Health, Hunger, and Wholeness Ministries
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| Neighborhood House at Ascension |
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| Hunger and Wholeness
The central core of Los Angeles is no stranger to hunger. Thousands of children and adults in the Los Angeles fail to receive the nutrition required to maintain proper health. Hunger is simply one of the many by-products of poverty. Through monetary donations and gifs-in-kind from concerned individuals, churches, foundations and other organizations, NCP is able to provide family food packages and hot meals to thousands who otherwise would go without. Your financial partnership in this particular form of outreach helps us sustain individuals and families until they can become self-sufficient.
In addition to food, NCP congregations also provide specific program and services designed to address special needs. These include the distribution of clothing, shoes, personal hygiene products, infant care items, books, school supplies, first-aid items, and toys.
Human impoverishment, discrimination on the basis of gender, race, or ethnicity, the fragmentation of life-sustaining communities, and the degradation of nature are incompatible with the reign of God. We respond to God's saving action in Jesus Christ with justice-seeking love for the "neighbor," who is both near and distant, both human and non-human. This includes working with those of various faiths and persuasions for the sake of more just and sustainable communities. In the process we must deal with the ongoing ethical tension between providing for immediate human needs and what will be sustainable over time. Sin, abuses, and unjust uses of power continue, but they are not the final word. The Spirit renews us and our commitments, especially in the face of powerlessness and hopelessness. As we stand between the world's hopes and God's hope for the world, we are empowered to work with and support others in shaping new possibilities for human beings, communities, the environment, and coming generations.
"We can't blame poverty on the poor,
and absolve the institutions that oppress
them. We can't blame poverty on the system,
and absolve the individual of responsibility.
And we dare not let our attitude toward
the needy harden." Larry Richards
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| Grocery Bags Distribution in Compton |
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| Volunteers at Angelica's Food Distribution |
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Parish Nurse Programs
As the nation, the State of California, and Los Angeles County cope with budget shortfalls, locally, there have been several closures of clinics and cutbacks in social services that serve the poor, low-income, and moderate-income families in the NCP communities. Thousands of Los Angeles, Inglewood and Compton families are losing, or are experiencing cuts in their "safety net" by way of access to adequate health care, in addition, to food, shelter, public transportation, jobs, and more.
Very few of the inner-city's working poor, low-income, and even many moderate income families have adequate access to meaningful and comprehensive health insurance and care. By offering the service of skilled and caring Parish Nurses who provide the benefits of well conceived health fairs, as well as prevention, training, and early detection clinics, New City Parish is creating a health-conscious atmosphere within its congregations. However, there remains a continuous need to create a better awareness of health issues, processing referrals to hospitals and clinics, and the provision of preventive care throughout the local communities.
If you oppress poor people,
you insult the God who made
them; but kindness shown to
the poor is an act of worship.
Proverbs 14:31
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| Nurses provide flu vaccines at Chapel of Peace |
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| Clothing Distribution |
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| Line at Neighborhood House for Food and to see the Parish Nurse |
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