About Us 
Agencies Supported by St. Matthews
The Outreach Committee is pleased to be associated with 20 social service agencies helping them to 'put their missions into motion' through financial, in-kind and hands-on support.Americares is a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs – and supports long-term humanitarian assistance programs – for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion. In times of epic disaster, daily struggle or civil conflict, AmeriCares restores health and saves lives by delivering donated medicines, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to people in need around the world and here at home. AmeriCares provides assistance through many programs including Global Medical Assistance, Medical Outreach Program, AmeriCares Free Clinics and Partnerships Make It Possible.
The Bishop’s Fund for Children has three components: that Episcopalians hold up in prayer children at risk in Connecticut; that Episcopalians in Connecticut become involved as volunteers in their local communities working on behalf of children at risk; and that Episcopalians contribute financially to the Bishop's Fund which in turn materially supports organizations and agencies in Connecticut – church and non-church – that provide direct services to children at risk.
Children’s Connection (Norwalk) annually serves more than 2,500 abused and neglected children in the greater-Norwalk area. Children’s Connection has developed a comprehensive program that serves immediate and long-term needs of abused children; provides community-wide education workshops for children, parents, and childcare workers on the signs of child abuse and its prevention; and assists foster care families. Children’s Connection is a program of the Mid-Fairfield Human Services Council, located in Norwalk.
Christian Community Action (CCA) is a nonprofit, nonsectarian agency that works to provide food, furniture, financial assistance, and other necessities to people in need who are living in the greater Norwalk area. As unemployment amongst the poor has increased, the number of families and individuals served has also increased dramatically. Currently, CCA serves approximately 100 families/individuals per week. Its food program remains the heart of the agency’s work, serving approximately between 17,000 and 20,000 meals per month. Over the years, CCA has increased its services to those who find themselves in crisis situations. CCA is an agency that relies on its cadre of loyal and hard-working volunteers, and together with its small staff, they are able to fulfill their mission here in South Norwalk.
Connecticut Bicycle Project is a program that collects and distributes donated bicycles in good working condition to financially challenged children and adults who need them. Besides offering them to children for recreation the aim of the endeavor is to provide needed transportation to work and for running errands to the economically disadvantaged; individuals with physical or mental disabilities that prevent them from driving, ex-offenders re-entering the workforce and other folks who can't afford a vehicle or are without licenses to drive. Bike-a-Drives held by individuals and organizations raises awareness of this unique organization and brings unused bicycles back into motion!
Covenant to Care for Children mobilizes and channels the generosity of caring and faithful people to advocate for, mentor and provide direct assistance to Connecticut’s children and youth who are neglected, abused or at-risk. Covenant to Care for Children works to create a future where all Connecticut’s children have caring families and safe places to live, and all people of faith demonstrate their own personal commitment to the welfare of children. Programs include Adopt a Social Worker, Critical Goods Program, Mentoring, and Children’s Enrichment Fund.
Domestic Violence Crisis Center serves victims of domestic, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Trained volunteers staff a 24-hour hotline. Professional services include 24-hour emergency safe housing, counseling, victim advocates and abuse prevention training. Their services extend to the communities of Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Wilton and Weston. Volunteers, required to undergo a 20-hour certification course, are always needed.
Elderhouse is a medical model adult daycare center in Norwalk, serving a five-town region that includes Wilton. Supervision, recreational activities, a hot meal lunch, medical monitoring and transportation to and from home are provided. This enables many elderly persons to continue to reside in their own homes. Participants pay for services according to their financial ability.
Family ReEntry, based in Norwalk, was founded in 1984 to empower individuals and strengthen families to reduce violence, crime, abuse and neglect. The organization provides rehabilitative counseling services and psycho-educational programs to offenders, ex-offenders, pre-trial defendants and their families. Programs, for men and women, include Life-skills, Parenting Education, Fathers Helping Fathers, mentoring for youth, and transitional offenders and domestic violence counseling.
George Washington Carver Community Center, located in South Norwalk, provides full community services including daycare, after-school, youth development, and educational programs; adult education activities; and senior citizen programs. Its services are aimed at poverty-level persons and families to combat illiteracy and unrealized human potential. More than 100 people benefit each day from the GW Carver Foundation. Mentors and tutors are always needed.
Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County™ is a nonprofit ecumenical housing ministry. We seek to build community and improve lives by partnering with low-income families in need of a place to live and with community volunteers and donors to build simple, safe, and affordable neighborhoods. Our volunteers, donors, homeowners and staff are people of all faiths. St. Matthew’s is proud that its volunteers belong to one of the most active work crews. Workdays are held regularly; contact Ralph Walker for more details.
Home Front is a community-based, volunteer-driven home repair program that provides FREE repairs to low-income homeowners, thus enabling them to remain in their homes with an improved quality of life. Currently serving Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven Counties in Connecticut; and Westchester County, New York.
Homes with Hope (Interfaith Housing W-W) has a goal to end chronic homelessness in Westport, Wilton and Weston. The Interfaith Housing Association dba "Homes with Hope", a not-for-profit agency, is a local grassroots response to the tragedy of homelessness. With a caring professional staff and the help of more than 400 volunteers, Homes with Hope assists people who have lost their ability to lead normal lives. Homes with Hope’s mission is to provide facilities and supportive services in a structured environment that enable homeless people in the communities we serve to achieve an independent and self-sufficient life. We will accomplish this through permanent supportive housing, casework and supportive services, emergency shelter, food and meals and the life skills training critical in preventing homelessness from reoccurring.
Mercy Learning Center Consistent with their motto: “Educate a Woman, Educate a Family”, the focus of this agency is to provide comprehensive basic skills training to women who are barely literate. Mercy Learning Center is located in Bridgeport and helps women gain such day-to-day skills as reading and writing English, writing checks, as well as obtain education from programs in computing, cooking, sewing, music and art. Mercy Learning Center's core programs include two part-time Beginner ESL classes, a one-on-one or group Tutoring Program, a full-time, classroom-based Intensive Study Program, and the National External Diploma Program (NEDP). The Center is open year-round for tutoring, the NEDP, and computer classes.
The Open Door provides safe emergency shelter care for men, women and families. At the same location, The Manna House of Hospitality operates a breakfast, lunch and dinner soup kitchen. On average, 85-95 people stay at the Shelter per night, and it is frequently full. Open Door maintains a 95-Bed Evening Hospitality Program, is opened 365 days a year; provided 30,000+ individual beds for individuals in 2000 and operates Mens’, Womens’, and Family Wings. In addition to other services, it is Open Door’s goal to provide the assistance and support needed to get clients out of the system and in charge of their own destiny, accomplished through programs such as job counseling, interim housing, financial management and personal guidance.
Pivot Ministries ministers to recovering substance abusers in South Norwalk and Bridgeport, conducting a residential therapeutic program with much greater success than other programs of its type. Pivot places heavy emphasis on replacing the abused substance with Christianity. As a result, the program is many times the turning point for the men it serves.
STAR, Inc. has been assisting thousands of infants, teens and adults with developmental disabilities for over 50 years, "Lighting the Way"…. Beginning at birth, children with special needs receive early intervention services until the age of three. From age three, they receive family and transitional services to prepare them for entry into their school district(s) or home school(s). STAR also provides family and sibling support, after-school activities and assistance by sponsoring and locating camp programs. When young adults with disabilities graduate from high school, STAR remains actively involved by providing assessment and job training, which leads to employment. This allows individuals to live more independently as they become a part of a larger community, a company and gain new friends, wages and benefits. STAR helps adults with disabilities to live in their own homes or apartments, providing training, supervision and support—helping them to make their own decisions and assume greater responsibility for their lives.
Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County founded in 1912, this non-profit, Medicare certified, home health and hospice care agency has touched the lives of those in need in the Wilton community for more than 100 years. The Agency provides professional skilled nursing and support services, physical rehabilitation, respite care services, senior care management, health education, personal fitness training, community wellness programs and compassionate hospice care for adults and children in the heart of Fairfield County.
Wilton Commons As seniors grow older it becomes harder for them to cope with the many and diverse burdens of living independently. The answer for some may be one of the private assisted living facilities in the area, but the cost is often prohibitive. In 2003, a group of concerned Wilton residents recognized the need for more affordable housing options for seniors and began working to secure a location and create a community that would meet the needs of the growing senior population in the Wilton area. Wilton Commons is the result of those many years of hard work and planning.
Wilton Department of Social Services has a mission to meet the social and psychological needs of Wilton residents of all ages. This is accomplished by providing information and referrals regarding local, state and federal social service programs, financial assistance, short term counseling, and by sponsoring the Wilton Senior Center and community programs for all ages. The Wilton Youth Services is also part of the Wilton Social Services. The Department works closely with other town departments to provide assistance and support to Wilton residents.
