Thank you to the many individuals across the diocese who responded to the Bishop’s Advent Appeal for support of the Alleluia Fund for Outreach!
Because of the generous financial support of many individuals across the diocese, as well as congregational support and funds specifically allocated to outreach in the diocesan budget, The Alleluia Fund for Outreach was able to award over $165,000 to 17 nonprofits across northern New Jersey as well as international partners.
Food is one of the four “pillars” of The Alleluia Fund’s ministry support. This year food ministries receiving support include St. Matthew’s Trinity Lunchtime Ministry in Hoboken, Grace Church in Newark’s food outreach ministry, as well as Grace Church in Union City’s Saturday lunch program. These ministries provide warm meals and fellowship to those in need, creating essential spaces of support within our communities.
Shelter and housing assistance is another targeted area and this year the Alleluia Fund was able to provide impact grants to both the Family Promise of Sussex County, for intensive case management services, as well as the Family Promise of Bergen County for shelter funding. Other local shelter and housing services receiving support includes United Community Corporation for emergency services; the Hoboken Shelter, as well as My Sister’s Lighthouse (Domestic and Sexual Violence support) and the St. John’s Refugee Resettlement Gund offered through St. John’s Boonton in partnership with St. Peter’s Mountain Lakes.
Education and educational enrichment ministries receiving support include a new counselor program being planned for All the Way Up Adult Education Center, and support for educational enrichment at Greater Life Inc., in Newark’s South Ward. Other diocesan ministries receiving support included Seamen’s Church Institute for general operating support and North Porch Women’s and Infants Center (diapers and food supplements). A new ministry this year was The Parner’s Path, also for general operations.
Donor generosity allowed the Alleluia Fund to continue its support of international grantees including this year the Mother Empowerment Program at the Jerusalem Princess Basma Center, support for Good Shepherd Academy in Cameroon, and BlinkNow Foundation, a nonprofit partner founded by a 19-year-old Mendham teen, that is now providing substantial medical support for children in Nepal.
Donor support of the Alleluia Fund made this support possible – from local initiatives including food ministries, shelter and housing assistance, and educational enrichment programs to international projects. And remember: the Alleluia Fund is hard at work all year round, and donations are accepted all year round too. Click here to make a donation today.
