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By God's grace, we will be a responsive church.
We commit ourselves to be a church of justice,
Mercy and peace so that lives may be renewed,
Spirits revived, and worlds transformed. |
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The Board of Outreach Ministries at First Congregational Church offers many opportunities to become involved, serve, and help make a difference. Here we present our current service projects, information about humanitarian assistance and internet giving, and a list of organizations that members and friends of First Congregational Church have recently supported financially.
First Congregational Church welcomes your interest in our programs. If you would like to speak with someone about a project or have suggestions for new outreach areas, please contact the church office (908 233-2494). To make a financial contribution, please send a check made out to First Congregational Church, with the program name noted in the memo portion of the check. We appreciate your support!
Here we provide information on the following service areas:
Alternative Gift Program
The Board of Outreach Ministries holds two alternative gift markets each year (Spring and Fall) to showcase volunteer activity in our outreach programs and enable people to purchase alternative gifts (donation gifts). Instead of shopping for the perfect gift for a special person in your life, you make a donation to a particular charity in honor of the person. You receive an honor card to give to the person as a gift. The person feels special to have been so honored and you feel good knowing that your gift helped someone in need. Your gift brings joy to many! At our alternative gift markets and throughout the year, you can purchase alternative gifts for future gift giving occasions!
Blood Services
It is always time to donate blood! In conjunction with New Jersey Blood Services, First Congregational Church hosts 2 whole blood drives a year, usually in January and May. There may also be a mobile unit for platelet/plasma collection at FCC during the year. Dates are announced in the Sunday bulletin and in the Congregationalist. Throughout the year, we also provide information about NJ Blood Services and American Red Cross blood drives in the Westfield area. You may also contact these organizations directly: NJ Blood Services (800) 933-BLOOD; the American Red Cross, Westfield (908) 232-7090, (800) GIVE LIFE. Click here for blood information as well as public health information.
Bridges
Bridges is an outreach ministry to the homeless in New York City and Newark. Christ Church in Summit houses Bridges and volunteers there coordinate the program. First Congregational Church is one of many local churches and schools that participate. We provide bag lunches and several carloads of adult and youth volunteers to deliver food, clothing, and toiletries to the homeless in New York City one Friday night of each month. Needed for this program are the following:
- Adult drivers and senior high volunteers to deliver items
- Money and volunteers to buy food and make bag lunches
- Casual, warm clothing in good condition for men and women
- New underwear, socks, sweat shirts, and T shirts for men, women and children
- Toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. (motel/hotel samples are perfect!)
- Large trash bags for the homeless to use to carry items.
Church World Service
Church World Service receives donations from churches throughout the US, including the United Church of Christ. In turn, it provides money and supplies for disaster relief as soon as a disaster happens anywhere in the world. We support Church World Service with financial donations and donations of health and school kits, which the youth fellowship assembles.
Each Fall, FCC particpates in the local CROP (Communities Reaching Out in Partnership) walk in Cranford.Money raised through the CROP walk provides hope to the poor throughout the world.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey
The Community FoodBank of NJ serves the needs of the less fortunate throught out area. Monetary donations and volunteer help are needed. Volunteers sort and pack food and supplies, help with mailings, and do office work. Call the FoodBank at 908 355-3663 for information and to volunteer.
Habitat for Humanity, Plainfield Chapter
Habitat is an ecumenical, inclusive, non-profit organization building decent, affordable homes in partnership with low-income families. Volunteers are needed to:
- Work on construction crews. Youth (14-17 years of age) may participate with adult supervision. This is a good family project. The church is committed to participating the last Saturday of each month; individuals and families are welcome any Friday or Saturday. Call Plainfield Habitat (908-769-5292) or our church office for current work location.
- Help in their Plainfield office.
- Serve on their selection and nurturing committee.
Interfaith Council for the Homeless of Union County
The Interfaith Council of Union County is a non-profit organization that assists homeless families in Union County by providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, education, and other supportive services to promote independence for its clients. First Congregational Church currently helps the Interfaith Council in the following ways:
- Provide evening meals during 4 weeks each year when the homeless are housed at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield
- Promote Kandiland Crafts, a business making custom baskets for all occasions. This business provides additional income for the Interfaith Council as well as opportunities for clients to grow and develop business skills. The baskets may be seen on the Interfaith Council website. For more information, call 908 769-6550.
Project Sweet Dreams
This is a project of Kidz Pax, Inc. that provides personal items and special gifts to foster children who are moved from home to home in NJ. We collect one new pair of PJs, a nighttime storybook, and a teddy bear to sleep with for each child (ages birth to 12 years).
Marc Hardy Human Rights Award
The Board of Outreach Ministries administers the Marc Hardy Human Rights Award. This award is presented to young adult(s) 16-22 years of age, who have distinguished themselves in the area of human rights. This award is a memorial to Marc Hardy, who was a member of First Congregational Church. He died very tragically in 1990. Contributions are welcome to support this award. In addition, if you know of anyone that you would like to nominate for the award, please contact the church office.
Recycled Cards for St. Jude's Ranch for Children
The Board of Outreach Ministries supports the Recycled Card Program of St. Jude's Ranch for Children, a non-profit, non-sectarian community focused on the needs of abused, abandoned, and neglected children of all races and faiths. Save your greeting cards (all occasions) and put them in the "Recycled Card Box" in the Narthex on your way into church. The cards will be recycled into new cards by the children at St. Jude's.
Salvation Army, Union Headquarters
The Salvation Army in Union needs financial and volunteer help. Since September 11, 2001, we have supported the Salvation Army with volunteers and by advertising their needs. Currently volunteers are needed for assistance with general administrative work (no experience needed) checking documents and supporting materials before checks to disaster victims can be authorized. Every Monday-Friday, four or five individuals are needed at the Union Headquarters. Call 908 851-9300, x. 239, for information and to schedule a time to volunteer. Click here for directions to the Union headquarters.
Stamps for the Wounded
The Board of Outreach Ministries supports the "Stamps for the Wounded" service of the Lions International Stamp Club. Tear the corner with the stamp off the envelope and deposit in the "Stamp Box" in the Narthex on your way into church. The stamps will be used to help hospitalized veterans productively occupy their eyes, their hands, and their minds.
Starfish Project
The Starfish Project provides Christmas gifts for Plainfield children in need. People are given an opportunity to select a gift recipient, by age and sex. They are asked to buy an item of warm clothing and a toy for the recipient. Volunteers are needed to coordinate this program, wrap the gifts, and deliver them to Plainfield.
Westfield Food Pantry
The Westfield Food Pantry provides emergency food supplies to more than 80 town families. Sponsored by Holy Trinity, all local churches contribute non-perishable food items, baby supplies, toiletries, etc. Contributions for the Food Pantry are collected in our church Narthex on the first Sunday of every month. Specifically needed items include:
- Non-perishable foods (dried milk, cereal, canned meats, etc.)
- Paper goods (towels, tissues, toilet paper, diapers)
- Supermarket food certificates, $5 and $10 denominations
In addition, two volunteers are needed Wednesday afternoons to work at the Food Pantry.
Westfield Neighborhood Council
The Westfield Neighborhood Council is a community center offering recreational and educational opportunities for children, adults, and families. We have helped to develop a computer center; volunteers with computer skills are needed to teach young students how to use the computers after school. The Westfield Neighborhood Council also needs people to mentor young people in reading and math skills.
Humanitarian Assistance
Donating funds is still the most common and easiest way to help people in need. Donating time can be equally important. See the other programs offered by the Board of Outreach.
The following funds serve local families and welcome donations:
- United Way of Cranford: A September 11th fund for Cranford residents affected by the disaster has been established by the United Way of Cranford. Contributions can be sent to Cranford United Way, PO Box 171, Cranford, NJ 07016. For more information, call 908 272-6116.
- United Fund of Westfield: The United Fund of Westfield welcomes donations to help suport local families who have been directly affected by the WTC disaster. Make checks payable to the United Fund of Westfield and designate "September 11th Fund" on the check. Send to United Fund of Westfield, 301 North Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090. For further information, call 908 233-2113.
- NJ Shares: People experiencing financial hardship can turn to NJ Shares to get help paying utility bills by calling 1-866-657-4273 (1-866-NJ-SHARES). Individuals wishing to help support their less fortunate neighbors can make a tax deductible donation to NJ Shares, 121 Shelley Drive Suite 2A, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 or include a check marked "NJ Shares" with their Elizabethtown Gas bill. Donations made through Elizabethtown Gas will be matched.
Humanitarian assistance is greatly needed to support the innocent victims of natural and man-made disasters throughout the world. Aid can be provided by donating funds to the following organizations: Mercy Corps, IRC (International Rescue Committee), CARE, and Church World Service.
If you are interested in learning how to help in an emergency, the Westfield/Mountainside Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering Disaster Relief Training Sessions. They also have a good selection of booklets dealing with trauma and emergency preparedness. Call 908 232-7090 for information. Click here for disaster resource information for the NY/NJ area.
Internet Giving
Charity is just a click away at a number of web sites - an easy, safe way to donate to a myriad of significant charities that will not cost you anything because the contribution is made by sponsoring companies.
- At www.thehungersite.com, you can give 1.1 cups of a staple food (such as rice) each day to the UN World Food program.
- You can protect 11.4 square feet of endangered rainforest each day at www.therainforest.com.
- Fund free mammograms for women in need by clicking once a day on the donation button at www.thebreastcancersite.com.
- Each day at www.clearlandmines.com your click clears 63 square centimeters of mine-infested terrain.
- Sponsored by Britain's WaterAid, a click at www.givewater.org provides safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene promotion to the world's poorest people.
- Sponsored by the Campbell's Soup Company and the NFL, the Tackling Hunger Campaign donates cans of soup to various charities each day during the football season when you click on your favorite NFL team at www.chunky.com/click_for_cans.asp.
Other web sites, for example www.greatergood.com and www.4charity.com, have deals with many brand-name retailers who will give a percentage (2-20%) of the cost of items purchased from their web site to a charity that you designate, with no extra cost to you.
The website www.NetworkForGood.org is a place where you can donate, volunteer, get information and speak out on various issues.
It is important to be careful about donating money because there are many fraudulent funds. You may be able to verify the legitimacy of an organization by doing research at one of the following websites: American Institute of Philanthropy, The Better Business Bureau, and national database of non-profit organizations.
Organizations We Financially Support
Through Communion offering, individual giving, special fund-raisers and the alternative gift program, First Congregational Church provides financial support for a number of organizations beyond those with programs mentioned before. Recently these have included
- Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, Mississippi
- Cancer Care of New Jersey
- Caring Neighbor Fund, Westfield Department of Human Services
- Contact We Care
- Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
- Heifer Project International
- Hoffman Homes for Youth, a UCC-sponsored residential children’s psychiatric program
- Hope from the Rubble, UCC's Wider Church Ministries Fund to help with long term needs of communities affected by the September 11th disaster
- NJ Shares
- One Great Hour of Sharing (UCC)
- Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) in partnership with the whole United Church of Christ to fund local, nationwide and worldwide ministries of the UCC for healing, teaching, worshipping, seeking justice, saving lives, restoring hope and showing the light of God.
- Overlook Hospital Chaplaincy Program
- Phoebe-Devitt Homes, a UCC-sponsored ministry for the elderly
- Rainbow Experience
- September 11th Fund, United Fund of Westfield
- Veterans of the Cross, United Church of Christ
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