GRACE and ST JOHN’S
An Episcopal church in the diocese of Connecticut
2927 Dixwell Avenue (P. O. Box 185065), Hamden, CT 06518
OFFICE@GRACEANDSTPETERS.ORG 203-248-4338
GRACE & ST PETER’S RECEIVES MORE RECOGNITION FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH
As Dinner for a Dollar Expands to a New Site
In the same busy week as our church hosted Abraham’s Tent, celebrated Shrove Tuesday, and entered the season of Lent with ashes reminding us of our mortality, the local community received several reminders of the outreach ministry that happens all the time at the crossroads here in Hamden.
On Monday, February 24, NBC Connecticut aired a segment about Dinner for a Dollar that it had filmed the previous Friday, February 21, at Grace & St Peter’s. Later that same evening, a briefer section aired describing the expansion of Dinner for a Dollar to Hamden Plains United Methodist Church, on Saturdays.
Hamden Plains’ Dinner for a Dollar debuted on February 22.
The following Friday, February 28, at 7:00 pm at the Hamden Town Hall,
Grace & St Peter’s received the Religious Service Award from the
Hamden Black History Month Committee.
Only a few weeks later, everything changed as the COVID-19 pandemic
hit the area. Dinner for a Dollar at both sites not only continued to serve all comers while switching from sit-down service to takeout, but also saw a doubling in the number of guests served.
SIX MONTHS OF DINNER FOR A DOLLAR AT HAMDEN PLAINS
NBC Connecticut segment on Dinner for a Dollar, with Kyle Jones
CLICK HERE TO WATCH
(be patient; an ad plays first)
Representatives from Grace & St Peter’s pose with the award from Hamden Black History Committee, February 28 at Hamden Town Hall
In light of these honors, Mayor Curt Balzano Leng issued a proclamation commending Grace & St Peter’s, and pledging continued partnership with the Town of Hamden.
Click here to read the Mayor’s Proclamation
Allison Batson honored by United Way of Greater New Haven
From the article:
Batson has never missed a Dinner for a Dollar night in eight years. In her spare time (!) she volunteers at warming centers in Hamden and helps on the homeless front through service on the board of Columbus House. ...
Batson’s work on Dinner for a Dollar, is only the tip of the iceberg of a life of tireless service.
“She’s ‘infamous’,” Heath said in circles of people who are attempting to meet unmet needs in Hamden.
GRACE & ST PETER’S SERVES AS WARMING CENTER AND THEN HOSTS ABRAHAM’S TENT
After seven weeks serving nightly as the site for the Hamden overnight warming center, Grace & St Peter’s became even more directly involved in outreach to some of our neighbors experiencing homelessness when we hosted Abraham’s Tent from February 24 through March 1.
This year the warming center operated nightly, in contrast to 2019 when it opened only during exceptionally cold weather.
Read a detailed article on last year’s warming center.
Twelve men, sponsored by Columbus House in New Haven, stayed with us from 6:00 pm through 7:00 am each night. Along with volunteers from Temple Emanuel in Orange, church members served dinner each evening and breakfast every morning.
Many thanks to all who volunteered, donated baked goods, grocery items, gift cards, socks, or other items, or dropped by to socialize!
