At First Church we understand that we truly are the body of Christ, and our outreach missions reflect our belief in showing kindness and compassion to all of God’s creation. There are countless ways to get involved in the outreach work of First Church — whether you want to serve hot meals to your neighbors or build houses for those who desperately need them, your hands are needed here! First Church Outreach is involved in helping people who struggle with food insecurity and homelessness, and we are particularly involved in working for equity and social justice.
Outreach
Fern Street Backpack Program & Free Food Resources
First Church Outreach Team is partnering with the Fern Street Backpack Program to support their mission of providing weekend nourishment to West Hartford Public School students in need. More than one in four WHPS students experience food insecurity. Fern Street Backpack Program offers food and household essentials to students and their families that help bridge the gap between lunch on Friday and breakfast on Monday.
Fern Street Backpack program was founded in 2014 and is based out of the Universalist Church of West Hartford on Fern Street. The volunteer-led team packs nearly 200 brown grocery bags every week throughout the school year, and delivers them to 15 school and library sites across West Hartford. The program is 100% volunteer-run, receives no public funding, and relies on partnerships with Connecticut Foodshare, Midwest Food Bank, and community donations to continue its work serving the children of West Hartford.
Please leave donations in blue buckets around the building. You may take a bag found by the bin outside the auditorium or use your own.
Please click button below for volunteer opportunities.
We continue to collect food for the West Hartford Food Pantry
The West Hartford Food Pantry’s most needed items
*Non-perishable items only
- Canned fruit/applesauce
- Pasta and sauce
- Cold cereal and oatmeal
- Canned chicken, tuna, and meat
- Rice – 1-2 lb. packages
- Peanut butter, 16-18 oz. jars.
- Soup
- Macaroni and cheese
- Canned ravioli, chili and baked beans
- Rice and pasta mixes
- Cooking oil
- Juice
- Snacks- cookies, granola bars, cake and brownie mixes, pudding cups, etc.
- Toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, feminine hygiene products
NOTE: We do not accept expired, opened, or perishable items.
Thank you for your support!
West Hartford Food Pantry
We continue to collect for Loaves and Fishes Ministries:
Pantry Wish List 2024-2025
- Canned tuna fish & chicken
- Nutritious soups
- Beef stew or chili
- Canned beans
- Canned vegetables
- Tomato sauce/canned tomatoes
- Canned spaghetti and meatballs (or similar products)
- Boxed macaroni and cheese
- Canned fruit
- Ramen noodles
- Granola bars / Cereal bars (without nuts is preferred)
- Pasta
- Toiletries/personal items
Thank you for your support!
Loaves and Fishes
Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA)
Sign up now for basic training to learn how we work
Here’s your chance to learn how it all works. GHIAA’s annual basic training series will be held in person at Temple Sinai (41 W. Hartford Rd., Newington) on Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm, Feb. 10, 17, and 24, and March 3 (snow date March 10). You can sign up by clicking here, or contact Linda Bronstein (lindadiane275@gmail.com). If you are not yet familiar with GHIAA, use the same registration form to sign up for a one-hour Zoom (or in-person) orientation as well.
Participating with GHIAA allows us to join with over 50 diverse faith communities in the Hartford area to help create a more just, generous, and loving world.
Let’s Make Lunches!
Every month as part of our Outreach mission, we make 80 sandwiches and fill lunch bags for folks in the Asylum Hill neighborhood with “very low food security.”
•After Sunday worship in the Auditorium
•Half-hour activity for all ages
•Lunch bag contents includes: sandwich, chips, apple, and homemade cookies
Upcoming dates: Jan 25, Feb 22, Mar 22, Apr 26
Questions: Contact Outreach member Dottie Stone, dottie@stone-stonect.com, 203-856-7403
****First Church Bag Lunch Program Seeks New Leader***
For the past five years, wonderful volunteers have prepared bagged lunches for Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen on one Sunday per month, right after worship. Helpers of all ages fill 80 bags with sandwiches, mustard, apples, chips, and homemade cookies. With Dottie Stone retiring as leader, the Outreach Team seeks a new leader or co-leaders to handle food purchasing and oversee bagging sessions. As Dottie often says, “It’s a very rewarding experience knowing that you’ve provided a meal for someone who is struggling.”
If you’re interested or have questions, contact Dottie or Carol Lorenzo.
Dottie: 203-856-7403, dottie@stone-stonect.com
Carol: 860-614-1068, ctlorenzo@comcast.net
Judy, Bob, Jeanne and Carol all smiles at the March 2024 Loaves and Fishes prep. Yes Bob has a couple of black eyes; they look worse than they are; he checked out fine, and he didn’t let that stop him from helping on this day.
Hot Meals in Hartford
Loaves and Fishes, a local soup kitchen, provides warm meals and a safe place to eat for Hartford residents. Once a month, on the 4th Tuesday at 10 a.m., First Church volunteers work with Loaves and Fishes staff to serve a hot meal at Immanual Congregational Church. First Church members and friends also regularly donate grocery items for Loaves and Fishes’ “meals-to-go” program.
Covenant to Care
We support this partner by asking church members and friends to fill Easter baskets in the spring, fill backpacks in the fall, and Thanksgiving baskets for the holidays. And let’s not forget to mention the Hat and Mitten drive!
Communications Team. The Communications team is a branch of the Outreach Ministry, and is charged with spotlighting what goes on here at First Church. We employ many avenues to communicate and market our mission and events to the community and to our membership. In addition to digital messaging we design banners, signs, flyers, newspaper ads and good old word of mouth!
As the world of social media and publicity evolves, we do our best to evolve with it! Church members who have an interest in marketing are invited to check out the Communications Team!