St. John's Community Outreach Ministries

Our Mission

The mission of the Community Outreach Committee is focused on three kinds of programs: financial, facilities usage and hands-on involvement. The scope of these programs is divided into serving the local community, supporting state programs and assisting special situations within the USA. Financially, we have helped support the Shoreline Soup Kitchen, Bikes for Kids, Warm-the-Children, the Chaplain's Fund at Middlesex Hospital, Berkeley Divinity School, The Bishop's Fund for Children, Camp Washington (our diocesan summer camp and conference center), and Covenant House in New York City. We have also helped churches severely damaged by the hurricanes and floods, including Chapel of The Holy Spirit, New Orleans, and St. Simon's in Ft. Pierce, Florida, as well as help organize parish wide support programs for these and other emergency situations that arise.

Beyond our parish programs, the Shoreline Soup Kitchen, Beanstalk School, AA, and a Girl Scout Chapter are the primary users of our facilities. The Committee is interested in making St John's available to the community for programs that support and service the community and we welcome suggestions and involvement from the parish.

PRISON MINISTRY

Click here for more information on St. John's involvement in Local Prison Ministry Programs

MIDDLESEX HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Interested in making a difference for local housing opportunities?

Middlesex Habitat for Humanity of CT. (MHFH) has recently started the rehab on an early 1900 house donated by Water’s Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation.   The house is located at 51 Hubbard Street in Middletown, CT.  It is a small three-bedroom home that is being totally gutted and will be rebuilt for Robin, a single mom, and her 10 year old daughter, Shannon.  The house was recently completed, and here are some photos of that celebration!

               

                                                                                                                                Robin, Shannon & Joyce Yarrow of MHFH                                                                             with their new cat!

St. John’s parishioners helped at a workday on Sat., Nov. 7, 2009 (8am-4pm). Volunteers with talents ranging from unskilled to skilled are welcome as there are on site crew leaders available to explain your job, offer instructions, and make sure needed materials are on site. In the past, St. John’s youth group and parishioners have prepared delicious lunches and delivered them to the site.  If you have a desire to support MHFH but are unable to work on the site, please consider helping with lunches or by sponsoring the volunteers. There are opportunities to help for all ages and talents.

Fifteen volunteers are needed for each workday.  More Sat. workdays will be scheduled for St. John’s volunteers to accommodate everyone who is interesting in helping.

MHFH has recently acquired another house to renovate.  This house was purchased from the State of CT. for $1 and is located on Ballfall Road in Middlefield.  Construction will start on this house in the near future. 

 If you would like to lend a hand, please contact David Evangelisti at 767-2075.  Together, we can make a dream for simple, safe, decent, affordable housing a reality in one of our local towns--one house at a time!