Outreach

We continue to serve Grab & Go meals at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Norwich.  Many guests are staying to eat their meal in the dining room.  The need is greater than ever!  You're invited to help set-up and serve.  To volunteer, please arrive at 12:30 p.m.

Park Church contributes to the Community Meal on the 3rd and 5th Sunday of the month both by providing volunteers and a portion of the meal served.

Refractive errors can be easily corrected with eyeglasses, yet millions living in low and middle income countries lack access to basic eye care services. Park Congregational Church recognizes the urgent need for corrective lenses and has partnered with LIONS to collect used glasses year round to support the Lions Recycle For Sight Program.

In 2024, 17 pairs of glasses were collected.

Park Congregational Church collects various items for people in need throughout the year.

In 2024, the church collected:

• clothing - 449
• housewares - 44

Park Congregational Church fills backpacks with school supplies in July and August for students of all ages.  The backpacks are distributed through St. Vincent dePaul Place.

In 2024, 23 backpacks were filled with an approximate value of $805.

Neighbors in Need is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion.

This offering often occurs in September.

In 2024, $220 was collected.

During November, Park Congregational Church collects non-perishable food items for St. Vincent dePaul Place based on a list to provide families to with a Thanksgiving meal.

In 2024, 125 food items and $350 in cash was collected.

During the season of Advent, Park Congregational Church partners with St. Vincent dePaul Place and sponsors children in need for Christmas.  Donors purchase items from the children's wish lists and wrap them for Christmas.

In 2024, 20 children were served with an approximate total gift value of $1500.

On Christmas Eve, Park Congregational Church determines where the night's offering collected will go.

In 2024, the $175 offering went to the Norwich Warming Center.

Thanks to the generosity of donors who supported Church World Services, in 2024 Church World Services was able to respond swiftly to the devastation caused  by Hurricanes Helen and Milton.  They were on the ground quickly, providing essential relief supplies including 26,536 CWS Kits and Blankets.  CWS distributed a total of 27,275 blankets in 2024!  

This collection is done over several Sundays in January.  You can make a difference and make the world a better place with your donation: $10 per blanket. 

In 2025, Park Church collected $360.

The youth of Park Congregational Church will host a one-day mission project in which they will collect monetary donations in soup bowls for a local charity of their choice.  

In 2025, $33.70 was collected and donated to St. Vincent dePaul Place.

Park Congregational Church supports Heifer International throughout the season of Lent through monetary donations.  The goal of Heifer International is to provide support that is sustainable and long lasting to better help the families... much like the expression "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Items that are available for purchase include:

a flock of chicks or ducks - $20

honeybees - $30

a goat, pig, or sheep - $120

a water buffalo - $250

a heifer - $500

All donations are accepted and no donation is too small!

In 2025, $1390 was raised.  With the monies raised, we will be purchasing:

1 Heifer                 $500

1 Water Buffalo     $250

2 Goat                  $240

2 Pig                     $240

1 Honey Bee Set    $30

4 Chick Sets           $80

1 Bio-gas Stove      $50

Park Congregational Church forms a team and walks 2 miles to support ending homelessness.  The Annual Walk to End Homelessness supports New London Homeless Hospitality Center.  

In 2025, Park Church and its Youth Group raised $300 for the 18th annual walk.