Outreach Ministries
Grounded in the Gospel of God’s love in Christ, St. James seeks to serve our neighbors near and far in Christ’s name, and we welcome all who would come to be with us as we work together. With a variety of activities throughout the year, there's an opportunity for everyone to contribute.
OUTREACH CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Multiple DatesSun, Aug 04St James ParishAug 04, 2024, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AMSt James Parish, 3 Mountain Rd, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
Multiple DatesThu, Aug 15Friendship Service CenterAug 15, 2024, 9:30 AM – 1:30 PMFriendship Service Center, 85 Arch St, New Britain, CT 06051, USA
Multiple DatesTue, Aug 27Puente American-Latino PubAug 27, 2024, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMPuente American-Latino Pub, 81 S Main St, Unionville, CT 06085, USA
Time is TBDSt. James ParishTime is TBDSt. James Parish, 3 Mountain Rd, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Outreach Committee contributes to the Farmington community as well as greater Hartford through many programs including community through events like Church by the Pond, which provides picnic lunches for the homeless.
Contact the office for more information, administrator@stjamesfarmington.org.
Ongoing Ministries
FARMINGTON FOOD PANTRY
The Farmington Food Pantry is located at Amistad Hall in the First Church of Christ Congregational. The Pantry provides food and personal care items to eligible families in town. As part of our Outreach Commission, St. James parishioners donate food and funds in January and June and fresh vegetables during the summer months.
The 400+ square foot pantry averages more than 150 client visits per month and distributes an average of nearly 50 pounds of food per client per two week period. Clients are allowed to pick the items they like and need rather than being given a prepackaged bag of food. With donations from the Farmington Community Chest and other funding, the Pantry is able to purchase fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables every week. The Pantry has made a commitment to supply milk and yogurt in honor of one of the pantry’s founders.
Non-perishable, non-expired food may also be dropped off at the Pantry in Amistad Hall from 9 AM to 3 PM Monday - Thursday.
FRIENDSHIP SERVICE CENTER
The Friendship Service Center (FSC) is a nonprofit organization that provides food for the hungry and shelter for the homeless. One of their services is the Community Kitchen, which provides free hot lunches 5 days a week to those in need and also provides 3 meals a day, seven days a week, to shelter residents and former residents.
St. James parish is committed to staffing the kitchen with 5 volunteers, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM on the 3rd Thursday of each month, and we would love to have you there!
The kitchen at Friendship Service Center has a professional staff headed by Chef Gerry Waldo. The staff plans the menu, provides recipes, ingredients and directions. Volunteers are asked to help prep the food, serve it to well over 100 people, and then clean up. There is a wide range of tasks, some of which don’t need a lot of “stand-up time.” Carpools from St. James will be set up if needed.
Sign-up sheets are posted in the parish hall. For more information, please contact Armen Slusarz at 860-916-7554 or armenmichalak@sbcglobal.net.
CHURCH BY THE POND
St. James will continue to provide toiletry bags for our friends in Hartford. You can help by signing up to donate travel-sized toiletry items or making a a donation (as little as $25) towards the purchase of necessary items.
Most needed items are:
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Body wash
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Deodorant
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Shaving cream
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Toothpaste
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Sunscreen.
A sign-up sheet and the marked donation bin are located in the narthex. Please contact Jessica Watkin with any questions and see www.cccathedral.org/churchbythepond for more information on this ministry!
THANKSGIVING BASKETS
Every year, St James parishioneers help 10 families in Farmington have a very happy Thanksgiving. Food for the baskets is collected in the narthex, and are always looking for volunteers to help put the “baskets” together one Sunday after worship around Thanksgiving. See our calendar of events for this year's date.
ST. JAMES HEELERS
Join the St. James Heelers and join us on various walks, such as the Walk Against Hunger. You are welcome to join for one or all of the walks we participate in! Organized by Foodshare, the Walk Against Hunger supports many regional charities including the Friendship Service Center (FSC).
ANGEL TREE PROJECT
You can find our Angel Tree every year during the Christmas season in the parish hall.