Justice and Outreach
- C.H.A.O.S
- B.R.E.A.D.
- Habitat for Humanity
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Neighborhood Services, Inc.
- Seed Stitch Prayer Ministry
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:6-8
C.H.A.O.S.
(Christ's Humble and Obedient Servants)
C.H.A.O.S. is responding to emergency needs in our community by providing "sweat equity" or volunteer labor to help others in need of short-term assistance. C.HA.O.S. is also coordinating the Newman Center's response to "Service Saturdays" each year, fall and spring.
If you or someone you know in our community is in need of assistance with help around their home, C.H.A.O.S. may be able to help. Contact: chaos@buckeyecatholic.com
B.R.E.A.D.-Building Responsibility, Equality And Dignity
Newman Center joined B.R.E.A.D. in 2006 as a means of responding to the call to work for justice. B.R.E.A.D. enables the Newman Center to play a part in identifying and addressing one new issue each year in cooperation with other faith communities in Columbus. We encourage you to get involved in B.R.E.A.D. at some level.
Important B.R.E.A.D. meeting for 2011-12 - All are welcome!
House Meetings: Each fall, a series of meetings are held for people from the Newman Center to discuss and identify issues that are of concern to us. The information gathered is then combined with information from other faith congregations to identify the justice issue to be addressed in 2011-12. For a complete list of House Meeting and to make arrangements to attend, call Mary Counter at 614-459-8133.
Annual Assembly: Monday, November 14 at 7 p.m. at Rhema Christian Center. Get important updates about on-going issues. Vote on the new problem for research and action for 2011-12.
Rally: Monday, April 16 at 7 p.m., place to be confirmed. The rally will inform members of B.R.E.A.D about the findings of the research committee studying this year's issue and the progress made toward actions from the previous years. In the month following this rally, members of the Justice Ministry Network at the Newman Center will invite the congregation to attend the Nehemiah Action Meeting.
Nehemiah Action Meeting: Monday, May 7 at 7 p.m. The Nehemiah Action meeting is when B.R.E.A.D. will ask for a public commitment from elected officials about the new issue for 2011-12. These commitments are made because officials recognize the power B.R.E.A.D has by the number of people in attendance. Last year, over 2,900 people from 54 B.R.E.A.D. congregations attended.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is an international non-profit organization that helps to provide decent housing to people of limited financial means. Members of the St. Thomas More Newman Center volunteer their time to all aspects of the mission of Habitat for Humanity Greater Columbus (HFHGC). Newman Center Habitat Volunteers help with construction sites about once a month on Thursday evenings from 5-8 p.m. The next service date is Thursday, Feb. 16. "I've been up on ladders … and I've sawed pieces of lumber. For someone who sits behind desk all day long, this is a blast!"
- Liz Kuhn, St. Thomas More Newman Center resident community member
Anyone 16 years or older can volunteer for HFH, whether or not they're affiliated with the Newman Center. No previous experience or tools are necessary, although you may want to bring your own pair of work gloves. You can just show up one time, with no future obligations. (Although we hope you come back!)
For more information or to sign up, contact habitat@buckeyecatholic.com
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Helping our neighbors in need
Need Help Now? Call the SVdP Hotline: (614) 388-8279
Mission:
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Newman Center was started in 2007 to help the needy in the University District and surrounding areas. Emergency food, rent, gasoline and utility assistance are available. In addition, we assist by finding shelter, paying rent or utility bills so that a family may stay in their home, or providing food, clothing or other critical needs in an emergency situation, while additional support and referrals for more permanent needs are addressed.
Each month, Vincentians gather to sort and organize clothing for the Diocese-wide St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Distribution Center. We also assist at NSI (Neighborhood Services, Inc.) the campus-area food pantry, in replenishing their pantry shelves, and prepare sandwiches for distribution to the needy through the St. Lawrence Haven daily lunch program.
How You Can Get Involved:
The Newman Center St. Vincent de Paul conference meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. New members are always welcome. Meetings begin in prayer and often highlight additional volunteer opportunities provided by other organizations serving the poor. Members share volunteer experiences both with those in need as well as with other organizations. We end each meeting by preparing sandwiches for distribution to the needy through the St. Lawrence Haven daily lunch program.
Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
For more information, contact stvincent@buckeyecatholic.com
Seed Stitch Prayer Ministry
The Seed Stitch Prayer Ministry is a way for Newman Center community members to feed their love of knitting or crocheting, sewing or quilting, that will benefit someone or a worthy cause. It's a way for our members to share their love and concern for others through something tangible - the prayer shawls, scarves, hats, and more. Many blessings are prayed into every shawl or prayer shawl item to remind the recipients that they are loved by this caring, welcoming community. We meet on the second Tuesday and the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
For more information, please contact seedstitch@buckeyecatholic.com.
Neighborhood Services, Inc. (NSI)
The residential neighborhoods in The Ohio State University district have had high rates of poverty for decades. In 1985, the churches in the University Area Council of Churches combined resources to create Neighborhood Services (NSI) to provide more adequate emergency help to persons in the area. The Newman Center often makes referrals to NSI. Special collections benefitting NSI are taken up several times a year: three food drives are conducted and a portion of the 20% special collection is given to NSI. The Newman Center believes this is an important part of helping to change lives of our neighbors in need.
NSI is located at :
1950-E N. 4th St.,
Columbus, OH 43201.
Phone: (614) 297-0592.
The food pantry is located at 1950-J N. 4th St.
Sponsoring Churches and Centers include:
St. Thomas More Newman Center
Holy Name Roman Catholic Church
Lutheran Student Center
North UMC
Summit UMC
Indianola Church of Christ
Maynard Ave. UMC
University Baptist Church
Indianola Presbyterian Church
North Columbus Friends Meeting
St. Stephen's Episcopal
United Christian Center
