Mission Programs

About Us:  Faith | Organization: Missions | History | Facilities

The Board of Christian Outreach and Mission organizes a variety of charitable programs. Money designated to Mission on the pledge card helps to fund these examples of outreach that we support as a church community:

Bangor Theological Seminary –Bangor & Portland ME
Andover Newton Theological School – Newton Center, MA

These ecumenical seminaries, which train many of our UCC clergy, offer instruction in Christian religion and ministry. They serve as intellectual centers for the continuing sustenance and transformation of the church and the world. Money donated has been designated for scholarships and building campaigns.

The Christmas Fund

Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund, an all-church offering, provides gift checks to retired clergy and their spouses, enables the Pension Boards to respond to the unforeseen emergency needs of ministers and their families, and assists in providing supplementation of small annuities, and of health plan contributions for retired pastors and church lay workers.

Church World Service

Church World Service is a ministry of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. in partnership with indigenous organizations in more than 70 countries, CWS supports sustainable self-help development, meets emergency needs, and helps address the root causes of poverty and powerlessness.

Within the U.S., Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettling refugees, promoting fair national and international policies, providing educational resources, and offering opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring through participation in CROP WALKS, the CWS Blanket Kit and Layette Program, and the Tools of Hope Program.

CROP is the name given to community-wide hunger education and fund raising events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by 25 Church World Service/CROP regional offices nationwide.
• www.churchworldservices.org

Community Caregivers of Greater Derry

Provides services primarily for the elderly & disabled through a network of volunteers to help individuals maintain independence in their own homes. Services include transportation for medical appointments, telephone calling, friendly visits, grocery shopping, respite, and light chores. There is no charge for these services. Towns serviced include: L’Derry, Derry, Windham, Sandown, Hampstead and Chester. Volunteers always needed for as little as 1 hour per week.
• www.comcaregivers.org, 432-0877

Derry Friendship Center

Derry Friendship Center is a non-profit community service organization located at 45 E Broadway in Derry, NH. For over 25 years it has provided resources and services in an alcohol and drug free environment for people wishing to gather and to meet together, promoting an atmosphere of fellowship and rehabilitative peer support to recovering alcoholics and drug abusers.
• www.derryfriendshipcenter.org, 432-9794

Derry Timberwolves

Derry Timberwolves are part of the Derry Recreation Program. It is a group of special needs adults who join together in companionship & training to improve their physical fitness skills. They compete in the NH , national & international Special Olympics. Money donated has been used for uniforms and program & travel expenses.

Grace House

Located in Worcester MA, Grace House is a Christian transitional housing program for women leaving incarceration. While there, residents are expected to actively seek and obtain employment, fellowship in a local church, attend Christian 12-step meetings, house meetings, and complete household tasks as part of the "family." Staff and volunteers provide Bible studies, facilitate group meetings, and provide job and housing search assistance.
• sosministries.info/resource.htm

Greater Derry Food Pantry

The Food Pantry is located next to the First Baptist Church in Derry. The pantry is completely supported by donations of food, money, time and facility. The aim is to provide non-perishable food items to assist recipients to make seven to nine meals per person, per month. Donations of money are primarily spent to purchase non-perishable food items and products to promote good hygiene.

Heifer Project International

Since 1944, HPI has helped more than 4 million impoverished families in approximately 110 countries and 35 states become more self-reliant through the gift of livestock and training in their care. A non-profit organization, rooted in the Christian tradition, HPI joins with people of faith everywhere to work for the dignity and well being of all people. HPI provides 24 types of food and income producing animals, as well as intensive training in animal husbandry, environmentally sound, sustainable farming practices and community development.
• www.heifer.org

Kairos

Kairos serves both men and women in prison and the families of those in prison. “The mission of Kairos, Inc. is to bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families, and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition of becoming a productive citizen.”
• www.kairosprisonministry.org

Kids’ Café

Kids’ Café was started in December of 1994 with the goal of addressing the unmet needs of families who live in the neighborhood. 10 years ago it was noticed that a growing number of elementary school aged children were out in the streets and unsupervised until well after dark. After talking with them we learned that many were going without a nutritious evening meal and in some case there were no parents home at the time. Many of these children live in single parent homes, with the parent working multiple jobs to provide the necessities of life.

Some of the programs are tutoring, leadership training, Club 3:16, and the Friday evening Teen Center. Meals are also provided.
• www.use.salvationarmy.org/manchester

Lions Club

We collect used eyeglasses that the Lions Club gets to people who are unable to purchase glasses. They a fitted by local optometrists who travel to places their services are needed.

Neighbors In Need

Your generous support of Neighbors in Need supports the United Church of Christ’s domestic ministries of justice and compassion. One-third of the offering undergirds the work of the Council for American Indian Ministry. The other two-thirds supports justice advocacy and direct service projects, including the United Church of Christ’s Hunger Action Ministry, poverty reduction efforts, just-peace programs, and community grants.

One Great Hour of Sharing

Gifts to this offering support ministries of disaster relief, economic development, refugee resettlement, and health and social service in seventy countries, including the United States and Canada. Working with partner local churches and faith organizations, OGHS assists people to help themselves wherever in the world there are earthquakes and floods, poverty and hunger, disease and war.

Pastoral Counseling Services Inc.

The mission statement of PCS is "To have a positive impact on individuals, families, and their communities through counseling services that integrate mind, body and spirit." They do this by offering psychotherapy, counseling, education and supervision that is spiritually based.
•www.pastoralcounselingservices.org, 627-2702

Project Angel Tree

At Christmas the BOCOM gets childrens names from Derry Human Resources with a list of appropriate gifts. The members of the congregation are able to choose a child that they would like to buy gifts for.

A Safe Place

A Safe Place provides an opportunity for women to make decisions about their own lives and their family situations in an environment free from coercion and violence.   Through shelter and support, A Safe Place can help a woman begin to lose the feeling that she is isolated in a hopeless effort to cope with her partner's violence and to know that there are things she can do to create a safer life for herself and her children.
• 15 Ermer Road, Salem, 1-800-852-3388

Sonshine Soup Kitchen

Serves 45 dinners five days per week at the First Baptist Church, Derry. Staffed by volunteers age 12 & over from area churches and local organizations. Also delivers 4-7 meals each night to the homebound.
• www.soupinderry.org, 437-2833

Thanksgiving Baskets

Every year the BOCOM has a drive to collect canned goods to give to local families in need for Thanksgiving. Each family is given a basket full of canned goods, fresh vegetables and a dessert so they can have a nice Thanksgiving dinner. The basket also has an envelope with a Thanksgiving card made by one of our Sunday School classes. In the envelope is a $50 gift certificate to a local grocery store. The names of the families come from Derry Human Resources.

Tools of Hope

An outreach ministry that has been launched nationally by Church World Service in celebration of its 50th Anniversary. A companion to our popular Blanket Program, Tools of Hope stresses that the smallest, simplest things can make a major difference in the daily life - and the future - of adults and youngsters alike.

The Upper Room

The Upper Room is an educational, non profit corporation centered in Derry, NH. It’s mission is to strengthen individuals, families and the community through interactive educational programs & programs.
• www.urteachers.org 437-8477

Vintage Grace

The program is designed to meet the restorative, maintenance, social and spiritual needs of the elderly and their families, to ensure that clients can remain in their home and community environment while maintaining an optimal level of independence.
• 12 Peabody Rd., Derry, NH 425-6339

YWCA Crisis Center

YWCA Crisis Center is a volunteer program of the Manchester YWCA. It provides a 24-hour crisis line, emergency housing, court advocacy, hospital accompaniment and support groups for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
• 668-2299