Sacred Stories, a stained glass coloring book is now available on Amazon! Proceeds to benefit Episcopal Charities. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1960505866
ECC’s City Camp Enriches Summer
For nearly 40 years, children from the Olneyville section of Providence have had the opportunity to spend part of their summer at ECC’s City Camp, a free day camp for children ages 6 to 12 that includes both field trips and the games, fun, and relationship-building of more traditional summer camps.
Marisa Rainey first came to City Camp in 2011 as a counselor. “City Camp made me want to be a teacher,” she says. After several years of serving as the program’s director in the summertime as director of City Camp and teaching middle school math in Roxbury, Massachusetts during the school year, Rainey is now ECC’s full-time summer camp and program director.
“I knew I wanted to work with kids, but I didn’t know how,” she says. “That summer, I was the only female counselor, so I had all the girls. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the 11- and 12-year-olds talking about their lives and families and school, but disheartened by how little they liked math. I wrote my college admissions essay about that and became a middle school math teacher. Except for the summer after college when I worked for Teach for America, I’ve been at City Camp ever since.”
“Service to the community is a pillar of ECC, as is the belief that every child deserves chance to go to camp,” Rainey says. “As an educator, I know that kids fall behind without camp and the activities and connections it offers.” City Camp, she has been delighted to find, runs in families, and she now meets younger siblings and family members of previous generations of campers participating in the program.
While City Camp offers children exposure to activities they might not otherwise experience, Rainey says that counselors benefit as much as campers. City Camp “is not about us giving an experience to others. It’s about all of us having an experience together.”
Although City Camp 2023 lasted just two weeks due to a staffing shortage, Rainey hopes to return soon to the camp’s typical six-week program. To support the program, ECC accepts donations of water bottles, healthy snacks, and other items on their wish list. Granola bars and other breakfast items are particularly helpful, because while Rhode Island’s Summer Food Service Program covers lunch for each camper, its hours of operation do not qualify it to receive breakfast funds.
Congregations interested in supporting the program or hosting a lunch in 2024 can email Rainey at Marisa@episcopalri.org.
Charities NOW
Many have asked in this time of pandemic, “What can I do? How can I love my neighbor when I can’t leave my home?” We know you want to make a difference and want to help your neighbor in need, but Covid-19 has thwarted your power.
Here’s your answer. Episcopal Charities announces the debut of “Charities NOW”. “Charities NOW” collects donations from you, our donors, and immediately turns them around to aid those ministries and agencies on the front-lines assisting our at-risk elders and at-risk children. This departure from our grant program allows us to distribute funds right away. We have identified those who are working tirelessly to bring food, shelter, medicine, and other basic human needs to our brothers and sisters, but they need our help Now. (Click here to see a list of agencies we have helped) 100% of your donation goes to this effort. No administration fees are deducted.
So, how do you donate? It’s easy. Click on the button below, enter your credit card and donation on the “Charities NOW” line. To make a contribution by check, make it payable to Episcopal Charities of Rhode Island, 275 North Main Street, Providence, RI. 02903. On the memo line of your check, please write “NOW”. That’s it!
And, you don’t have to leave the house! Hurry, they need us. They need you!
You Did It!
Because of YOU, Episcopal Charities met its 2019 goal! Thirty ministries and agencies in Rhode Island working with our churches benefited from your gift of love to provide for the basic human needs of at-risk children and elders. YOUR donation provides food, shelter and healthcare for those who would otherwise go without.
Well Done and THANK YOU!
2020 Episcopal Charities Champions Toolkit
Parish Champions, here are links to the materials in the event you need more for your campaign.
Help Raise Funds for Episcopal Charities
Episcopal Charities was founded in 1952 with the desire and sense of responsibility to help those in need, and this tradition continues today.
“In acknowledgement of the Gospel Imperative to feed, clothe, heal and visit, the Episcopal Charities Fund of Rhode Island assists ministries of the Diocese and charities of the wider Rhode Island community by raising and helping to provide funds, and in so doing, bringing hope, comfort and healing to Rhode Islanders in need.”
Funds from Episcopal Charities will be used to assist battered women and abused children seeking a safe haven, to provide thousands with food, heat, shelter, healthcare and other basic needs, and to give the elderly and terminally ill c
omfort and a sense of dignity through their last days. Through Episcopal Charities, those who suffer from drug addiction receive help toward recovery. Immigrants will be able to read and speak English. Children find the unconditional love of Jesus and learn leadership skills at summer camps. In 2015, grants were distributed to 69 agencies and programs throughout Rhode Island.
Selection Process:
Each year the Grant Review Committee visits agencies and reviews all agency funding requests for conformance with its mission statement. Requests are discouraged that can obtain funding elsewhere or are heavily funded by government sources. Episcopal Charities does not grant funds to pay for existing debts, capital projects, advocacy, or research.
Our Donors:
The Episcopal Charities Annual Campaign raises funds for grant distributions through the generous spirit and caring of individuals in the Episcopal churches of the Diocese, as well as support from members of the Rhode Island corporate community. You can help raise funds by organizing a campaign in your church, soliciting funds from people you know, hosting a fundraiser or even just donating!
Donate
Your gift will do so much for so many.
Giving to the Episcopal Charities Fund is the best way to help those in need.
100% of your donation is granted out to agencies and diocesan entities to address the critical issues of our time. Our administrative costs are covered by a special endowment.
We do the research – so you know your money is going to worthwhile causes and well run agencies. We follow up to ensure that grants are being used effectively and as intended, and we support many small agencies where our grants have a significant impact on their ability to offer specific services and programs.
Make Your Contribution Online Today!
Or donate by check with our mail-in form. (PDF)
Give the Gift of a Donation to Episcopal Charities!
Whether for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries or just to say, “I love you,” give someone the gift of helping others. Print out a free honor card to share the gift of Episcopal Charities.
If you have any questions please contact us at 401-274-4500 x234 or by email at charities@episcopalri.org
Apply for an Episcopal Charities Grant
Congregations as well as agencies may apply for grants to do outreach activities by or hosted the church or by an agency. Agencies should be aware that while any agency can apply, preference is given to agencies affiliated with an Episcopal Church. The application for an Episcopal Charities grant is posted in late winter/early spring each year. The deadline for submitting the application is June 30, 2020. Throughout the summer and fall, Charities volunteers read the applications and make site visits to many of the agencies. The grants are awarded in November and December of each year. The application (when available ), as well as information about the application process, can be found here