Church:
- Parish members give of their time and talents, raising funds to support community charities through the Farm Tour and volunteering their time throughout the year in numerous community services. In a parish survey, more 60 percent of the members volunteer their time in local non-profit organizations.
- Three crews volunteer each month to provide dinner at the Salvation Army.
- Habitat work crews are active every 6 weeks with other Episcopalian churches.
- The Stony Point Food Backpacks are put together by volunteers and dropped off at the school weekly so that children have nutritious food on the weekends.
- In addition to routine volunteer opportunities, during any year there are unique events and community needs stimulating a parish response in time, talents and funds. This year, Grace had a children’s book drives for The Child Health Partnership, made rice heating pads for the Wildlife Center of Virginia, sewed over 400 masks in the spring for the parish and community members to use in the initial COVID wave and participated in the early winter project to repair of stockpile masks for UVA Medical Center.
Farm Tour: In 2010, guided by Matthew 25, seeking to increase support for those in need, parishioners inaugurated the Historic Farm Tour “Beyond the Gates”. All Farm Tour proceeds are dedicated to community ministries. During the first 9 years, the donations have totaled nearly a half million.
Applying for Farm Tour funding: Funds are awarded in the late Fall of each year. Any 501©3 organization or government entity that has been in existence for 2 years can submit an application to the Outreach Committee in July. The Application is found here. The Outreach committee reviews the applications and interviews representatives of each organization. The parish is notified of the list of applicants. The Committee makes recommendations to the Vestry. After approval, funds are distributed. In 2019 & 2020 the following organizations received funds from Grace Church:
2019 Recipients
|
4-H Corky Shackelford Scholarship
African American Teacher Scholarships All Blessings Flow Alyssa House Amani Cares- in Tanzania Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Blue Ridge Boys and Girls Club Charlottesville Area Habitat for Humanity CHIP of Virginia Charlottesville Free Clinic |
Grace Food Closet
Georgia’s Healing House Hoe's House Hospice of the Piedmont International Rescue Committee Literacy Volunteers Little Learners Child Care Meals on Wheels Montanova Stables New Day Foster Homes-China |
Person in Prison
Rivanna Conservation Society Sexual Assault Resource Agency Salvation Army Meals Service Dogs of Virginia Splish Splash Camp Scholarships Stony Point Food Backpacks Stone Robinson Principal’s Fund Stony Point Principal’s Fund Wildlife Center of Virginia |
In 2020, due to the cancellation of the Farm Tour event, individual parish members contributed funds directly to support a limited list of organizations:
2020 Recipients
|
4-H Corky Shackelford Scholarship
African American Teacher Scholarships Amani Cares- in Tanzania Charlottesville Area Habitat for Humanity Grace Food Closet Georgia’s Healing House |
International Rescue Committee
Literacy Volunteers Meals on Wheels Montanova Stables Person in Prison Salvation Army Meals |
Service Dogs of Virginia
Stony Point Food Backpacks Stone Robinson Principal’s Fund Stony Point Principal’s Fund Wildlife Center of Virginia |
Community Partnership
There has always been a local community network of churches. Grace Church has a long tradition of supporting education and is committed to the enhancing knowledge of our local history and contributing to education and community fellowship.
There has always been a local community network of churches. Grace Church has a long tradition of supporting education and is committed to the enhancing knowledge of our local history and contributing to education and community fellowship.
- Annually the Keswick area churches host a community Thanksgiving worship service followed by a reception. This is rotated among the churches.
- The events in Charlottesville in August 2017 led the parish to seek more understanding of history locally and the options for healing. There is a growing awareness of responsibility parishioners at Grace have to partner with neighboring churches and community members to open up opportunities for young people.
- In 2020, the Keswick Heritage Fund was created through individual donations with the mission to provide financial and facilitative support towards educational opportunities for local African-American youth, to which they have historically not had equal access. These may include scholarships for higher education, internships, tutoring, mentoring, assistance with resume or college application preparation, and other similar services. A merit scholarship was awarded to Ashley M. Williams, a VCU senior who graduated in the Fall of 2020.
- In a joint effort of Outreach and Christian Education, a group of parishioners, designated as the Building Bridges group, began studying the American history of dealing with diverse ethnic and minority groups, using the Episcopalian program “Sacred Ground”.
