Shelter and Heating Renovations at H.O.M.E.

H.O.M.E. (Homeworkers Organized for More Employment) was recently described by the Maine Sunday Telegram as "both an award-winning social service agency dedicated to fighting rural poverty, and a complex, multifaceted community." Since its founding 38 years ago, H.O.M.E. has evolved from a craft outlet for needy local women into a provider of shelter for the homeless, food for the hungry, and daycare for at-risk children. It has also grown into a cooperative community built according to the Christian principles of founder Lucy Poulin. At H.O.M.E. everyone is expected to help with the labor required to build and operate housing and put food on the table. "We try to be a welcoming community for people who are left out of our society, " says Lucy. "We help people heal and become who God is calling them to be."

First Church has a long and important relationship with H.O.M.E., including both financial support and annual SPF mission trips over the past 20 years. In 2006 and 2007, proceeds from the Lenten Project enabled H.O.M.E. to support operation of its homeless shelters, food pantry and daycare center, including replacement of the antiquated heating system in the Market Stand. Last year, a special fundraising effort at First Church enabled H.O.M.E. to complete the rebuilding of the Farmhouse Shelter, where Lucy lives with ten other members of the community.

Renovation of the Family Transitional Shelter
The Family Transitional Shelter is one of several sites that enable members of the H.O.M.E. community to transition from homelessness to holding down a full-time job and living on their own. Residents live in Transitional housing for six months to two years, during which time they receive intensive services such as education, job training and placement, substance abuse counseling, parenting classes and childcare services. They pay 30% of their income for the housing and services. The Family Transitional Shelter is a duplex accommodating two families, and due to constant use it has received little maintenance during the past 15 years. A contribution of $24,000 is needed to improve the septic system, repair the foundation, replace two of the main beams and the back porch, and install new doors and windows and a new roof.

Replacement of Heating System for the Learning Center
The Learning Center building houses H.O.M.E.’s administrative offices, learning center, and daycare center. It is presently heated by an old, inefficient and trouble-prone boiler that must be supplemented by electric units. An effort to switch from electric units in the daycare center in 2007 was frustrated by unforeseen plumbing problems. Proceeds of the 2007 Lenten Project were used to replace a similar boiler in the Market Stand with a new outdoor wood furnace that now evenly and efficiently delivers heat to the soup kitchen and food pantry. A contribution of $15,000 is needed to purchase and install a similar new furnace to provide reliable heat to the entire Learning Center building.

More Nutritious Food, for More Neighbors in Need

On December 23, 2007, The New York Times stated that "food pantries in lower Connecticut are reporting a surge in the number of residents seeking a decent meal. Some food providers in Fairfield County—from well-heeled towns like Greenwich to more urban areas like Stamford and Norwalk—say the demand is twice that of last year."

"Food pantry directors cite several factors behind the increase in demand," the Times article continued, "from the rising cost of necessities like rent and gasoline, to stagnant wages and persistent unemployment in some areas of the state."

Our neighbors who lack money to buy food include those who are homeless, unemployed, injured or disabled, or living on a fixed income. Increasingly, they also include the "working poor " — people who earn at or near the minimum wage working in jobs such as childcare, eldercare, landscaping, food service and local retail. The three local agencies supported by the Lenten Project are in the forefront of the struggle to prevent poverty from resulting in hunger for many of our neighbors in Fairfield County.

The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County
This "clearinghouse" organization, founded in 1984 by the Council of Churches and Synagogues, uses cash contributed to the Food Budget to purchase high-nutrient food items and distribute them to approximately 115 food pantries and soup kitchens in Lower Fairfield County. The demand for these food items has doubled since 2006, and The Food Bank is struggling to meet those demands. A new van is needed for picking up fresh and frozen foods from discount suppliers and delivering them to local agencies. Proceeds from the Lenten Project will supplement another grant to enable The Food Bank to purchase the new van.

Neighbor to Neighbor
The Food Pantry, located in the basement annex of Christ Church of Greenwich, serves families qualified and referred by the Greenwich Department of Social Services. Last year, a one-time grant allowed the Food Pantry to begin providing fresh fruits and vegetables on a year-round basis, and generic whole grain bread was added to the shelves with cash from the Food Budget. The cost of these items is about $1,100 per month. Proceeds from the Lenten Project will enable the Food Pantry to continue to offer these nutritious foods during the coming year.

New Covenant House
New Covenant House, the only soup kitchen in Stamford, begins its 30th year of serving the homeless, the elderly and the working poor in our community. About 350 hot meals are served every day, representing an increase of 40% since 2006. The same two-year period has seen a decrease in prepared meals donated by local churches, resulting in the need to purchase and prepare more food in-house. Proceeds from the Lenten Project will be used to supplement the Food Budget for meals prepared by the Soup Kitchen staff.

Why do we ask for contributions during Lent?
The "disciplines of discipleship" that we have been considering this Lenten season include learning to "sow bountifully" the love of Christ for all humankind. "God loves a cheerful giver," writes Paul in II Corinthians 9.7-9, "And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work." By contributing to the Lenten Project, members of the congregation of First Church can affirm one important aspect of discipleship, showing God’s love and caring for those most in need of the essentials of life.

Why do we seek 100% Participation?
The Christian Outreach Committee seeks to involve all members of our congregation in praising God not only through "the fruit of [our] lips that confess his name," but also by "doing good and sharing what we have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13.15-16. We hope that all members of our congregation can share in this worship experience.

How much should I contribute?
The right amount to contribute depends entirely on your own circumstances and your own choice. No contribution is too small or too large. Relatively small sacrifices on our part can make a huge difference to our brothers and sisters in need. In last year’s Lenten Project, the average contribution of those families who participated was about $300, but we gratefully and joyously received contributions in all amounts ranging from $1 to $10,000.

When and how do I make my contribution?
Simply fill out the contribution form below, place it in the enclosed envelope along with your contribution, and mail it to First Church or place it in the offering plate at any service on or before Saturday, April 5, 2008.

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The 2008 Lenten Project

Enclosed is my contribution to The Lenten Project in the amount of $____________.

Please allocate my contribution as follows:
________% to Local Hunger

      ________% to H.O.M.E. of Maine

Name:    _________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________

            _________________________________________________