Serving the Community

This ongoing collection in our back lobby provides paper goods and personal care items for families and individual whose limited incomes do not allow the purchase of the necessary household items. The State's food stamp program SNAP does not cover these items. The nonperishable items are given out monthly to Glastonbury residents.

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For many years, we have “adopted” two social workers and responded to the needs of the children and families that they work with. We also periodically hold diaper drives to support the families of Covenant to Care.

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Through community organizing, the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA) advocates for justice in the Greater Hartford region. Local congregational Core Teams work with GHIAA's staff in discerning specific areas of reform in the state and region. We offer opportunities to discuss issues of concern to inform GHIAA’s state legislative agenda and to advocate for creating a more just and loving local community and region.

First Church has a group of skilled “Good Samaritans” willing to help other members who are having trouble finding the right help or resources to perform various “odd” jobs around the house at no cost. Contact the Church Office to see if your household task or project is something the group is willing and able to take on.​​

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We believe in giving people of all ages, including children, the opportunity to serve in the community. Several times per year we offer Mission Immersion Days. All ages go into the community and work with various agencies to help our neighbors in need. We also serve our own members with cards and treats to brighten their day. ​​​

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The Racial Justice Team has become the Social Justice Team! As we looked at the events and activities we were sponsoring, we realized that so much of what we were committed to exploring included not only race but other issues of importance in today’s society, both at home and abroad. Often these issues are intertwined. We are committed to exploring and embracing diversity, equity and inclusion and to cooperating with other First Church committees in this quest. 

The CT Foodshare mobile food pantry is a "Farmers Market" style food distribution service, which provides fresh produce and other food to individuals and families in need. A mobile food truck comes to First Church of Christ, Glastonbury every other Wednesday and our volunteers help in the food distribution. We also volunteer at their warehouse on alternating Wednesdays.​

We have an ongoing collection of food items for our neighbors in need. Our donations go to Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry in Hartford, Glastonbury Links Together Backpack Project, Manchester Area Conference of Churches (MACC) and Glastonbury Food Pantry. Drop off your donations in the back lobby or in the Narthex.​​​​​​

Each Christmas season, First Church sets up giving trees that benefit several organizations. Members of the congregation choose tags and purchase Christmas gifts for children selected by Family Life Education, Covenant to Care, Glastonbury Social Services and  Manchester Area Conference of Churches.

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For decades, we have been partners with Hands On Hartford. Hands On Hartford serves Hartford’s most economically challenged residents in the areas of food, housing and health. Throughout the year, we serve mid-day meals and also provide dinner for our neighbors. There are opportunities to serve the meals and/or donate the food items needed.

Our church partners with the Robert J. O’Brien STEM Academy in East Hartford. We provide material support and staff and volunteer time to the children and staff of O'Brien School. This speaks directly to our beliefs about the inherent dignity, worth and value of every child, and their right to a good education in a region where the local tax base plays an outsized role in the educational support that children receive.​​​​

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For years, First Church has sponsored church rummage sales. This weekend has grown, and the Super Giant Tag Sale is an event that people enjoy giving to and shopping at. On selected dates throughout the year, we collect items that will then be sold at the fall sale. All the money raised at the Super Giant Tag Sale is given to non-profits that further our mission of making the world a more just and compassionate place. Find out more!​​​

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For many years, the Board of Christian Service has collected turkeys and monetary donations from church and community members on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. The turkeys and money are donated to Connecticut Foodshare.

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For more than a decade, First Church has partnered with the Fred. D. Wish Museum School. This partnership has included helping the kindergarten children with basic reading skills, collecting hats and mittens for the students, and other support.​​​

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Each summer we collect new backpacks and gift cards for the Back-to-School Program through Glastonbury Social Services. This program provides free backpacks and school supplies to eligible Glastonbury children in Kindergarten through 12th grade so they can be ready for school. 

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This small group aims to develop and implement initiatives with the goal of fostering a welcoming and supportive environment, as well as providing education about mental health topics to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

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For more than half a century, First Church has heeded the Biblical call to “welcome the stranger and the foreigner.” Over these many years, the members and friends of this beloved community have offered “extravagant hospitality” to refugees seeking a new home that is safe and secure, and violence and oppression-free. These refugees have come from Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and the Congo. We are exploring new ways to assist families in need.