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St. Bartholomew’s Church
325 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022

CHURCH ENTRANCE:
Park Avenue at 51st Street

Community Ministry Programs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Serving Others > Community Ministry Programs

Community Ministry Programs

NEWS FLASH! A volunteer is needed as of January 2010. More details at our Book of Missions/Volunteers webpage.

WOW! THIS IS ONE HAPPY DEACON. THIS MUCH FOOD MIGHT EVEN LAST.. 

photo by Millard Cook taken Dec. 29, 2009 at 3:15 pm.
A WEEK OR TWO! So please folks keep the food and donations coming. (because those in need keep coming)
Many thanks to Vincent Puma and the staff at Hudson Financial Partners for this latest truckload for our pantry... also the generosity of Carmel Birey and the staff at Allied Irish Bank, another corporate neighbor. Your generous caring will feed an empty belly and comfort a human being who needs our care. This generosity comes at a time when we are having such a tough time ourselves -- this allows us to practice our concept of radical welcome and continue to REACH OUT to those less fortunate.

HOT OFF THE PRESS! A FOOD PANTRY UPDATE ADVENT/CHRISTMAS 2009:
Even in the midst of a recession, people are finding a way to give to others. This is encouraging to our Deacon, J.D. Clarke and the many volunteers at our Food Pantry, who see the real story behind the glitter of Park Avenue... people who are hungry, thirsty, without hope. It feels good to fill a belly and that's what the food pantry does. We took a few pictures to share with you here and as a way to say thanks to our tireless volunteers who bring food to so many who are hungry.






photos: J.D. Clarke with Betsy Beasley and Barbara Mirandon, Judy Baer, Cathy Porter, Susan Dorfman.


Please read my personal appeal asking all to give what we can so together we can sustain the work St. Bart's is providing through the Fall of 2009. Thanks, Bill Tully.

GIVE WHAT YOU CAN HERE.

In these tough times, there are fewer services for the needy. St. Bartholomew's has long been a parish with social vision; non-denominational programs for the needy have been an integral part of our ministry since the late 1800s. Every little bit counts -- if you can't give your time, or bring groceries please and many thanks. Together we are making a difference.

"All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ." These words, from the Rule of St. Benedict, form the basis of our philosophy at Community Ministry. Our mission is to provide for the basic needs of others and further the opportunity for growth and self-sufficiency that can only happen when hunger and rest are satisfied. Our doors are open to any and all who seek our help. We serve men and women of any age, race or background. Our clients include homeless and impoverished individuals and families with children; the elderly and disabled, and those who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS. St. Bart's is committed to this ministry – to providing a place of safety and dignity for our clients from which they can realize more for themselves.

The bottom line is we just want to feed all people, no questions asked and no judgments made. All those involved with this ministry give of their time and talents with respect, concern and consideration for our guests. This makes it possible for our programs to provide food, shelter and other vital assistance to any and all who seek our help.


Homeless Shelter
365 days/year (6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.)

We provide an overnight shelter for eight men and/or women every night of the year. We are not a drop-in center; guests are pre-screened and bused in from the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter. Our volunteers serve the guests a hot meal and socialize before "lights out" at 9:30 p.m. The guests are picked up at 6:30 a.m. after eating a light breakfast.

2008 AWARD
JD Clarke (with two of his closest friends) receiving a check for $1,500.00 from the Disney voluntEARS Community Fund and the Disney Cast Members and Employees. Former Disney Employee, 20s/30s member and shelter volunteer Laura Cunningham nominated St. Bart's for the award. Laura has since relocated to Tennessee and is missed. We want to thank her and the Disney cast Members/Employees for their generosity.

Breakfast Feeding Program
Sunday, Monday, Wednesday (7:00 to 8:30 a.m.)

Since 1982, St. Bart's has been serving hot, well balanced meals to our less fortunate neighbors. Today we serve between 150 to 200 people three mornings a week, fifty-two weeks a year. We serve any and all who are hungry. A typical meal consists of one of the following entrees: beans and franks, beef stew, macaroni and cheese, beef ravioli, meat balls and elbow macaroni, also, fresh fruit, donated pastry or sweet roll; sandwich; and coffee. Each guest also receives a sandwich and fresh fruit to take away for later in the day.

NEW Bag Lunch Brunch
Saturday (
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. )

We recently launched this new feeding program in response to the growing need for such a program within the midtown community. Guests drop in to pick up a bag lunch filled with sandwiches, assorted snacks and fresh fruit, juice, coffee and milk. As a special treat during the spring and summer months, volunteers staff an ice cream sundae bar for our guests. It's been quite a treat.

Food Pantry
Tuesday & Friday (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

St. Bart's Pantry serves more than 600 family groups each month. Our guests are the domiciled poorfamilies with children, the elderly, the disabled, and HIV-AIDS affected individuals. We provide supplemental food packages of 4-5 days' worth of canned foods and staples to these guests and their families, all of whom are hard pressed to prepare adequate meals on their minimal incomes. By appointmenr only.

NEW! Food Pantry Benefits Outreach:
Tuesday & Friday (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)


At St. Bart's we know that a response to hunger requires more than just food. To help our clients in the short run as well as the long run, we are now offering on-site help with benefits such as food stamps, WIC, healthcare and other government entitlement applications as well as offering referrals for other social services we do not yet provide, especially job placement and training, housing, legal and education resources.

Host Services

Soup Kitchen St. Bart's Community Ministry serves as host to and provides space for the Coalition for The Homeless' Mobile Soup Kitchen, which feeds a hot meal to between 80 and 100 homeless men and women 365 nights a year.

Mobile Medical Van We also host Project Renewal's Mobile Medical Van (staffed with a medical doctor, psychiatrist, podiatrist, and social worker) comes to the 51st street entrance every Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 am during BFP hours.

Volunteer

Community Ministry volunteers have found that their lives are fuller and their sensitivity to others more acute as a result of their volunteer efforts. Our over 140 volunteers form the heart and soul of Community Ministry. We could not offer these programs without their help. In addition to our three main programs, there are volunteer opportunities for everyone and every schedule. Whether you prefer a commitment that is short-term or ongoing, we have a place for you. To learn more about volunteering, please contact the Rev. Deacon J. D. Clarke, Director of Community Ministry, at 212-378-0229 or clarke@stbarts.org or St. Bart's Central at 212-378-0220 or central@stbarts.org


 


We offer an open door for the poor, the sick, the hungry, and the homeless.