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Community Ministry Programs at St. Bartholomew's
St. Bartholomew's has long been a parish with social vision; non-denominational programs for the needy have been an integral part of our ministry since the late 1800s.
"All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ." These words, from the Rule of St. Benedict, form the basis of our philosophy at Community Ministry. Our mission is to provide for the basic needs of others and further the opportunity for growth and self-sufficiency that can only happen when hunger and rest are satisfied. Our doors are open to any and all who seek our help. We serve men and women of any age, race or background. Our clients include homeless and impoverished individuals and families with children; the elderly and disabled, and those who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS. St. Bart's is committed to this ministry – to providing a place of safety and dignity for our clients from which they can realize more for themselves.
The bottom line is we just want to feed all people, no questions asked and no judgments made. All those involved with this ministry give of their time and talents with respect, concern and consideration for our guests. This makes it possible for our programs to provide food, shelter and other vital assistance to any and all who seek our help.
NEW! Community Ministry Newsletter
Click here for the first edition.
Homeless Shelter
365 days/year (6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.)
We provide an overnight shelter for eight men and/or women every night of the year. We are not a drop-in center; guests are pre-screened and bused in from the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter. Our volunteers serve the guests a hot meal and socialize before "lights out" at 9:30 p.m. The guests are picked up at 6:30 a.m. after eating a light breakfast.
2008 AWARD
JD Clarke (with two of his closest friends) receiving a check for $1,500.00 from the Disney voluntEARS Community Fund and the Disney Cast Members and Employees. Former Disney Employee, 20s/30s member and shelter volunteer Laura Cunningham nominated St. Bart's for the award. Laura has since relocated to Tennessee and is missed. We want to thank her and the Disney cast Members/Employees for their generosity.
Breakfast Feeding Program
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday (7:00 to 8:30 a.m.)
Since 1982, St. Bart's has been serving hot, well balanced meals to our less fortunate neighbors. Today we serve between 150 to 200 people three mornings a week, fifty-two weeks a year. We serve any and all who are hungry. A typical meal consists of one of the following entrees: beans and franks, beef stew, macaroni and cheese, beef ravioli, meat balls and elbow macaroni, also, fresh fruit, donated pastry or sweet roll; sandwich; and coffee. Each guest also receives a sandwich and fresh fruit to take away for later in the day.
NEW Bag Lunch Brunch
Saturday (
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
)
We recently launched this
new feeding program in response to the growing need for such a program within the midtown community. Guests drop in to pick up a bag lunch filled with sandwiches, assorted snacks and fresh fruit, juice, coffee and milk. As a special treat during the spring and summer months, volunteers staff an ice cream sundae bar for our guests. It's been quite a treat.
Food Pantry
Tuesday & Friday (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
St. Bart's Pantry serves more than 600 family groups each month. Our guests are the domiciled poor—families with children, the elderly, the disabled, and HIV-AIDS affected individuals. We provide supplemental food packages of 4-5 days' worth of canned foods and staples to these guests and their families, all of whom are hard pressed to prepare adequate meals on their minimal incomes. By appointmenr only.
NEW! Food Pantry Benefits Outreach:
Tuesday & Friday (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
At St. Bart's we know that a response to hunger requires more than just food. To help our clients in the short run as well as the long run, we are now offering on-site help with benefits such as food stamps, WIC, healthcare and other government entitlement applications as well as offering referrals for other social services we do not yet provide, especially job placement and training, housing, legal and education resources.
Host Services
Soup Kitchen
St. Bart's Community Ministry serves as host to and provides space for the Coalition for The Homeless' Mobile Soup Kitchen, which feeds a hot meal to between 80 and 100 homeless men and women 365 nights a year.
Mobile Medical Van
We also host Project Renewal's Mobile Medical Van (staffed with a medical doctor, psychiatrist, podiatrist, and social worker) comes to the
51st street
entrance every Monday and Wednesday from
7:00
to
9:00 am
during BFP hours.
Volunteer
Community Ministry volunteers have found that their lives are fuller and their sensitivity to others more acute as a result of their volunteer efforts. Our over 140 volunteers form the heart and soul of Community Ministry. We could not offer these programs without their help. In addition to our three main programs, there are volunteer opportunities for everyone and every schedule.
Whether you prefer a commitment that is short-term or ongoing, we have a place for you. To learn more about volunteering, please contact the Rev. Deacon J. D. Clarke, Director of Community Ministry, at 212-378-0229 or clarke@stbarts.org or St. Bart's Central at 212-378-0220 or central@stbarts.org
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