Ten Seeds of Hope
Grants totaling $23,233 have been awarded for 2013. Seeds of Hope grants
are awarded to congregations and diocesan groups in Southern Virginia
to support the development or expansion of social justice ministries
sponsored by diocesan congregations and organizations. Over the next few
weeks, we'll tell you about our grant recipients.
St. Matthias', Midlothian
Food Pantry
This fall the need for the St. Matthias' Food Pantry significantly increased with an expanded school program and increased clients from community programs. The pantry will participate in the Community in Schools (CIS) program at Chalkley Elementary School in Chesterfield and will provide food for three to five families per week. About 80% of Chalkley's students qualify for free or reduced lunch programs. the families who receive the food are selected by the school social worker and are different each week. The food is delivered to the school and parents pick it up. This ministry has begun on a trial basis and has been successful. St. Matthias' expects to expand the number of families during the school year. St. Matthias' pantry may be unique in that it provides enough appropriate food to supply three meals per day for seven days for each family member. the pantry grew by 15% in its first year and this growth is expected to continue. The pantry is also unique in that volunteers deliver the food to the school. The strain on resources has already been felt and Seeds of Hope Grant funding will help to increase the resources to meet the increased need.
Galilee, Virginia Beach
Job Seeker Academy
Mission of the Holy Spirit, Norfolk
Skills for Life
Mission of the
Holy Spirit will offer a program designed for teens and adults that will
help them learn skills necessary to become productive members of our
community. The program will be presented one evening per week, with a
break for a nutritious dinner. Participants will learn skills such as
resume writing, interviewing for jobs, conflict resolution, prevention
of domestic violence, time management, banking, using online resources
to obtain college scholarships and employment, as well as other skills.
Food Pantry
This fall the need for the St. Matthias' Food Pantry significantly increased with an expanded school program and increased clients from community programs. The pantry will participate in the Community in Schools (CIS) program at Chalkley Elementary School in Chesterfield and will provide food for three to five families per week. About 80% of Chalkley's students qualify for free or reduced lunch programs. the families who receive the food are selected by the school social worker and are different each week. The food is delivered to the school and parents pick it up. This ministry has begun on a trial basis and has been successful. St. Matthias' expects to expand the number of families during the school year. St. Matthias' pantry may be unique in that it provides enough appropriate food to supply three meals per day for seven days for each family member. the pantry grew by 15% in its first year and this growth is expected to continue. The pantry is also unique in that volunteers deliver the food to the school. The strain on resources has already been felt and Seeds of Hope Grant funding will help to increase the resources to meet the increased need.
Galilee, Virginia Beach
Job Seeker Academy
Over twenty-five years ago Galilee joined other local Virginia Beach churches to found the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC) to serve the homeless on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. In January JCOC started providing the ServSafe Food Handler Program to its residents.
The ServSafe food handler training program is nationally recognized
throughout the food service industry. The ServSafe program at JCOC
started with generous funding from Old Donation, Virginia Beach. Old
Donation provided seed money to get the program up and running. The
Seeds of Hope grant will build on the success of the ServSafe program by
providing funds to pay for other types of job training.
Residents will be able to use the Seeds of Hope funds for job training
programs such as the ServSafe Managers Course, cosmetology, auto
mechanic, or construction classes. Costs associated with job training
will also be eligible for grant funding, such as text books and study guides.
