Justice and Outreach Ministry

Justice and Outreach Ministry Members 2011 -2012:

Mary Abbott, Co-Chair
Colleen Hutchinson, Co-Chair

Gail Adshead

Susan Gilpin (secretary)

Mollie Braley

Resa Jones

Stephen Laughton

Lois Myers

Lendall Smith

Justice and Outreach Ministry Mission Statement: Responding to Jesus’ call for compassion and justice for all, the Ministry of Justice and Outreach serves the congregation by providing leadership in ministering to the poor, the powerless and the persecuted in our communities, our nation, and our world. The Ministry of Justice and Outreach works to inform the congregation about needs and just causes locally, nationally, and internationally, understanding that those who reach out with compassion to work for causes that are just are indeed following Jesus’ call.

CURRENT JUSTICE AND OUTREACH PROJECTS, CAUSES AND OPPORTUNITIES
*J & O Annual Report (pending) (see annual report below)

GOOD SAMARITAN FUND: Here’s where any church member or friend can ask for funds to be given to a project of a non-profit organization. Good Samaritan Application forms are available attached to the Justice and Outreach Ministry bulletin board, anyone may ask an Outreach Ministry member or find one on the web site (see attached guidelines and application, below)

MISSION MOMENTS: On the third Sunday of every month the Justice and Outreach Ministry organizes a five minute “Mission Moment” during the Sunday service in order to acquaint the congregation with mission, outreach and social justice type activities that the Ministry is involved in or supporting. Recent “Mission Moments” have included such things as Habitat for Humanity, Pilgrim Lodge, Konbit Sante (medical mission in Haiti) and our Honduras Mission Trip. *(see Mission Moment guidelines – below)

Falmouth Food Pantry: The Falmouth Food Pantry is managed by FCC members Dorothy Blanchette, Carrie Penrose and Jill Fox as well as Nancy Lightbody from Falmouth. The food pantry primarily serves needy clients in Falmouth, Cumberland, and North Yarmouth. The Food Pantry is now housed next to the Falmouth Town Hall. Volunteers are needed to help stack shelves, pick up donations from food drives, distribute food from the pantry and help deliver food to those unable to get to the pantry. If you are interested in volunteering you can call Carrie at 846-5961 or Dorothy Blanchette at 781-2996. Assisted local Food Pantry Clients by working with Christian Ed to assemble School Kits for the needy.

St.Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen/clothing bank: Clothes are regularly donated and routine used clothing and sock drives are held to to supply the poor and homeless in Portland with free clothing.

E- hope: provides community support for families in Maine facing life-threatening illness

Root Cellar: The Root Cellar, located at 94 Washington Ave., Portland, is an interdenominational inner-city mission where needy families and committed volunteers work together building stable relationships. The Root Cellar offers the community meals, clothing, medical and dental services, educational, and recreational programs for children in grades 1-12 as well as ESL classes. FCC provides Christmas gifts to many of the children through our Christmas Angels project and FCC provides dinners at the Root Cellar twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall. If you would like to help with the dinners call

Assist Jiquilillo: A grassroots ministry/effort working to improve the health and education to a very poor village in Nicaragua spearheaded and continued by Cumberland resident Stephany Guyot. FCC church and individuals sponsor children and support others in the poor community.

Philippine Soup Kitchen (Little Children of the World): Since 2000 FCC has provided major financial support to this soup kitchen. The soup kitchen daily serves nourishing hot lunch and vitamins to up to 100 young children.

Mbabaali Memorial School Orphanage in Uganda: Outreach sponsors 1 child and some financial support to this small independently run orphanage.

Free The Kids (formerly Theo’s work): a grassroots community center and orphanage in Haiti started by a native of Maine. The center provides food, education and job training for those living in abject poverty.

$10 CLUB: A donation of $10/month involves us in monthly humanitarian project throughout the most poverty stricken and needy parts of the world. We receive monthly reports on the projects and the impact a bunch of small donations can have on peoples lives.

Eco-Justice: Our Ministry and church are involve in a number of sometimes changing environmental programs. Currently our church is instituting green/fragrance free cleaning techniques and supplies. A recycling program, eco-justice organizations and causes, speakers, education, and special programs are promoted by Outreach as part of our respect for God’s creation.

GOOD SAMARITAN FUND: Here’s where any church member or friend can ask for funds to be given to a project of a non-profit organization. Good Samaritan Application forms are available attached to the Justice and Outreach Ministry bulletin board, anyone may ask an Outreach Ministry member or find one on the web site (see attached guidelines and application - below)

Organizations funded recently include:

Maine Conference UCC – Mission Trip to Honduras
Dobbyn Foundation: Falmouth High School student(s) began this charity to educate Eastern Uganda students through High School
Seeds of Peace – bringing youth from often waring factions together to foster understanding and future peace
Center for Health, Environment and Justice – beginning with “Love Canal”, supporting environmental clean- up
Amistad
Habitat for Humanity, walk
Furniture Bank for poor and new refugees, fuel fund
Needy congregation member refrigerator
socks and underwear for the homeless
dental work for tortured Iraqi
$10 Club – supporting impoverished communities throughout the world