Dear Friends in Christ,
As I reflect on this year, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude for each of you as you grapple with and respond to the profound call of what it means to see the face of Christ in each one of your neighbors. This is not easy work — to love as Christ calls us to love.
Many of you are responding to the call for your church to serve as more than places of worship. You’re expanding food ministries, providing childcare, creating community gardens, and offering spaces for healing and connection.
Episcopal Ministries of Long Island (EMLI) is fueling these initiatives through grant funding, training, and strategic partnerships — ensuring they have the resources they need to meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. But the demand is growing.
In 2024, EMLI saw a 52% increase in funding requests compared to last year. This surge in requests reflects a profound shift: parishes are more engaged in direct service to their communities, and they need the resources to make these ministries sustainable. They are addressing issues like food insecurity, lack of affordable childcare, and isolation with compassion and expertise. By the end of the year, EMLI will reach a new record of providing $175,000 in grants to parish ministries — every dollar of which is made possible because of your generosity.
These ministries reach over 50,000 people in need annually, including serving 237,000 meals and distributing 485,000 pounds of food to fight food insecurity. But there is still more to be done. The needs are growing, and your support is essential.
I invite you toinvest in the life-changing work of EMLI to ensure that our parishes can continue to be the hands and feet of Christ in our communities. Your gift will directly support the funding of these vital ministries, helping them expand their reach, strengthen their impact, and continue to transform lives.
If you stand with EMLI today, we can ensure that these ministries will continue to be a powerful force for change in 2025. This is your opportunity to be part of something transformative — a movement of love that brings the Kingdom of Heaven into our neighborhoods, one act of service at a time.
Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to this holy work.
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island