St. Paul Lutheran Church

Local Partners in Ministry

Open Door

During the holiday season we collect food for the Open Door Holiday Food Drive. Please bring donations to the church.

The Open Door/Cape Ann Food Pantry is a non-profit, community-supported, charitable organization committed to feeding the hungry of Cape Ann. Their mission is to alleviate hunger in the communities of Cape Ann. They accomplish this by providing free meals and food in a hospitable environment, providing advocacy on behalf of the disadvantaged whenever possible, and providing job skills training and job placement through their programs. We serve meals at the Open Door on a rotating basis with other faith-based communities in our area.

Essex County Community Organization (ECCO)

ECCO is a non-profit, interfaith, broad based community organization on Boston's North Shore that include churches, synagogues, a family housing project, school parents’ groups, and labor unions. ECCO’s mission is to develop leadership to build power and collaboration among families and communities on the North Shore. They are guided by a firm belief in the democratic principle that all people are created equal and have the right to make decisions about important issues affecting their neighborhoods. Founded in 1981, ECCO has organized around a variety of issues affecting families on the North Shore, including activities directed at affordable housing, public safety, quality education, childcare, workforce development, health care and youth activities. Call church office for dates for next meeting.

Action

Don‘t hesitate to recommend this organization to people who may be in need on Cape Ann.  All the local faith communities work closely with Action.  Action improves the quality of life for low-income residents of our community by minimizing the effects of poverty, promoting economic security, and advocating for social change. Founded in 1965 under the Office of Economic Opportunity, today Action continues to:

• Establish access to opportunities through advocacy, a wide range of services, education and training opportunities to assist people in the process of self-help.
• Mobilize resources, public and private, in order to reduce poverty.
• Develop and administer programs with maximum feasible participation of residents of the areas served.

Action‘s approach is comprehensive, addressing all aspects of a person‘s well-being. Services are coordinated with colleague agencies to avoid duplication and enhance benefits. All services are delivered in the spirit of promoting self-esteem, empowerment, and confidence.

Wellspring House

For 25 years, Wellspring House has been helping families move out of poverty to achieve more secure and fulfilling lives. An advocate for social justice, Wellspring House is a non-profit organization that annually provides education, emergency shelter, affordable housing, job training, family support and mentoring programs to hundreds of families on Boston's North Shore. Wellspring House is rooted in the vision of a just society in which people live interdependently and all have access to homes, education, and community support.
The organization has grown organically, sprouting new programs and projects as needs are revealed.

Cape Ann Habitat for Humanity

Cape Ann Habitat for Humanity is nonprofit, ecumenical housing ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing and homelessness from the world. They are committed to making decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Several houses have been built in Ipswich and more are planned in other local towns.

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