The Outreach Committee of St. James’ Church supports the U.N. Millennium Development Goals identified by the U.N. and endorsed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in June 2006. The Millennium Development Goals have become part of our Outreach Goals; several programs and donations this past year were directly responsive to them.
A residential facility in Middletown for approximately 70 homeless or at-risk men and women who are assisted in their efforts to make the transition from dependency to self support. Twice a year, St. James’ provides Sunday dinner to the residents (pot luck dishes made, delivered and served by our parishioners). In addition, we collect toiletries for the residents. Baskets to receive donations are in the bell tower and in the church school. They are delivered to the home monthly or when the baskets are full. In 2006, a successful drive to provide winter coats was held.
Contact: Aida Mishriky 659-9515 or Mimi Davis 633-5180.
Food MinistryPanera Bread – St. James’ receives bread from Panera in Glastonbury each week. Parishioners pick up the bread and distribute it to the Center City Churches MANNA Food Pantry and Christ Church Cathedral Soup Kitchen in Hartford every Monday. Help picking up and delivering bread always welcome!
Contact Barbara Massy 633-4556.
Non–perishable food donations are collected every week before Sunday services. Items donated to the food banks are given to working individuals who do not earn enough to provide adequate food for their families. We have designated the non-perishable food donations received on the first Sunday of each month to the Glastonbury Food Bank, a project of Glastonbury Social Services.
Contact Carol Hilton 633-4115.
Donations on subsequent Sundays are delivered to the Center City Churches Food Pantry along with Panera bread.
Contact Barbara Massy 633-4556.
For many years, this program has provided gifts and a Christmas feast to families in need in the Glastonbury area. In 2006, seven families including 15 children received bountiful gifts provided by the parish. Members of the church look forward to the beginning of Advent season when they are given the opportunity to choose gifts or food items to give the families.
The same families also receive beautiful Easter baskets filled with goodies and food for their Easter feast. Members of the St. James’ clergy make the deliveries.
St. James’ sponsors walkers for this important community-wide program to raise funds for local hunger-fighting agencies as well as for international relief and development efforts of Church World Service in some 80 countries globally. A portion (around 25%) of the funds raised by Glastonbury walkers is returned to help the needy in our own community.
The Light and Peace program is a ministry of evangelism and neighborhood outreach for children 3-11 at Trinity Church in Hartford. This program provides a hot meal, worship and art activities every Monday night. St. James provides dinner approximately every six weeks.
Contact Betsy Wyman 633-1044.
Camp WashingtonIn 2006, 15 parishioners participated in the Bishop’s 5K Run for Kids, which benefited Camp Washington.
Contact Peter Anderson 657-8522.
The Hastings Open Golf Tournament is a favorite among golfers in the congregation in June each year. This also benefits Camp Washington and is in memory of Bishop Brad Hastings. Several foursomes represent St. James’ each year.
Contact Peter Sullivan 633-8644.
St. James’ Church has for many years sponsored a student at Holy Trinity Elementary School in Port-au-Prince. Marie Soeurette St. Georges, who has been our sponsored child for the past two years, will complete the fifth grade in 2007. The Rev. Fernande S. Pierre-Louis, the only female Episcopal priest in Haiti, is principal of the school.
St. James’ also supports St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children, also in Port-au-Prince, where children who may have missing limbs, be blind or deaf, or otherwise handicapped are cared for and educated. We also collect manual typewriters, medical supplies and other needed items which are sent to Port-au-Prince by land/sea container.
The Gifts for Life catalog put out by Episcopal Relief and Development contains items that support the Millennium Development Goals such as farm animals, tools and mosquito netting. During the holiday season, the Outreach Committee offered to mach any gift made from the Gifts for Life catalog. Response was so wonderful; St. James’ was able to purchase a water buffalo with the matching funds!
Rebuilding Villages and Restoring Hope in Kenya and Uganda Give Us Wings works together with adults and children in Kenya and Uganda to eradicate poverty through person-to-person support, both financial and educational, people overcome poverty and become self-sufficient.
This is a national program to provide underprivileged children around the world with a Christmas gift contained in a colorfully wrapped shoebox. Over 60 shoeboxes full of toys and necessities were lovingly prepared by St. James’ families and distributed by the organization Samaritan’s Purse. This was a fun program for the whole congregation that we plan to continue in future years.
Millennium Development GoalsThe Outreach Committee of St. James’ Church supports the UN Millennium Development Goals identified by the UN and endorsed by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in June 2006. The Millennium Development Goals have become part of our Outreach Goals. Several programs and donations this past year were directly responsive to them.
If you would like to get involved with the Outreach Committee, please call Blakeley Crevoiserat at 659-9615, Peter Sullivan at , or Barbara Massy at .
