The “Light of Service” is a practice of generosity begun in January 2022.
Inspired by the generous example of our sister congregation, Church of Christ Congregational in Norfolk, our church donates the “loose plate” offering given at Sunday worship to organizations and efforts close to our heart.
During worship someone from our church will light the Light of Service candle and describe a group whose compassionate work is personally meaningful. The morning collection (except the gifts given by donors to the church’s mission or for another specific purpose) will be delivered to the organization or activity described.
You are welcome to support the Light of Service at Sunday worship or by contributing online (click here).
In 2022, our church shared $14,922 with 33 organizations. We are actively seeking worthy recipients! Please click to email Pastor John, or contact anyone on the Board of Christian Action.
Recent and Upcoming
12 March 2023: The Equus Effect
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The Afya Foundation collects unused medical supplies and equipment from throughout the New York metro area and gives them a second life. Domestic regulations require that enormous volumes of supplies must not be reused. As a result they are destined for local landfills. Afya ships these critical materials to under-resourced and compromised health systems all over the globe, thereby improving access to healthcare, the quality of care delivered, and the retention of local providers. (Shared by Janet Offensend, 14 August 2022)
Advocacy Unlimited serves those who are searching for hope and finding their purpose after receiving a psychiatric diagnosis. “As a peer-run organization, our staff uses their direct lived experience navigating mental health, addiction, and trauma to promote individual growth, human rights, and systems transformation. We believe that everyone has the inner capacity to heal, grow, and change. Our team envisions a world in which everyone – regardless of socio-economic status or psychiatric/addiction histories – has space to be seen, heard, and valued.” (Shared by Theresa Carroll, 31 July 2022)
The Alzheimer’s Association works to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; providing and enhancing care and support for all affected; and reducing the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. (Shared by Pastor John, 26 June 2022)
Camp Victory, A Special Camp for Special Kids (Millville, PA) — At Camp Victory, partner groups with specialized knowledge and training operate camps for children who live with chronic health disadvantages. The children receive the greatest possible care, support and personal growth, have much fun and make many friends. (Shared by Lee Collins, 10 July 2022)
Caron Treatment Centers — Caron’s mission is to transform lives impacted by drug and alcohol addiction through proven, evidence-based, comprehensive, and personalized behavioral healthcare. (Shared by Karin and Charlie Noyes, 15 May 2022)
CROP Hunger Walks are community-based walk fundraising events held across the United States, to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. After a CROP Hunger Walk ends, 25% of the funds raised is returned to the host community to support local hunger fighting efforts. The Crop Project began in 1947 when farmers were asked to donate food and seed crops to our hungry neighbors in post-World War II Europe and Asia. The late Pastor Dick Taber and Joanne Taber began the Northwest Connecticut CROP Hunger Walk in 1983.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) offers medical humanitarian assistance to people based solely on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. Their teams of doctors, nurses, logisticians, and other frontline workers are often among the first on the scene when peoples’ lives are upended by conflict, disease outbreaks, or natural or human-made disasters. (Shared by Gordon Johnson, 3 April 2022)
The Equus Effect (Sharon, CT) provides veterans and others in high-stress environments with essential tools to expand their capacity for healthy, authentic relationships through purposeful engagement with horses. (Shared by Peggy Hayes, 12 March 2022)
Feel the Warmth Community Supper (Bridgeport, CT) provides hot nutritious meals and extreme hospitality 52 weeks a year. Volunteers create a welcoming environment for all who walk through the door seeking food and friendship. This supper program serves 9,000+ meals that feature healthy proteins and fresh vegetables each year. A program of nOURish Bridgeport in partnership with United Congregational Church-Bridgeport, the Rev. Sara D. Smith, Esq., Senior Minister. (Shared by Peg Heck and Janet Kaufman, 6 March 2022)
Foreverland Farm (Amelia, OH) is a non-profit animal sanctuary in Southern Ohio dedicated to providing a safe home for abandoned, abused, and discarded farm animals. Their aim is to create a kinder world by sharing the stories of survival and perseverance of each animal. (Shared by Loriann Chevremont, 27 November 2022)
Greenagers provides employment and volunteer opportunities for teens and young adults in the fields of conservation, sustainable farming, and environmental leadership. Through vocational-environmental programs and community engagement, Greenagers prepares youth for success in their education and work. (Shared by Lorna Edmundson, 18 September 2022)
The Heifer Project International works to end hunger and poverty in partnership with communities. Programs begin with a seed investment of livestock or agriculture, followed by mentorship to help project participants build a business, and ultimately to gain access to supply chains and markets. (Shared by Joanne Taber, 16 January 2022)
Housatonic Youth Service Bureau — HYSB exists to strengthen the emotional health of youth and families in the Northwest Corner Community, providing free behavioral health services and empowerment programs in partnership with public schools, local organizations, donors, and volunteers. (Shared by Janet Accardo, 7 August 2022)
Infants Remembered in Silence (Faribault, MN) — Offering parents, families, friends and professionals support, education and resources on the death of a child in early pregnancy (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy etc.), or from premature birth, stillbirth, neo-natal death, birth defects, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), illness and all other types of infant and early childhood death. (Shared by Brenda Boone, 30 January 2022)
The Jane Lloyd Fund helps families who live or work in the Region One area of the Northwest Corner of Connecticut who, because of the effects of cancer and its treatment, cannot meet their day to day financial obligations. As an endowed fund within the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, The Jane Lloyd Fund helps families maintain a supportive environment at home for cancer patients for many generations to come. (Shared by Gordon Johnson, 14 August 2022)
Jesuit Refugee Services — An international relief agency which is devoted to caring for impoverished and overwhelmed populations as a result of political conflict, weather catastrophes, and environmental hardships. (Shared by Margie Vail, 24 April 2022)
Little Guild Animal Shelter (Cornwall, CT) — For more than 60 years, The Little Guild has been dedicated to rescuing, healing and individually nurturing homeless dogs and cats. We match these animals with caring homes in our community and provide programs to strengthen the bonds between pets and people. (Shared by Joanne Taber, 20 March 2022)
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. (Shared by Dan Edmundson, 28 August 2022)
Northwest Hills Refugee Resettlement Committee (NWHRRC) is a co-sponsorship group of International Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS). The Committee is organizing networks of support that will allow a refugee family from Afghanistan to settle in NW Connecticut. (Shared by Anne Williams, 8 May 2022)
Not One More Vet — Providing much needed support to members of veterinary teams and students who are struggling or considering suicide. “Because you are good enough, and you are never alone.” (Shared by Emily Elliot, 27 March 2022)
Prime Time House (Torrington, CT) — Prime Time House provides an opportunity for adults living with mental illness in Litchfield County to connect with a community of support while focusing on their mental wellness. (Shared by Barbara Wiggins, 9 January 2022).
Salisbury Housing Trust — The mission of The Salisbury Housing Trust, Inc. is to make home ownership a reality for Salisbury Township workers, residents, and volunteers. The focus is on providing homes through private (non-governmental) funding. We are building single family two and three bedroom homes which will be priced to sell below the current median home sales price. (Shared by Jennifer Kronholm-Clark, 20 November 2022)
Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department / Lakeville Ladder & Hose (Shared by Barbara Wiggins, 22 May 2022)
Snehalayam Orphanage, in Annamanada, India, is a group home meeting the needs of 22 boys. The non-profit strives to provide a homely environment, a basic education, and lots of love. Ashabhavan, also in Annamanada, India, is a group home and occupational school for 30 girls and young women. Roughly half of them are hearing impaired and participate in free vocational training including embroidery, jewelry making, and computer training. The other half have more severe cognitive and physical disabilities and require more complex individualized care. (Shared by Holly Tierney, 5 June 2022)
Southern Poverty Law Center — A legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. SPLC is known for its legal cases against white supremacist groups, for its classification of hate groups and other extremist organizations, and for promoting tolerance education programs. (Shared by Lorna Edmundson, 19 June 2022)
Souper Suppers — A community-wide, ecumenical offering of a free hot meal. (Shared by Karin Noyes, Leanne Larson)
The Special Equestrians Therapeutic Riding Program (Birmingham, Alabama) — Helping people with a range of challenges – from traumatic brain injury to Down’s syndrome. (Shared by Betsy Beck, 27 February 2022)
Stanton Home (Great Barrington, MA) — The Stanton Home serves adults with a primary diagnosis of intellectual and/or developmental disability, with a core belief in the potential of every human to contribute and take pleasure in their productivity and relationships. (Shared by Charlie Noyes, 20 February 2022)
Together Women Rise — A community of women and allies dedicated to achieving global gender equality. We have hundreds of local chapters across the U.S. (including Salisbury, CT) where members learn about and advocate for gender equality issues, give grants to organizations that empower women and girls in low-income countries, and build community to forge meaningful connections that increase our strength and collective impact. (Shared by Kathy Mera, 24 July 2022)
Tunnels to Towers Foundation — A non-profit organization that honors the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. T2T provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and builds custom-designed smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. It is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and aiding the victims of major U.S. disasters. (Shared by Tom Key, 1 May 2022)
The Union of Concerned Scientists was founded in 1969 by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That year, the Vietnam War was at its height and Cleveland’s heavily polluted Cuyahoga River had caught fire. Appalled at how the United States government was misusing science, the UCS founders drafted a statement calling for scientific research to be directed away from military technologies and toward solving pressing environmental and social problems. Throughout our history, UCS has followed the example set by the scientific community: we share information, seek the truth, and let our findings guide our conclusions. (Shared by Jano Fairservis, 9 October 2022)
United Nations World Food Programme (Southern Madagascar) — WFP’s efforts focus on emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, development aid and special operations. Two-thirds of our work is in conflict-affected countries where people are three times more likely to be undernourished than those living in countries without conflict. (Shared by Ken Edholm, 12 June 2022)
Women’s Support Services (Sharon, CT) — A non-profit domestic violence agency serving NW Connecticut and the surrounding communities in New York and Massachusetts. The mission of WSS is to create social change to end interpersonal, relationship violence by challenging attitudes and beliefs about power, control, and gender norms and by advocating for victims and survivors. (Shared by Jeanette Weber. 13 February 2022)
Wounded Warrior Project — Combat veterans may suffer from a variety of injuries. One of those that can be overlooked is mental health issues including PTSD. About 23% of returning combatants from Iraq and Afghanistan exhibit some degree of PTSD. Each day, about 20 veterans die by suicide: a rate one and a half times greater than among nonveterans. Of the many non-profit organizations that support veterans the Wounded Warrior Project is among the most active in working with mental health issues. (Shared by Dave Heck, 29 May 2022)