Outreach

These are the activities of the church; however, we encourage all to take part in their favorite outreach organization.

Vincent Methodist Soup Kitchen Grace Church cooks and serves hot, nutritious meals to low-income individuals and families from 10:00 am to 1 pm the third Saturday each month at Vincent Methodist Church on Vincent Pl. in Nutley. Please sign up in the “What Can I Do to Help” book.

Food Drives

We collect canned and nonperishable food the 1^st Sunday of the month for distribution at local food pantries. During the holidays we collect turkeys for Apostles House in Newark. Please bring your donations of canned and nonperishable foods to the narthex (please check the sell-by-date).

Care Pantries

We collect personal care products (things that food stamps do not cover) for distribution at Vincent Methodist Church and St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen in Newark. Needed items include shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and cleaning supplies. Donations are collected in the narthex.

Nutley Family Service Food Pantry We support Nutley and nearby communities by collecting food and volunteering at their food pantry on Chestnut Street. We also support St. Peter’s Community Pantry, Clifton, and St. Agnes, Little Falls which also has a pet pantry.

Prison Ministry

Prison Bible Study

Each week a group of trained volunteers teaches a Bible Study at Northern State Prison, Newark and Hudson County Correctional Facility, Kearny. Additional volunteers are always needed.

Children’s Programs

Prison Visits

Prison Ministry brings children to the Essex County jail to see their mothers or their fathers. The children are also invited to be a part of a monthly program called Learning By Experience where they are given needed support and mentoring through various arts and sciences and cultural enrichment opportunities.

Christmas Gifts

In November and December, we collect holiday gifts for the PATCH children. Details are posted in the narthex and on the web.

Summer Camperbags

In the summer we collect basic camp supplies for children. They participate in a week at a Salvation Army camp. Details for camp needs are posted in the narthex during the drive.

Backpack collection & Party

An important step for starting the school year off right is having the supplies that you need for your schoolwork. Many of our families do not have adequate resources to buy these supplies. In the summer we post in the narthex details of the supplies the

children need. In August, Grace Church hosts a Backpack Party with a motivational speaker.

Bloomfield Animal Shelter

The shelter provides animal control services for various local townships. Volunteers are always needed for cleaning, laundry, grooming, socializing cats and dogs, dog walking, offsite adoption days and many other duties. Volunteer applications are available at the shelter and a brief orientation is provided once per month for new volunteers. Volunteers must be over 18. We welcome the following donations: New/gently used lightweight blankets, towels, liquid laundry detergent/dish detergent, antiseptic wipes, paper towel, toilet paper, small paper plates, Fancy Feast cat food and Pedigree dry or canned dog food & treats. Monetary donations can be made payable to Save the Bloomfield/Bukowski Animal Shelter or SOBAS and given to Nellie Reynolds.

Military Families and Friends (MFFs) Family and friends of the military meet quarterly on Sunday afternoons, at 4pm at Grace Church to offer support and guidance to one another. This is an ecumenical gathering of local families. Speak to the Rector for more information.

Apostles’ House

Apostles’ House is a ministry that provides housing and support for homeless women and their families. The program enables and encourages self-sufficiency. We support Apostles’ House at the holidays, with turkeys or hams.

Habitat for Humanity

Theology of the Hammer and Nail

Volunteers can take part in housing projects in Various NJ Counties and other locations in the United States. Commitments can be as short as 1 day or as long as 6 days. No special skills are needed. Working with volunteers makes for a rewarding day of labor and fellowship. Volunteers must be 16 years or older.

Women have the opportunity to join the "Women Build" group, which is dedicated to empowering & training women to build homes and communities. WB members work in the field, office, or outreach to help families get new affordable homes.

North Porch Baby Shower

In March the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) collects formula, baby wipes, and diapers for distribution to families in need.

Companion relationship with the Diocese of Panama

Grace Church’s companion parish is San Cristobel. We also support a home for girls called Hogar de Niñas.

Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)

A ministry that provides temporary housing for families, Vincent Methodist Church (across from the Nutley Public Library) houses the guests during their stay. Grace Church acts as the host one week a year at Vincent by preparing the rooms, serving meals, spending time with the guests, and helping with other needs during their one-week stay.

Financial Assistance

The Vestry is charged with giving away a percentage of our budget to worthy organizations. The Rector’s Discretionary Fund hands out money to needy individuals and our Guilds have fund-raisers that raise ½ the money for their ministry and ½ for outreach.

Other Activities

Throughout the year there are other outreach activities that Grace supports: walks for causes, clothing drives, and special solicitations for projects such as Gail’s Angels, an organization that supports families with special needs children whose mothers have cancer. Grace Church is a meeting site for NA, AA, and OA. We also support our seniors at the Nutley Senior Manor, housing sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.