Resources
The Wider Church
United Church of Christ – https://www.ucc.org/
Our Church’s Wider Mission – https://www.ucc.org//ocwm
Community Links
Dennis Union Church outreach efforts support dozens of community organization through the Missions and Social Concerns committees, distribution of proceeds from the annual Auction & Bazaar, and direct donations and support of programs. The following list represents organizations and concerns that DUC supports frequently and works with to support our goal of living our faith in the world, and fulfilling the vision of the United Church of Christ:
“United in Christ’s love, a just world for all”
Cape Abilities
Cape Abilities serves over 400 individuals with a broad range of developmental and intellectual disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, blindness, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury, hearing impairment, mobility limitations, seizure disorder and mental health issues. Cape Abilities provides enriching, high quality services, coupled with diverse community opportunities that empower their participants to achieve meaningful and valued roles in society.
Cape Cod Council of Churches
https://capecodcouncilofchurches.org/
Cape Cod Council of Churches offers practical assistance, spiritual support and hope – all without regard for religious affiliation. The Council’s programs include:
A Baby Center
Provides critical baby needs to income eligible families for infants up to age four on Cape Cod and the Islands. Families receive diapers, wipes, formula, gently-used clothing and other baby necessities. https://ababycenter.org/
Covenant to Care
Matches a Cape & Islands congregation with foster care families, supporting those families and the foster children in their care. This program works in partnership with the MA Dept. of Children and Families.
Faith Family Kitchen
Provides hot, nutritious meals to our food insecure neighbors three evenings a week in Hyannis. Volunteer congregations and community groups help to prepare and serve free meals each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Hands of Hope Food Pantry and Outreach Center
Hands of Hope (located in Harwich) offers emergency assistance, including food, clothing, small household goods and financial relief to low-income families in the mid-Cape area (Mashpee to Harwich).
Homeless Ministries
Homeless Ministries Services offers short-term emergency shelter for families and individuals facing homelessness. The Youth StreetReach program enables teens to interact with homeless neighbors and learn about issues facing these communities.
Hospital Chaplaincy
Sponsors chaplains at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Cape Cod PATH
Cape Cod People Against Trafficking Humans works to eliminate human trafficking on Cape Cod through education, outreach and collaboration. Cape Cod PATH works with local organizations to provide crisis intervention and referrals to local resources and education.
Cape Cod Times Needy Fund
The Cape Cod Needy Fund mission is to provide urgent financial assistance for basic human needs to individuals and families residing on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket who are experiencing temporary financial hardships through money raised from Cape Cod individuals, families, businesses, clubs, civic organizations, schools and faith communities.
Champ Homes
Champ Homes provides transitional housing to adults on Cape Cod who are homeless or near homeless in a safe, compassionate, respectful environment with assistance in providing life skills, mentoring, vocational opportunities and self-advocacy.
Children’s Cove
https://www.childrenscove.org/
Children’s Cove, Barnstable County’s Child Advocacy Center, provides a compassionate, efficient, child-friendly facility for child abuse intervention. Staff facilitate the collaboration of social and legal agencies to protect, treat, make counseling referrals for child abuse victims and their families, and to investigate and prosecute the abusers.
Dennis Yarmouth Ecumenical Council for the Prevention of Homelessness (DYECH)
The Dennis-Yarmouth Ecumenical Council for the Prevention of Homelessness (DYECH) is a group of area Christian parishes who are committed to preventing Cape Cod families from becoming homeless. Funds are raised through the sale of Caring Cards – gift cards sold at face value with a percentage of sales returned to DYECH for the Prevention Program of the Housing Assistance Corporation.
Duffy Health Center
https://www.duffyhealthcenter.org/
The mission of Duffy Health Center is to provide comprehensive, integrated health care and support services to persons who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness on Cape Cod, and to improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations through community collaborations, leadership, and advocacy.
Food 4 Kids (F4K)
https://www.food4kidscapecod.org/
F4K works to alleviate childhood hunger on the lower/outer Cape and beyond by bringing together the Church of the Holy Spirit and local communities in the Summer Food Service Program.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod works in partnership with families in need to build homes, hope, lives and community. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views, or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people, to build houses alongside the future owner. Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod has built homes in all 15 towns on Cape Cod. Heifer International heifer.org Heifer International works to end hunger in the world through programs promoting sustainable livelihoods through community-owned interventions and providing families the tools and training to lift themselves from poverty.
Heifer International
Heifer International works to end hunger in the world through programs promoting sustainable livelihoods through community-owned interventions and providing families the tools and training to lift themselves from poverty.
Heroes in Transition
https://www.heroesintransition.org/
Heroes in Transition (HIT) recognizes those who have served or who are serving our country, especially in the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) conflicts by providing appropriate assistance to those with special needs in four key areas: home modifications for disabled veterans, transitional Support Group Therapy, financial support for service families and assistance dogs for veterans. HIT provides assistance that is not readily available from other organizations.
Homeless Not Hopeless
https://homelessnothopeless.org/
Honduras Hope is a non-profit, charitable organization supporting health, education, and entrepreneurship in rural Honduras. Volunteers travel four times each year to support a variety of programs in the Honduran communities of Plan Grande, San Jose de Machigua and Yoro.
Housing Assistance Corporation
HAC assists low and middle-income households on Cape Cod through homelessness prevention (operating four shelters across the area), housing stabilization (managing affordable housing units) and empowerment — providing resources, counseling and education.
Independence House
https://independencehouse.org/
Independence House is a comprehensive community-based organization on Cape Cod providing free and confidential specialized services and widespread programs for children (ages 5+), teens, adults and the later-in-life community who are survivors of, or impacted by domestic or sexual violence.
Salvation Army
https://massachusetts.salvationarmy.org/MA/Hyannis
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Millions of Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. The Hyannis Corps Community Center encompasses the church and social service programs for Cape Cod.
Samaritans of Cape Cod and the Islands, Inc.
The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands is a non-denominational, non-profit volunteer organization whose mission is to provide emotional support to those who are lonely, depressed, or suicidal.