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The Mission Team has prayerfully discerned that God is calling us to have a greater impact by concentrating in several key areas. We believe God is calling us to significant local ministry with four partners in South Norwalk, our “Norwalk Neighbors.” Those ministries are the Carver Center, Pivot Ministries, the Norwalk Emergency Shelter, and Macedonia Church.We have also developed relationships with other local and national ministries that love and serve our Lord. Serving locally gives us the opportunity to understand the pressing needs right in our backyard, develop long-term relationships, and meet practical needs on a continuing basis.It is our deepest privilege to be used by God as we seek to live out our purpose.
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THE NORWALK EMERGENCY SHELTER
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER CENTER
PIVOT HOUSE
MACEDONIA CHURCH
ANGEL TREE
COMPUTERS FOR GUATEMALA
THE NORWALK EMERGENCY SHELTER
www.norwalkemergencyshelter.org
The Norwalk Emergency Shelterprovides an open door for safe, sanitary shelter 365 days a year. In addition the Shelter operates Manna House which serves more than 14,000 meals per month. The Shelter also distributes quality pre-owned clothing and offers interim and permanent housing. Through its counseling services, the Shelter provides a path into a new productive life.
Service Opportunities
- NPC serves at the Manna House Soup Kitchen on the 1st Saturday of the month, as well as two additional Saturdays, five Sundays, and two Thursdays throughout the year. The only qualifications are an open heart and a desire to serve others. We make a tremendous difference in people’s lives as we open our hearts and begin to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission.
- Opportunities for Children and adults include clothing drives, food drives, making decorative pillows, and making holiday baskets. There is also a periodic sandwich-making opportunity. These are wonderful, safe ways that our children can share Christ’s love.
- The NES Annual Dinner and Silent Auction and Make a Difference Day. The older youth are often involved in these events as well.
NES is located at 4 Merritt Street in Norwalk:
Google Maps: 4 Merritt Street, Norwalk, CT
Take a look at this Word file for detailed instructions for serving at the Manna House soup kitchen:
Serving Instructions
Contact: Chuck Richardson at 655-2286 or chukr@optonline.net. To serve at Manna House, contact Shepard Halsh(scheduling coordinator) at skcakes@mac.com
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER CENTER
www.carvercenterct.org
The Carver Center in Norwalk serves at-risk children and their families. Its mission is to build lifetime achievers. The Carver Center provides after-school educational, social, and recreational programs to motivate and support youths in grades K-12. The focus is on academic achievement, a key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Last year, 100% of Carver’s graduates attended college. Check out their website at www.carvercenterct.org.
Service Opportunities
- Program Volunteers work directly with Carver youth on a one-time or ongoing basis. Help with academics, reading, computers, college applications, sports and games, crafts and celebrations.
- Career Fair Volunteers answer questions about their careers and/or help organize the event for Middle and High School students. (January)
- Speakers discuss topics with students such as careers, financial education, and preparation for college. (Friday afternoons)
- Mother and Others Volunteers help organize and/or serve dinner to celebrate Carver families. (May)
- In addition to working with the children, NPC members can serve in areas such as grant-writing, administrative support, shopping for snacks, and helping assemble Carver mailings.
Contact: Jane Malcolm at JKMalcolm1@aol.com
PIVOT HOUSE
www.pivotministries.org
Pivot Ministries is a Christ-centered, Bible-based, residential ministry for men. Its mission is to treat drug and alcohol addiction as a spiritual problem and return men to their family whole. Pivot welcomes men from every background. The program offers a structured, supportive environment where the men learn acceptance, discipline, and love through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Service Opportunities
- Participate in a Small Group that meets at Pivot House in Norwalk most Wednesday nights from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Contact: David Norman at 203-834-0066 or drnorm@us.ibm.com
MACEDONIA CHURCH
www.macedonia-church.com
Macedonia Church in Norwalk is a multiracial Pentecostal congregation serving South Norwalk for over 20 years. This community of faith boldly serves those that too often are lost and forgotten. The church ministers to prisoners, troubled youths, men and women struggling with addiction, those living with HIV/AIDS, and many others. In 2004, the Cornerstone Corporation was founded and has launched the Youth Leadership Advocacy and Life Skills Development Center to assist court-involved youth and prisoners preparing to reenter their community. Join this vibrant ministry which seeks to promote unity in the body of Christ by building bridges between our communities.
Contact: Chuck Richardson at chukr@optonline.net or David Norman at dnorm@us.ibm.com
ANGEL TREE
Angel Tree is “a ministry that reaches out to the children of inmates and their families with the love of Christ.” Each Christmas season, church members purchase gifts and deliver them to the children of incarcerated men and women in their parent’s name. Through this ministry, children feel their parent’s love, as well at their Father in Heaven’s abounding love for them. Deliverers are given the opportunity to minister to the children by sharing the Gospel message about Christ’s love.
Service Opportunities
- Purchase a Gift in a parent’s name for a child. Names and gift requests are available during the Christmas season.
- Deliver a Gift and share the love of Christ with a child
Contact: Lori Nelson at lori.nelson@norotonchurch.org
COMPUTERS FOR GUATEMALA
www.computersforguatemala.com
After serving in the Peace Corps in Guatemala from 1967 - 1970, Don Livingston stayed in touch with friends, helping some of their children through school. On one visit to Guatemala, I was asked by a student to meet with Catholic nuns who needed computers for their school. I put up signs in Darien and asked friends in New York City, and was surprised by the overwhelming support with computers, technical help, and good advice. As word spread, we are receiving more computers and more requests for them.
We currently have computers in use in schools in thirty-three towns, with requests for computers in many more towns and libraries, and even an orphanage. Some of these are in partnership with Child Aid, Peace Corps volunteers, and Rotarian micro finance projects. Twenty-four Quaker scholarship students received laptop and desktop computers.
How can you help? If you have a computer (or 100!) or peripherals in working order that you would like to donate, contact Don Livingston (contact info is below). If you have some computer knowledge and would like to devote time to fixing computers, there is more than enough work! And if you'd just like a hands-on experience, computers regularly need to be packed to get shipped. Let us know how you would like to help!
Don Livingston don@computersforguatemala.com 203-655-2362
www.computersforguatemala.com
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