Outreach
Local Outreach
Learning Enrichment Activities Program (LEAP)
Why: Because we are called to help all God’s children in “turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding”, so we “will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:2, 5)
What: LEAP is a reading and enrichment program that enables adults to spend one-on-one time with at-risk children in East Harlem. We develop wonderful relationships, stronger reading skills, and fabulous art projects. Once a month, we vary the activities by providing puzzles and computer activities. Weekday volunteers are also needed to provide after-school tutoring for students. Volunteers are welcome to come and join the fun! Who: Volunteers of all ages who want to spend time with children are welcome to participate. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult.
When: Saturdays 10 am – noon (LEAP) and Monday-Friday 3 – 5pm (tutoring).
Where: Learning Center in East Harlem.
Christmas Angel Ministry
Why: Because our preparation for the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ involves heeding God’s message spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)
What: Each year, MAPC organizes a gift drive that benefits children with an incarcerated parent. Volunteers are needed to help with organization throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season, for preparing gift tags, staffing the "Christmas Angel Table" following worship services, gift sorting and organizing.
Who: Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate.
Where: MAPC
When: Varying times, primarily during November-December.
Shelter Dinner
Why: Because Jesus commanded those who love him to “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). We take this command both literally and spiritually.
What: Once a week, MAPC provides a free dinner to homeless, under-housed and other vulnerable members of the community. Volunteers are needed to help prepare, serve, and clean up after the meal.
Who: Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate.
Where: MAPC Parish Hall
When: Thursdays, 6-8 pm
MAPC Overnight Volunteer-run Shelter
Why: Because Jesus taught that “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
What: On Monday through Saturday nights, MAPC hosts a 12-bed overnight shelter for homeless men. This is a partnership ministry with our friends and neighbors at St. James Episcopal Church. Clients are pre-screened by professional outreach staff at one of the city’s drop-in centers. Volunteer hosts are needed to help set up, welcome the guests and serve snacks. Overnight hosts are also needed to stay over and supervise breakfast and departure in the morning. Up to two hosts may volunteer for each shift.
Who: Volunteer hosts of all ages are welcome to help with the Early shift. The Overnight shift is more appropriate for adult hosts. New volunteer hosts participate in a group orientation session and then host along with another, more experienced host.
Where: The MAPC shelter space (basement level)
When: Two shift options are available year-round:
Sunday through Friday, 6-8 pm
Sunday through Friday, Overnight, 8 pm-7 am
Learn more or volunteer
Inquire about the next host training session
NCS Overnight Shelter/Day Substance Abuse Counseling Center
Why: Because Jesus taught that “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
What: In addition to a volunteer-run shelter, MAPC also provides space for a 2nd emergency overnight shelter program for up to twelve men. The shelter operates seasonally in a dedicated space adjacent to our volunteer-run shelter. This space serves a dual purpose by hosting a substance abuse counseling program during the day. Professional staff from Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter manage both the counseling and shelter programs.
Who: Volunteers are needed to provide hot food for guests.
Where: The MAPC shelter space (basement level)
When: Monday through Sunday, Overnight, 6 pm-7 am
Face to Face/Faith to Faith (New York, NY)
A project of Auburn Theological Seminary, Face to Face provides an intensive year-long interfaith dialogue and conflict mediation training program for youth from opposite sides of deep-rooted global ethnic and religious conflicts: Palestinians and Israelis, black and white South Africans, Protestant and Roman Catholic youth from Northern Ireland. Their goal is to build a new generation of leaders, able to peacefully negotiate a multi-faith global society.
The Women’s Mosaic (New York, NY)
TWM educates, supports and empowers women of all racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds to be agents of positive change and peacemaking in the world. Our grant supports education programs that promote interfaith dialogue and understanding of global human rights issues.
Bread for the World
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. They strive to change policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, in order to provide help and opportunities to people in need. Our members participate in Bread for the World letter writing campaigns, submitting personal correspondence to our elected representatives urging them to enact hunger-abating public policies.
East Side Congregations for Housing Justice
ESCHJ is an interfaith coalition dedicated to advocacy in support of affordable housing in New York City. Members work to educate the community on issues related to housing justice, appeal to elected officials on behalf of homeless and low-income New Yorkers and more. MAPC is a congregation partner in the coalition.
Emergency Shelter Network
MAPC is a founding member of ESN, an interfaith coalition of 70+ NYC congregations dedicated to advocacy in support of the just and humane treatment of homeless persons in New York City. Members work to educate the community on issues related to housing justice, appeal to elected officials on behalf of homeless and low-income New Yorkers and more. MAPC is a congregation partner in the coalition.
Immigration Ministry Team
The growing nationwide debate around immigration reform spurred our church to establish a group dedicated to working on behalf of justice for immigrants. The IMT is charged with educating our congregation about immigration issues, examining the debate from all legal, policy, economic and human rights perspectives, and guiding us toward enacting a Christian response to one of the foremost social justice challenges in our nation today.
Shared Ministry with First Spanish Presbyterian Church
MAPC has entered into a partnership ministry with this burgeoning Spanish-language congregation in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, under the leadership of Rev. Jose Gonzalez-Colon.
Booker T. Washington Learning Center
220 East 105th Street, New York, NY, 10029
The Learning Center provides educational programs for children and families, offering pre-school, after school and summer activities, teen-focused events and adult opportunities. Their mission is to break the cycle of inadequate education, poverty and despair, which pervades East Harlem, while working to maintain a viable and hopeful community.
Church of Gethsemane
1012 Eighth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11215
This diverse congregation was established by and for incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated individuals and their families. The church members work to create a welcoming and supportive environment, engaging in social justice, advocacy and prison ministry.
Health Advocates for Older People
1233 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10065
Health Advocates promote healthy aging by providing older people living in New York City with the tools, techniques and support they need to age with vitality and independence. They provide education and advocacy, a Healthy Aging program and a Community Volunteer program.
Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing
1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10025
Interfaith Assembly addresses the needs of homeless individuals through empowerment and advocacy. Their direct service programs help homeless and formerly homeless people gain life skills and recover from the trauma of their homeless experiences. Their advocacy efforts unit faith communities to “Build the Blessed City Together,” by promoting public policies that can increase availability of affordable housing and help resolve the root causes of homelessness.
Inwood House
320 East 82nd Street, New York, NY 10028
Inwood House is an internationally recognized innovator in youth development, teen pregnancy prevention and family support programming. They offer a residence for homeless, pregnant teenage women, where girls receive pre-natal care, parenting and life-skills training and the support of professional counselors. Additional programs for young women and men, including teen fathers, educate and enrich the lives of teens throughout the city.
Jan Hus Presbyterian Church Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program
351 East 74th Street, New York, NY, 10021
Jan Hus provides much-needed counseling and supportive services for homeless and marginally-housed individuals in our neighborhood, including anti-eviction assistance, job search support, referral placement, and food programs.
Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS)
157 East 86th Street, New York, NY 10028
NCS works to end homelessness by providing men and women with housing and support that can transform their lives. They provide a full continuum of services aimed at helping people move from the streets to housing and independence. NCS houses the Upper East Side’s neighborhood drop-in center for street homeless individuals. They manage short- and long-term shelter programs throughout the area, including two based in our church house.
New Amsterdam Boys & Girls Choir
410 East 100th Street, Suite 418, New York, NY 10029
This organization seeks to enrich the lives of young men and women in East Harlem through membership in a choral singing group. The choir is open to girls and boys ages nine through eighteen. In addition to strong music skills, the youth learn to value discipline, respect and academic success, and benefit from interaction with positive adult role models.
New Life of New York City
66 Clinton Street, NY, New York, NY 10002
New Life offers Christian outreach programs for teenagers in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Youth benefit from mentoring, college-prep support, a film and television skills training program, sports activities, bible-study, one-on-one counseling, an arts and theater program, social activities, an automotive workshop or a summer camp program. New Life’s popular step performance groups, Nubian Gents and Feminine Fire, provide a vehicle of expression for teen participants that promotes self-discipline, cooperation and a positive identity.
The Osborne Association
809 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10445
The Osborne Association helps individuals who have been in conflict with the law to transform their lives. They offer opportunities for reform and rehabilitation through public education, advocacy, and alternatives to incarceration that respect the dignity of people and honor their capacity to change as they achieve self-sufficiency, adopt healthy lifestyles, enter the workforce, form and rebuild families, and rejoin their communities.
Search and Care
Upper East Side, Manhattan
Search and Care helps homebound older people obtain the services they need to live independently in the community. Their programs include homecare, medical and mental health services, legal services and entitlements, as well as providing volunteers to assist with seniors’ day-to-day needs.
Yorkville Common Pantry (YCP)
8 East 109th Street, New York, NY 10029
YCP is New York City’s largest community-based food pantry. YCP offers a 24-hour, emergency food distribution program for low-income people, many of whom have had their public assistance grants reduced or eliminated. In addition to providing both hot meals and grocery bags of fresh and canned food, YCP provide on-site services to low income and homeless individuals and families, including health and sanitary care, case work, legal advocacy and counseling.
The Osborne Association
175 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
The Osborne Association helps individuals who have been in conflict with the law to transform their lives. They offer opportunities for reform and rehabilitation through public education, advocacy, and alternatives to incarceration that respect the dignity of people and honor their capacity to change as they achieve self-sufficiency, adopt healthy lifestyles, enter the workforce, form and rebuild families, and rejoin their communities.
Health Advocates for Older People
316 E 88th Street, New York, NY 10128
Health Advocates promote healthy aging by providing older people living in New York City with the tools, techniques and support they need to age with vitality and independence. They provide education and advocacy, a Healthy Aging program and a Community Volunteer program.
