World Services

• Our local missions:
• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield nurtures young people’s self-esteem by offering programs that give youth a sense of belonging, usefulness, influence, and competence.
• Kinship Fund of Westfield High School assists teens who are experiencing trauma and/or financial hardships with school supplies, groceries, clothing, copays for medical appointments, driver’s permits and licenses, and other essentials.
• Westfield Community Table (Soup Kitchen,) is a program that serves those in need with a dinner and fellowship each night of the week except Saturdays. We support the program by preparing a meal on the fourth Tuesday of each month and by giving an annual financial contribution.
• Our House provides housing for 10 homeless young adults ages 18-24. Each resident is given an individual apartment with a kitchenette and communal living space. It offers supportive services to assist the residents to advance goals for living independently, furthering their education, and improving their work skills.
• Friends of Franklin Avenue School is a partnership with teachers and staff to assist with school projects and help them connect their students and families to food, clothing, household items, and other resources. Our members have acted as mentors and volunteers and have done special projects for the school.
• Samaritan Inn is an emergency shelter for homeless men and women, who can stay for up to 90 days. The inn provides 2 daily meals and snacks. It offers case management, advocacy, mental health therapy, medical services, some clothing, outside referrals, aid in obtaining health insurance, and assistance with finding housing and jobs.
• Westfield Food Pantry provides food to Westfield residents in need. The church supports the program with donation of non-perishable food and with an annual financial contribution.
• American Red Cross-Western MA Chapter provides food and shelter in emergencies, operates the largest food pantry in New England, teaches lifesaving skills, trains nurses’ aides and certified nursing assistants, serves members of the Armed Forces, and more. All assistance from the Red Cross is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.
• BHN Kamp for Kids is for children and young adults with and without disabilities. This summer program offers an opportunity to experience inclusion, growth and fun in a camp setting that includes a spray park, expressive arts, outdoor education, arts & crafts, and non-competitive sports.
• Sarah Gillet Services for the Elderly, Inc.’s mission is to provide funds for senior day care services. Council of Aging programs, nutrition programs, counseling services, homebound services, emergency financial assistance, and other programs that benefit seniors in Westfield, the hilltowns, and nearby communities.
• Springfield Rescue Mission’s goal is to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the hungry, homeless, addicted, and porr by introducing them to Christ and helping them apply the World or God to every area of their lives. The SRM is one of the oldest local human services agencies, serving the Greater Springfield area since 1892.
• United Church of Christ. We are one church–a unite and uniting church. Our Church’s Wider Mission activates the mission of the United Church of Christ. United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.
• Salvation Army, Springfield Corps Community Center helps people of all religions and backgrounds who are faced with temporary financial hardships by providing short-term assistance. These include emergency funds for paying heating bills during the winter, food assistance, and help with back rent.

• The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) didn’t invent trail magic, but for more than 90 years, they have managed and cared for the Trail where this concept was born. While people’s interpretation of trail magic varies widely, a few examples may include:

1. 1. Finding what you need most when you least expect it.
   2. Experiencing something rare, extraordinary, or inspiring in nature.
   3. Encountering unexpected acts of generosity that restore one’s faith in humanity.
   4. Trail magic was born and has flourished on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) within the context of the A.T. Experience—the policy that guides Trail managers to preserve the wild, scenic, and natural elements of the Appalachian Trail that allow for the unique feeling of being a part of the natural environment.

National Missions:

• National Military Family Association, NMFA, is a nonprofit dedicated to serving service members and their families. They provide spouse scholarships, camps for military kids, and retreats for families reconnecting after deployment, an dfor families of the wounded, ill, or injured.

International Missions:

• Lion’s Eyeglass Drive -Recycle for Sight. We support the Lion’s Eyeglass Drive by collecting used eyeglasses to help children and adults enjoy a better quality of life. Please drop off the glasses, without the case, at your local Walmart. The glasses are cleaned, processed, and prepared for delivery to people around the world.
• Heifer International works with communities to increase income, improve nutrition, care for the earth, and end world hunger and poverty. Heifer trains people in animal management, environmentally sound farming, and community development. Our committee partners with the church school to raise funds to purchase animals for families.
• HELO Haiti’s mission is to provide Home, Education, Love, and Opportunity to orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti. HELO Haiti provide homes, proper nutrition, education, and love so that children can become literate and learn a trade to sustain themselves after leaving