On May 16 the Vestry approved the recommendations made by the Outreach Grants Committee, chaired by Charlie Harris. Grants of $110,000 were made to the following ministries in our area which involve many volunteer opportunities as well. Applications this year totaled $211,000. These groups are carefully researched by our Outreach Committee before recommendations are made. Remarkable work is being done in so many places and we are happy to help keep these efforts going. Along with our gifts go our prayers for all those in need.
Absolutions Counseling Center 1,000
Aid to Inmate Mothers 3,000
Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice 1,000
Alabama Writers Forum 2,000
AMBUCS (providing mobility for the disabled) 1,200
Boys and Girls Club 2,250
Brantwood Children’s Home 3,500
Bridge Builders (teen race relations) 1,500
Camp McDowell Special Session 1,750
Cancer Wellness Foundation 2,000
Capital Area Literacy Council 1,000
Catholic Social Services (direct aid) 2,000
Child Protect (victims of abuse) 2,400
Children’s Center (for disabled young adults) 1,875
Children’s Harbor (summer camp for special needs children) 1,000
Common Ground (safe haven for youth) 4,000
Compassion 21 (mentoring for inner city youth) 2,000
Dream Court (physical therapy for disadvantaged) 2,000
Family Guidance/Center for Families (direct assistance) 1,900
Family Sunshine Center (victims of domestic violence) 2,000
Family Support Center 1,250
First United Methodist Respite Ministry 3,000
Floyd Food for Kids (weekend lunches) 625
Food Pantry at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church 2,500
Friendship Mission Church (food, shelter, clothing) 3,500
Hands On River Region (Volunteer and Information Center) 1,000
Holy Cross Episcopal School Scholarship Fund 8,500
Hope Inspired Ministries (jobs for those coming out of prison) 2,500
Hospice of Montgomery 3,000
Kelcie’s Place (autistic teens) 1,500
Let God Arise Ministries (prison ministry) 1,200
Lighthouse Counseling Center (substance abuse program) 2,000
Montgomery Area Council on Aging (Meals on Wheels) 12,000
Medical Aids Outreach of Alabama 2,000
Medical Outreach Ministries (free medical clinic) 2,300
Montgomery Christian School (scholarships for underprivileged) 1,000
Neighbors in Christ (victims of crime) 1,200
New Beginnings Education Center (tutoring) 1,500
One Place Family Justice Center 750
Rebuilding Together (home repair for the needy) 3,000
Renascence (prison halfway house) 5,000
Salvation Army 3,000
Sawyerville Work Project (summer camp for needy youth) 5,000
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth – SAFY 1,500
Samaritan Counseling Center 1,500
In addition to these grants, our Annual Operating Budget provides the following amounts to other ministries beyond our walls: Covenant to the Diocese – $136,406; Seminaries – $13,334; Scholarships to seminarians – $2,000; Strategies to Elevate People (inner city ministries) – $3,000; Discretionary Funds (direct assistance) – $12,198; Baldwin Fund (direct assistance) – $18,000; Honduras Trip – $10,000; Family Promise (homeless families) – $12,000; Holy Cross Episcopal School – $40,000.
Our total outreach expenditures in 2016 will be $356,938, just under 20% of our annual budget. Your parish, through your generosity, continues to do remarkable work and more is still required of us. May all our efforts bring those in need closer to the hope offered through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Yours faithfully,
Robert C. Wisnewski, Jr.