Missions and Outreach

The Missions Committee seeks to help those in need in our community and beyond. Thanks to your pledges of support, we are able to provide the basics to many people, young and old.

If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, contact the church office at 978-526-7661

Committee Members:
Mary Ellen Cook, co-chair
Anne D’Angelo, co-chair
Lauren Gudonis
Peter Katsoulas
Jackie Warner

Here are some of the many projects and people that we support;

Action, Inc. is an emergency homeless shelter for men and women. Their employment and training center provides Job training. Their goal is to help low income residents become self- sufficient.

Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry is not only a food pantry; it’s a community outreach program that supplies clothing and many other necessities. They also run the “Adopt a Family” program and a Women’s Support Group.

Boston Rescue Mission serves on the average over 525 meals and provides almost 200 beds on a daily basis. They try to equip people with the resources they need to better their position in life, and to give them hope of becoming self- sufficient members of society.

Boys and Girls Club of St. Croix provides services and programs for children, many of whom come from disadvantaged situations. Our donation helps with a Christmas party and gifts for children who would otherwise receive nothing.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters reaches out to hundreds of troubled young people with a wide range of services.

CAB Health and Recovery Services provides quality substance abuse and related health treatment and prevention services. Programs include outpatient, inpatient and community outreach and education.

Cape Ann Food Pantry/The Open Door distributes free emergency food supplies, offers free meals at the Open Door, promotes volunteer services that allow people of all incomes to help themselves by purchasing food at lower prices and operates The Second Glance resale shop. Our Church regularly serves meals, donates food supplies, and. provides weekly volunteers. Sign-up sheets and requests are made in the weeks leading up to the dates we serve. For more information on serving please contact Joe Brideau, 526-4332. In 2008 we are serving the following Wednesdays; March 19th, June 18th, September 17 and December 22nd.

Des Veaux House is a family continuity program for mentally ill individuals who would most likely be homeless if they were not in a Des Veaux group home or in apartments under their supervision. Their entire program is treatment based to assist their residents in achieving and maintaining stability.

Elon Homes for Children offers high quality care to over 720 children and youth each year who cannot live in their own homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Emmaus House, located in Haverhill, MA, is a shelter for homeless families. In 2002, their new facility opened. It has apartments that allow family units to stay together. They also provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent affordable housing and job training for adults. They offer compassion and services for homeless families and individuals.

HAWC: Help for Abused Women and their Children. Everyday HAWC provides safe shelter to women and children who have had to flee in secrecy; leaving their homes, schools, communities, and even their Jobs, in order to escape domestic abuse. HAWC staff and volunteers provide a 24-hour hotline, individual and group counseling and advocacy in courts and health care settings. Their three-month emergency shelter program includes parenting support, housing advocacy, employment assistance and aftercare for families ready to leave the shelter.

The Manchester Fund to Prevent Homelessness helps working families in our area remain in their homes when, due to unexpected life events such as lay-off or illness, they fall behind in their bills and are faced with foreclosure or eviction.

MACUCC is the Massachusetts Council 01 the United Church of Christ. Of its many donation opportunities, our Church collects funds twice a year: at Easter for “One Great Hour of Sharing” for worldwide aid, and at Christmas for “Veterans of the Cross” to benefit retired clergy.

Plummer Home for Boys cares for boys who have been removed from their homes by the Department of Social Services, due to neglect and/or abuse. These boys arrive in need of major doses of stability, nurturing and skills to better deal with the realities they face at home. They usually stay at least one year. Our Church provides these boys with Easter baskets and Christmas gifts yearly.

Project Bread provides food for children in need. Their straightforward concept is to feed low-income children where they live. where they learn and where they play.
Rosie’s Place provides meals, shelter, clothing, and permanent solutions such ac job training and supportive housing. They receive no government support and rely solely on support from community members.

Wellspring works to meet basic human needs and participates in social change through the provision of shelter, affordable housing, local economic opportunity and education rooted in community needs. Every year, our Church supplies about SC Thanksgiving meals to local families.