Outreach Committee
St. John’s has a longstanding practice of devoting ten percent of its pledged income each year to support the ongoing work of organizations near and far that address pressing needs of God’s children.
The Committee:
- Makes recommendations to Vestry for St. John’s grants
- Makes recommendations to Steering Committee for the occasional use of “Raile’s Bowl” to collect freewill offerings during services for particular emergency needs, which the committee matches
- Informs parishioners of opportunities to volunteer with organizations that St. John’s supports.
Organizations supported in 2024 were:
American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem (Gaza relief)
Berkshire Black Economic Council (to expand the St. John’s Equipment and Infrastructure Fund)
Episcopal Relief and Development (hurricane relief)
Human to Human (outreach program of the Diocese of Western MA)
Jewish Family Services of Western Mass.
Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity
Remedy Hall
R.O.P.E. (Ghana trip for local youths of color)
Tent of the Beloved
Williamstown Farmers Market
Questions and suggestions of organizations to be considered for support and of emergencies to support from Raile’s Bowl can be sent to Jim Kolesar, committee chair, at outreach@stjohnswilliamstown.org.