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| MISSION OPPORTUNITIES Verrazano-Narrows Nursing Home
Moravians in Mission - Projects Hosted by Castleton Hill Moravian
S.I. Moravian Community Garden
Clothing Distribution
Feeding Our Faith
Moravians in Mission - Projects Hosted by Our Sister Moravian Churches Community Dinners Rebuilding Trips to the Gulf Coast Prayer Shawl Ministry Thanksgiving Baskets 
| Verrazano-Narrows Nursing Home
Every month, Pastor Andy and three or four lay people travel to the Verrazano-Narrows Nursing Home to provide a worship service for the residents of that facility. Two times a year, the service is accompanied by an ice cream and cookie party. Additionally, many of the residents join us for worship at our Outdoor Worship and Barbecue service in June. (You may, too!) |
| Moravians in Mission - Projects Hosted By Castleton Hill Moravian
Staten Island Moravians work together on a variety of projects to meet practical needs we see in the world around us. These projects draw upon volunteers from all four Moravian churches as well as non-Moravians, individuals and groups.Castleton Hill Moravian plans and hosts three of these projects: the Staten Island Moravian Community Garden, the Clothing Distribution, and Feeding Our Faith (Monthly Meals for HIV/AIDS clients at Project Hospitality.) Join us and share some of our excitement and sense of fulfillment as we serve in Christ’s name.
| | S.I. Moravian Community Garden
The garden is located on the grounds of Castleton Hill Moravian Church. The church is located at: 1657 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10314. Please call the church office 718-442-5215, for more specific directions to the garden.
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Community Garden 2011
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The garden grows organic produce for Project Hospitality’s soup kitchen and food pantry. In 2008, we contributed 1,092 lbs. of fresh produce to Project Hospitality’s feeding ministries.
The garden has thirty-nine four by four foot squares. About a third of these squares are set aside for volunteer gardeners and about two-thirds are set aside for Project Hospitality.
The garden provides space for people who might not be able to garden at home. In exchange for helping to care for garden plots designated for Project Hospitality, volunteer gardeners can have a personal plot to grow their own vegetables and herbs to take home.
The garden is handicap accessible. Six of the plots are in raised beds. The entrance and the front section of the garden are handicap accessible.
We use the Square Foot Gardening Method developed by Mel Bartholomew. (The number of plants per square depends on the size of the plant. For instance, a foot square can accommodate 1 tomato plant or 16 radish plants.)
-- High density planting means fewer weeds -- Verticals are provided in 27 squares in our garden. Verticals are used for tomatoes, cucumbers, and other running plants. -- Volunteer gardeners only need simple tools: gardening gloves and trowels -- Don’t step on the soil inside the garden squares!
Come and join us! It’s great to enjoy being outside, working together, and seeing the goodness of God’s creation all around us. | ^ Back to Top ^ | | Clothing Distribution
Clothing Distribution - How the Project Works
| 2011 marked our eighth Children’s Clothing Distribution. We provide gently used, clean clothing for children and adults in need on Staten Island. In 2011, we assisted 1032 children and adults. If you would like help out, please call the church office, 718-442-5215, for volunteer information.
See archives of past clothing distributions here: Gallery Archives |
The project has three major phases:
Collection
We accept clean, gently used children’s clothing. We get lots of great clothing for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. However, we are always in need of clothing for elementary and teenage children and youth, particularly for boys. We accept adult clothing and especially appreciate clothing that individuals can wear for job interviews and for work. Please separate your clothing into separate bags for males and females. It’s also helpful if you can sort the clothing by size, put them into separate bags and label each bag according to the size inside. Collection bins are set up at all four Moravian Churches beginning in late March and through nid-May.
Sorting
Then, for a week in May we work to sort all the clothing by gender and size and box it up until our clothing distribution in August. The sorting will take place in the Castleton Hill Moravian Church fellowship hall (entrance off Hodges Place.) We generally work from 9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day and food is always available for volunteers. Check with the church office, 718-442-5215, to confirm work hours for volunteers.
Distribution
The distribution takes place over a three day period in August at Brighton Heights Reformed Church. Here’s how the distribution unfolds:
Boy Scout Troop 26 helps us move tables, supplies, and our boxes and boxes of clothing from Castleton Hill Moravian over to Brighton Heights Reformed Church. Brighton Heights is located close to many agencies, a shelter for women and children and close to the Staten Island Ferry and major bus lines.
On Thursday, we set up the tables, unload the boxes, and put clothes on the clothing racks. It’s a full days worth of work to get ready.
On Friday, we are open to the families from the local shelter and to clients of Arbor, a near-by back to work program. Clients gather in the Fellowship Hall of the church and we provide crafts and snacks for them while they wait their turn to look for clothing in the gym. A volunteer “personal shopper” takes each person into the gym to pick out clothing. With the clothes organized on the tables and racks and volunteers to assist, things move along fairly quickly.
On Saturday, we are open to the public all day and serve families from all over Staten Island. They come to us from various agencies. The need is great. At the end of the day we pack up the remaining clothing which typically will go to Healthy Families and to other agencies. The Scouts come back around 4:00 p.m. and help us pack up and move all our equipment and boxes back on the truck and back to Castleton Hill Moravian Church.
We are blessed to work with many partners including: Richmond Aluminum, Boy Scout Troop 26, Brighton Heights Reformed Church, Project Hospitality, and the staff of Arbor. In 2008, intrepid Moravians from Waconia Moravian Church and Our Savior's Church in Altura, MN joined us. In 2009, youth and adult leaders from Lancaster Moravian Church, PA came to assist. In 2010, adults and youth from Calvary Moravian Church, Allentown and adults from Lancaster Moravian Church assisted. In 2011, a group from First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio helped us finish the sort in July and a group from Berea Moravian Church in Minnestoa assisted us with the August distribution. We are interested in lining up other church groups for 2012 and beyond. | ^ Back to Top ^ | | Feeding Our Faith
On the first Wednesday of the month, volunteer cooks prepare a meal for about 50 persons living with HIV/AIDS. The food, which is prepared in one of our church kitchens, is then taken to Project Hospitality’s Soup Kitchen on Bay Street where it is served for the evening meal for served to clients taking part in the weekly HIV/AIDS wellness suppers and programs. If you would like to assist as a cook, bake a dessert, or help with shopping, please contact the Castleton Hill Moravian Church office, 718-442-5215.  
| ^ Back to Top ^ | | Moravians in Mission - Projects Hosted by Our Sister Moravian Churches
Vanderbilt Avenue Moravian Church, 718-447-2966
Community Dinners: In these times of economic crisis, we are aware that we need opportunities to eat together and to support each other in community. Vanderbilt Avenue Moravian Church hosts monthly free Community Dinners. Dinners are usually held on the third Saturday of each month from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 271 Vanderbilt Avenue. Guests at the dinners can also take a book from the free lending library. Call 718-447-2966 for times and dates of upcoming dinners.
Community Dinners at Vanderbilt
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Great Kills Moravian Church, 718-317-7788 Rebuilding Trips to the Gulf Coast: Committed to help rebuild from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, work teams go down to the Gulf Coast for week long mission trips. Participants help in the clean-up and reconsturction effort. Call Great Kills Moravian Church for more information about the next trip.  
Prayer Shawl Ministry: Members of our prayer shawl ministry knit and crochet prayer shawls for persons going through times of sickness, crisis and transition. For more information about making shawls, getting a shawl for someone else, or receiving a shawl yourself, contact Great Kills Moravian Church.  
New Dorp Moravian Church, 718-351-0090
Thanksgiving Baskets: Our churches collect non-perishable food items all through the fall. We use these contribution to fill around 90 baskets which are given out to families in need during the Thanksgiving holiday. Contact New Dorp Moravian Church, for more information.  
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