Advocacy + Outreach · May 16, 2019
Announcing a Change in Our Bowery Mission Ministry
With next Sunday’s worship and dinner service at the Bowery Mission, a longstanding project of Fifth Avenue’s Outreach Ministries will come to a close.
The church plans to discontinue our monthly ministry at the Bowery, even as we maintain our 50-year relationship with this historic mission.
“We are continually evaluating where our volunteer resources can be most effective, and we recognized a growing need right here, with the Ecumenical Outreach Partnership,” says the Rev. Kate Dunn, associate pastor for Congregational Care and Outreach. “The Bowery Mission has graciously agreed with our decision and assured us that others are available to do the ministry that Fifth Avenue has provided for so long.”
Created in 2017, the Ecumenical Outreach Partnership provides for the needs of New Yorkers living on the streets of our midtown neighborhood. It is a collaborative ministry of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Saint Thomas Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In its first two years, the ministry has grown to serve a client population of more than 300. Ecumenical Outreach recently announced a call for volunteers to assist the executive director, John Sheehan, and his staff in assisting these clients in attaining health and social services in the city.
“The Bowery Mission continues to be a valued mission partner of our church, and we will still offer the help of our volunteers as new needs arise,” Kate says. “At the same time, we must do all we can to provide for the growing numbers of people in need who come through our doors every day.”
Fifth Avenue’s 20s+30s group will lead the worship and dinner service at the Bowery Mission on Sunday, May 26, starting at 4:45 pm. All are welcome to participate. Directions to the mission are available here.