Outreach Committee
The Outreach Committee tries to offer local and international projects to the congregation. We do this in conjunction with Episcopal Relief & Development. ERD has made it easy for us to find meaningful ways to involve our congregation, and to help change our world for the better. Working in partnership with the worldwide Church, ecumenical agencies and local organizations, Episcopal Relief & Development saves lives and strengthens communities around the world.
Our life as Christians calls us to follow Jesus’ example to be a servant. Become involved. Speak to Mother Gina, or attend the Outreach Committee Meeting on the second Sunday of the month, following the 10 AM Liturgy. Our Heavenly Father awaits our unified response to the cries of His People. To remain faithful to our Baptismal Covenant, let your response be “I will, with God’s help!”
Partnering with Cranford Family Care
The Trinity Church Outreach Committee is now working closely with Cranford Family Care, a local organization which provides assistance to families who reside in Cranford and are in need of help.
Cranford Family Care began as Cranford Welfare Association during the Great Depression in 1936. The Cranford Junior Service League consulted with Trinity Episcopal Church (the Rev. Frank Sherlock was rector at the time), the Rotary Club, and other interested citizens to organize and found the Cranford Welfare Association to coordinate welfare work in the community. Cranford Welfare Association was renamed Cranford Family Care in the 1950’s to more appropriately reflect the work being done.
Trinity Church is always looking for ways to expand our support of our local community, so this is a great opportunity to continue the work started here 75 years ago. Our partnering with Cranford Family Care includes School Kits in late August, Thanksgiving Baskets in November, and our Giving Tree in December. During the Summer, food donations each Sunday to Trinity’s Basket of Abundance are also given to Cranford Family Care. Food donations to Cranford Family Care will be done when a special need arises during the rest of the year.
Trinity Church will continue to support St. John’s Episcopal Church in Elizabeth, NJ with food donations through our Basket of Abundance each Sunday and with Sandwich Sunday on the third Sunday of each month.
St. John’s Ministry
In 2009 Trinity began an expanded ministry with St. John’s Episcopal church in Elizabeth, NJ. The third Sunday of every month Trinity prepares and serves sandwiches, hardboiled eggs, salads, fruit and baked goods to those in need. In addition, donations are received weekly for The Basket of Abundance. Donations include, food, baby products, toilet articles and clothing. Read more about our involvement.
Giving Tree – Nets for Life
Trinity Church has a Giving Tree at Christmas time, usually to collect toys. In 2010, the Outreach Committee dedicated our Giving Tree to the “Nets for Life” Inspiration Fund program, run by the national church’s Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) office. A $12 donation purchases a treated net and education to protect a family from malaria. NetsforLife® is a leader in malaria prevention, distributing over 7.7 million nets and reaching over 37 million people in 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa since 2006.
Stockings are hung on the tree and parishioners are invited to take a stocking, sign a pledge and take an envelope for their donation. In 2010, we collected $689 (58 nets). In 2011, the response was $795 (66 nets). This year, we are once again supporting Nets for Life at Christmas time. Please be generous with your donations — eliminating malaria is a wonderful gift to our world! Checks should be made out to Episcopal Relief and Development, with Nets for Life in the memo line.
Buy bread, support children at risk
Each year, the Outreach Committee holds a “Loaves of Love” bread sale after the Annual Meeting. All funds go to the St Claire’s Home for Children in Elizabeth. The ministry takes care of babies at risk who are released from the hospital but are not ready to be taken care of at home. Trinity has been supporting this effort for several years. Together we can make a difference in the lives around us.
Giving Well: Water for Life
In the past, the Outreach Committee has coordinated Trinity Church’s participation in an Episcopal Relief and Development program to build wells to provide clean water in poor villages.
Because we recognize how essential clean water is, the Outreach Committee continued with this effort in 2011 to buy a share of a well to be built by Episcopal Relief and Development.
During March 2011, the Outreach Committee coordinated “Water for Life” – a project to raise $750 to purchase a share of a Well to be built by Episcopal Relief and Development. This project supports the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of Ensuring Environmental Stability and Combating Disease, established by the UN in 2000.
We invited the congregation to be a “Drop in the Well.” Our world mission project was a great success, collecting $1,285 – far exceeding our goal of a $750 share of a well. In fact, we collected $1285, enough for 25% of a well, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our parishioners.
