COMBATING HUNGER
One of the cruelest consequences of the present recession is the growing population of hungry people in our midst. We invite you to join St. James’ in helping to feed those in need:
At Holy Trinity Church soup kitchen in West Orange, we serve a nutritious lunch several times a year to approximately 100 hungry families. Our volunteers help shop at Costco, cook the Friday night before in St. James’ kitchen, transport food to Holy Trinity on Saturday morning, serve the guests and clean up afterwards, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. To participate, please contact Mrs. Lisa Stoeffel at (973) 744-6099 or jstoeffel@comcast.net.
We support the Apostles’ House, Newark with contributions of groceries and hotel bath supplies to their food pantry that feeds some 14,500 people over the course of a year. In 2010, our contribution was one of the largest from an individual church in the diocese, and Thanksgiving supplies were also provided by our parish. To participate, please bring canned and boxed foods to St. James’.
We help Renaissance church, Newark, to feed the hungry through a food pantry that serves over 500 families a week. To help, please leave donated items of used clothing, toys and small household items in the St. James’ basement room marked for Renaissance Church.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Women in Kenya
We sponsor five African women and their children through Women for Women International. We encourage you to get to know these women more personally by writing them a letter of love and support. If you'd like to encourage them in transforming their lives through literacy, the acquisition of job, and leadership skills, visit our Outreach bulletin board to pick up a handout containing sample letters and instructions on addressing the letters.
Public Schools
In collaboration with St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, this year we assembled 135 backpacks and copious school supplies generously donated by parishioners.
Mission Trip
In 2010, we organized a mission trip for 16 older teens and adults to Grace House on the Mountain in Appalachia, helping repair the homes of thee local residents and learn about local culture.
Prison Ministry
We volunteer with a mentoring program run by the Diocese of Newark’s Prison Ministry – called PATCH (Parents And Their CHildren) – that includes:
- hosting visits to a park in Paterson called PARKS (Paterson Affirms Restoring Kids’ Safety), co-founded by our committee member Tim Evans, This Saturday morning program serves about 32 children of incarcerated parents living in Newark, Irvington, & East Orange.
- donating sleeping bags, duffel bags and flashlights for children attending summer camp from the PATCH program
- Donating Christmas gifts from our “Tree of Grace” to children in the PATCH program, including those whose parents are on parole, in collaboration with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona.
JOIN OUR OUTREACH COMMITTEE in the second floor Guild Room on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 p.m. Help us plan and implement St. James’ volunteer and support efforts. Chairpersons are Jeff Palmer and Jeff Sprouse. If you have ideas for us to consider, contact Jeff Palmer at jeffpalmernyc@yahoo.com. Other committee members are: Tim Evans, Joan Griffin, Robin Gurniak, Jennifer Patricio, Lisa Stoeffel, Michelle Wunn. Vestry advisor: Melissa Kneuer.
WHERE WE HAVE RECENTLY PROVIDED FUNDS
- A Paterson food pantry for operating costs plus funds for purchases to supply 16 interdenominational pantries in East Essex
- The Holy Trinity Church soup kitchen, West Orange, to purchase food staples for their pantry – in addition to funding the meals for dates when our volunteers served there.
- PARKS (Paterson Affirms Restoring Kids’ Safety) Corporation, to help fund a park that promotes children’s educational needs, beautifies an impoverished neighborhood, and partners with the PATCH program mentioned above.
- Kenya’s Children’s Fund, for the five first-grade children we first sponsored in 2007. Also, donations toward KCF’s national exam fees plus science equipment for its students.
- Women for Women International, to sponsor five women living in war-torn countries in Africa, enabling them to craft a self-sustaining existence for themselves and their families.
- The Alleluia Fund, an outreach ministry of the Diocese of Newark.
