Justice and Outreach
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 help. C.HA.O.S. is coordinating the Newman Center's response to "Make a Difference” service days each year, fall and spring.
To volunteer for future Make a Difference Day events, email 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.
Doing Justice: B.R.E.A.D. provides a vehicle for congregations to practice justice by joining together large numbers of people to hold public officials accountable. This is done once a year at the Nehemiah Action Meeting. B.R.E.A.D. challenges congregations to assemble large numbers of people for this annual action meeting. Approximately 51 congregations in Franklin County belong to B.R.E.A.D., representing over 40,000 members who are diverse racially, religiously, and socio-economically. It is financially supported through congregation dues, an annual investment drive and grants.
How do people get involved in the work of B.R.E.A.D.?
People can be involved in B.R.E.A.D.'s work at many levels: being part of their congregation's Justice Ministry Network, attending the Nehemiah Action Meeting, joining a committee to researching problems, raising money in the support drive and enhancing the justice teaching in their congregations. B.R.E.A.D.s accomplishments (pdf).
Upcoming B.R.E.A.D. events (pdf)
For more information, please contact bread@buckeyecatholic.com
"What is owed in justice should never be given in charity." Pope Paul IV
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.
"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 7:00 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
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
