Mission
New Partnerships Announced!
The Mission Team (formerly known as the Outreach Committee) and the Vestry have been working together to reimagine the work God is calling us to do at St. Matthew’s.
We are excited to announce that St. Matthew’s is partnering with three agencies: Circle of Care, Open Door Shelter and HomeFront. In focusing our efforts toward these three different organizations, we believe we will grow into meaningful relationships and do our part to help build the Kingdom of God.
Representatives from each organization will visit us in the fall so you will have the opportunity to learn more about the good work these groups do. You will also be hearing more about how you can get involved! If as you read about an agency, you feel called to join a team, contact Jen Kepner [email protected].
We are so excited about these new partnerships and hope you will find a way to become involved!
Read more about our partners below:
Circle of Care
Located in Wilton, Circle of Care was founded by parents whose children had been diagnosed with cancer. The organization’s mission is to provide practical, emotional, and financial assistance to Connecticut families through programs and services that meet the unique and challenging needs of pediatric cancer treatment. From putting together “Bags of Love” to entertaining siblings to doing room makeovers for children going through chemotherapy, Circle of Care has a variety of ways we can get involved.
Read a story about a room makeover done by Circle of Care here.
The video below shows one of Circle of Care's projects and shows the organization's founders.
HomeFront
St. Matthew’s has been supporting HomeFront and it’s annual work day for many years. This agency is a community-based, volunteer-driven home repair program that provides free repairs to low-income homeowners, enabling them to remain in their homes with an improved quality of life. We have the opportunity to partner with them on a variety of initiatives such as their expanded “HomeFront Days” where teams of civic and faith-based organizations get together to work on selected projects.
Check out this video about HomeFront
Open Door Shelter
This organization’s mission is to address the causes and complexity of homeless and working poor by providing shelter, food, clothing, case management services, treatment services, education and a path towards independence and success.
They are located in Norwalk and provide shelter nightly with over 95 beds. They also serve meals three times a day. Between the kitchen and the pantry they provide over 60,000 meals a month to individuals and families in our community.
We have been providing dinner every other month for many years and will continue to do so. For more information about this ministry contact Mary Ellen Waack [email protected]
This summer, we also have the opportunity to help them with the garden. If you have extra produce from your own garden, Open Door would love to take it! Please contact Open Door directly about where and when to drop it off.
When the St. Matthew's youth group made a visit to the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk earlier this spring, two 6th grade boys were inspired. Will Cristini and Liam Murphy returned from the visit with the desire to help. They immediately called Nick Lieder, the Director of Donor Relations at Open Door, and left him a message stating that they wanted to raise money for Open Door and that they had an idea.
Shortly after the call, Nick and Erin McDonough (Erin is the Director of Community Relations and Marketing) scheduled a meeting with the boys. Will and Liam came prepared with fully developed plans for a Sports-a-thon; they had rented a playing field and had 10 teams signed up.
On Saturday, June 1st, 23 kids showed up at the Wilton Montessori School field with lacrosse sticks in hand and the 1st annual Sports-a-thon began. The enthusiasm of the participants was felt during the hour and a half of sports. Will and Liam walked the fields, cheering on the players and writing down scores. The event wrapped up with the winning team receiving candy and gift cards to Scoops and a visit from College Creamery for everyone.
Will and Liam were excited to deliver the more than $500 raised to Open Door.
We are so proud of these two young men who had a vision and the tenacity to make it happen. In the end, they didn't just raise money, they raised an awareness for an organization that helps those in need.[module:gallery:4]
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Shortly after the call, Nick and Erin McDonough (Erin is the Director of Community Relations and Marketing) scheduled a meeting with the boys. Will and Liam came prepared with fully developed plans for a Sports-a-thon; they had rented a playing field and had 10 teams signed up.
On Saturday, June 1st, 23 kids showed up at the Wilton Montessori School field with lacrosse sticks in hand and the 1st annual Sports-a-thon began. The enthusiasm of the participants was felt during the hour and a half of sports. Will and Liam walked the fields, cheering on the players and writing down scores. The event wrapped up with the winning team receiving candy and gift cards to Scoops and a visit from College Creamery for everyone.
Will and Liam were excited to deliver the more than $500 raised to Open Door.
We are so proud of these two young men who had a vision and the tenacity to make it happen. In the end, they didn't just raise money, they raised an awareness for an organization that helps those in need.[module:gallery:4]
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Our Youth Raise Money for Mission Partner Open Door!
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