Outreach at Heavenly Rest

Our Outreach Mission

We believe that God is with us at every stage of life and in all circumstances. We are committed to “being with” one another and with our neighbors as a reflection of God’s love. Our Outreach Ministries are not just about serving those in need. At Heavenly Rest, we are building a community that is compassionate, inclusive, and just. Together, we look for and find innovative ways to address real social problems, and welcome those who are most vulnerable.

The Work of Easter - Sunday Forum Series

During this Easter Season, our Sunday Forum will highlight important outreach programs and projects sponsored and supported by the Church of the Heavenly Rest.

Watch the recordings below to learn more about how our church meets the needs of New York City and beyond.

Where We Focus

Our outreach projects continue our long-term emphasis on prison reentry, food insecurity, education, and housing insecurity.

We are also supporting migrants and asylum seekers coming to New York.

Prison & Re-entry

We are called to support men and women returning home from prison. The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world paired with extremely high rates of recidivism.

Re-entry programs help individuals build strong community ties so that they can thrive in society once again. Churches have a unique role in providing care, resources, connections, and stability for folks coming home. 

Learn more about our prison re-entry ministries:

  • Enrichment and job skills programs through our partner organizations.

  • Back-to-school supply drives for students whose parents are in the prison system.

  • Graduation & holiday photo shoots for those incarcerated to capture moments of joy with friends and family.

 

Hunger and Nourishment

We are called to feed our neighbors, just as God feeds us with the spiritual food of bread and wine in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. 

We look for innovative ways to meet the needs of those experiencing hunger beyond traditional church models of soup kitchens and food pantries. 

Help us feed our community:

  • Packing 1,000 shelf-stable food supplies for struggling families on Outreach Service Day in October.

  • Supporting a local Community Fridge with perishable and non-perishable goods to advance food justice and address food insecurity.

Education

We are called to empower the underserved youth in our communities by enabling access to educational enrichment and career opportunities.

One of the key barriers to success in low-income households is a lack of quality education. We partner with local organizations that work to break cycles of poverty within families by supporting students academically and emotionally.

Join us in our education enrichment programs:

  • Support middle-schoolers from low-income households in Harlem & East Harlem to prepare for high school placement exams.

  • Support first-generation college students in their preparation to start college.

 

New Neighbors Ministry

We are called to support asylum seekers and migrants in our city. The journey to New York is dangerous, long, and filled with unknowns. Jesus taught us to welcome and care for our neighbors.

 We work with various interfaith and nonprofit partners to help meet the needs of our new neighbors.

 Join us in helping asylum seekers and migrants:

Still looking for more?

You can sign up for our upcoming volunteer events, or peruse through the list of organizations our church is proud to partner with.