Above Picture: A Multi-Year Grant was awarded to United Community Church of Morrisville to support their Community Resource Hub. Featured are volunteers for "Breakfast on Us which offers not just a free meal but a coordinated supportive program of local community resources including necessities and health consults.
GRANTS MINISTRY
Our Grants Ministry Program
Makes mission dreams possible!
Your support of the Grants Ministry is integral to the ability to continue to support these lifegiving programs in our community.
The life-giving ministries that our grants fund require three essential partners.
FIRST - YOU! Grants are funded with annual gifts received from compassionate individuals and families, as well as designated income from our endowed funds. We put your financial gift to work by investing in local church ministries throughout New England.
SECOND - the local church or agency. Responding to God’s call to serve, they create a vision for new or expanded ministries critical to supporting healthy communities.
THIRD - the Foundation. The Foundation’s Grants Committee oversees, administers, and promotes the Grants Ministry Program. Together, we provide the resources needed to create change and to impact our communities.
RUTLAND UMC / RUTLAND VT
"Companions in Wholeness"
This grant, supported the “Breaking Bread” program, which provides a hot breakfast and bagged lunch to all comers Monday through Thursday. Part of what makes this ministry unique is that it is the only hot breakfast available to those in need in the Rutland area. Preparation of 100-170 breakfasts and lunches begins early in the morning as lunches are assembled and breakfast prepared. Six volunteers get the prepping and cooking underway utilizing food from the local food pantry as well as donated from other sources in a small, but professionally outfitted kitchen. Currently, meals are distributed outside the building, but the entire team is looking forward to serving sit-down style indoors again as COVID protocols allow. The lunch entrees are provided by area restaurants and the grant was used to help pay for the commercial Imperial range. A previous Foundation grant supported the purchase of the Blodgett commercial oven.
The ecumenical nature of the ministry involves six local churches from four different denominations. Word of mouth has provided community buy-in and the ministry just received an anonymous donation of food containers, which represents a substantial cost savings. An additional feature of the “Comfort Zone” ministry is a space located adjacent to where breakfast is served, wherein guests can choose items of donated clothing free of charge.
In summary, this is a well-run ministry with an established track record, deep roots in the community and is staffed by dedicated volunteers bringing the love of Jesus to those in the community whose voices are often lost in the crowd of needs that all communities face. There are folks who were obviously “regulars” and knew they were among friends who cared for them and their welfare. There are also meal recipients who also serve as volunteers, assisting in the distribution of food and welcoming their friends. As a grant committee member, this visit gave me new insight into the tremendous value of the Foundation’s grant programs.
Tom Andrew / Foundation Grant Committee member
PORTSMOUTH UMC / Portsmouth RI
The Foundation offers the following grant opportunities below to help turn mission dreams into transforming ministries. Each fund has its own guidelines and requirements. Any questions please email David Abbott / Director of Stewardship.
"I am currently at work (full-time job) and have tears of joy running down my face. Thank You from the bottom of my heart for the Gordon T. Hersey Fund grant. Bryantville UMC is a tiny church so being able to have the opportunity to do something this dynamic (offering community suppers and workshops to address local mental health issues) is just the blessing our community needs." - Pastor Sarah Wilson / Bryantville UMC / Bryantville MA