Community Partnerships
We believe it is imperative that we work together to change the world around us for the better, and we do so in a variety of ways. Collaborating with other local non-profits and religious organizations, we support local food pantries, AOTV, Valuing Our Children, our local schools, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the Warming Center, residents of Sunrise Ridge Recovery Center, local nursing homes, and much more.
Community Meals
Our Community Meal team hosts a wonderful monthly dinner offered at no charge to anyone who wishes to attend, thanks to the generosity of many volunteers and community sponsors. We also support several overseas projects and provide some assistance when there are national or global disasters.
Athol Kindness Connection
We are so committed to serving our community and the wider world, that we have called Rev. Cindy LaJoy to be our Outreach Pastor. In 2023, Rev. Cindy inspired and promoted “The Year of Kindness” in Athol which included many specific projects to encourage kindness in our community. As part of this effort, Athol Congregational Church paid for a nationally renowned youth speaker to offer a kindness presentation in every school in Athol. Additionally, as an extension of her work during the Year of Kindness, a team was developed to form a separate non-profit organization, Athol Kindness Connection, which is part of the Village-to-Village Network. Athol Kindness Connection, whose office is located within the church building, serves our local elders to provide assistance with transportation and small household tasks so that our older neighbors can remain in their homes as long as possible while having the support they need.
Passion Projects
Our members are always coming up with unique ways to help others and collaborate with our Missions Ministry to bring their ideas to fruition. For example, our ongoing work collecting bedding for Sleep in Heavenly Peace was initiated by a member, as was a Disney Concert which raised money for families who receive a Down’s Syndrome diagnosis. Anyone can suggest a passion project and almost always find others who are willing to jump in and help make it happen! At Athol Congregational Church, outreach and mission opportunities are ongoing and any suggestions for new ideas are warmly received.
