It’s easy to feel uneasy as a New Yorker today.

Necessities like food, housing, and childcare have become a burden that some families and individuals are unable to bear. Many are feeling isolated and alone in their struggles.

Our neighbors are hurting. And in their time of need, many turn to churches for help.

Because of your support of Episcopal Ministries of Long Island, when neighbors turn to our parishes, they receive the support they need – a nutritious meal, affordable childcare, & a place that honors their God-given dignity.

This vital ministry network fueled by your support of EMLI reaches over 50 thousand neighbors in need.

Your generosity ensures that this vital work – of seeing Christ in every person – is sustained and grows. In 2023, we saw a 52% increase in grant requests from the previous year. It is a joy and honor to equip dozens of ministries in our diocese. Your support right now is vital to ensure continued funding for ministries bringing our faith from the pews into the public square. 

Because when parishes have the resources & tools they need to serve our neighbors, we all win.

The Garden at St. Francis

The Garden at St. Francis cultivates the connection of soil and spirit and the reverence for God’s earth in order to bring healthy and nutritious food to their neighbors. They are committed to strengthening the local food system by offering fresh, local, organic produce to neighbors at prices below supermarket rates during their weekly, seasonal farm stand, and by donating year-round to local food pantries. The community is invited into the garden - to till the soil, meet their farmers, and interact with bees, chickens, and plants that make this bounty possible.

The team at St. Francis is also dedicated offering horticultural therapy through their partnership with Helen Keller Services for the Blind and other local organizations supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism.

The garden also raises bees, works to protect native pollinators and plant populations, and works to educate the community about the vital role of pollinators in our ecosystem.

Pop-up Pantry

Located in the heart of Brooklyn – at the “intersection of faith and culture,” the St. Ann's Pop-up Pantry addresses the immediate needs of food insecure neighbors by providing essential food items, while embracing the diverse backgrounds and cultures of their community. The pantry operates in the narthex of the church and outside the church doors, making a true visual representation of bringing the love of Christ “from pew to public square.”

Volunteers at the pantry range from local high school students to recent retirees, and the pantry relies on strong, generous relationships with local grocery stores, bakeries, and parishioners to keep their pantry stocked with nourishing produce, fresh bread, and shelf-stable groceries. The partnership the pantry has formed with nearby grocery store, Perelandra Natural Foods, supplies the pantry with a palette of fresh produce every week. This partnership model combats food insecurity, reduces food waste, and ensure that fresh, organic produce is accessible for all community members.

St. Nick Fridge & Food Ministry in Bushwick

Mother Nell and Vince know the Bushwick community extremely well. They’ve formed dozens of steadfast partnerships that became vital as their once hyper-local feeding ministry continued to draw in more people in need – and more volunteers. In 2021, a local restaurant and café donated what would become “St. Nick Fridge,” which has since become a hub in the community.

In 2023, the food ministry could offer more meals and groceries than ever before thanks to a new partnership with the North Brooklyn Angels. EMLI funded the first "Angelmobile" in 2017, and we're honored to continue our support – both financially and through parish connections. In 2023, the number of meals served rose to 5,500 per week in response to the migrant crisis. This partnership enabled parishes to extend a warm welcome to their new neighbors and eased the burden of buying nutritious groceries as they sought to build a new life. A volunteer reflected, “The opportunity to volunteer here feeds me at least as much as the people we serve.”

Neighbors Being Human

Neighbors Being Human – a community ministry of St. Andrew’s in Yaphank – goes far beyond meeting the immediate needs of neighbors. Program volunteers know the names and stories of all those they encounter, while parishioners have opportunity to embody the values of Christ.

Suffolk County is often known for being one of the wealthiest counties in the United States and for its burgeoning wine region. But tucked among the vineyards, horse farms, waterfront properties, famous residents, and historical sites, is Neighbors Being Human – a community ministry of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Yaphank whose mission it is to “support to those facing food insecurity and homelessness and to ultimately help lift people out of poverty.”

In 2023, the ministry was feeding 500 people monthly at their pantry and blessing boxes. They also hired a part-time resource coordinator, who helps guests tap into additional community support.